Recent J1 waiver timeline 2017

[Coco8 1,042]

6 minutes ago, logisticamente said:

I think this 2 year rule makes most cases extra complicated!!

I would think the same rule for the HB1 applies.. you are good once you get the DOS letter and a decision will be made when they are processing your visa.. But I didnt actually found that in written, so I could be wrong

Yes, that is correct if you are in the US right now. You can submit the DOS letter. I did that for an H1B.

 

If you are abroad and you have to do consular processing (so basically go for an interview at the consulate) you need to have the USCIS approval. 

[Wosniak 2]

24 days waiting for the DOS letter and nothing yet

[vine 3]

22 hours ago, Wosniak said:

24 days waiting for the DOS letter and nothing yet

Wosniak, Feel free to email DOS to the email address they have on their website. I emailed them and asked them to send me the copy online and they did. It takes about 5 days for them to reply back, and I happened to get the one on the mail before they replied back to my email request. However, they did send it via email. Make sure to include all your information so they don't have to have a hard time finding you. 

[Coco8 1,042]

48 minutes ago, vine said:

Wosniak, Feel free to email DOS to the email address they have on their website. I emailed them and asked them to send me the copy online and they did. It takes about 5 days for them to reply back, and I happened to get the one on the mail before they replied back to my email request. However, they did send it via email. Make sure to include all your information so they don't have to have a hard time finding you. 

Yes, make sure to keep it short and straightforward. Something like: Please, e-mail me a copy letter of the favorable recommendation. I have been waiting since XX and have not received it by mail. I need it immediately to XX.

 

I also asked them to e-mail it to me and they never got back to me. Luckily, I got it really fast by mail (like in a week). 

[odeod93 2]

Hey guys, even though I'm still waiting for the USCIS final approval I wanted to share my timeline for the J1 waiver based on No Objection:

 

• Documents Received - July, 18 2017
• No Objection Statement - July, 21 2017
• Recommendation Sent - August, 28 2017
•  - Received recommendation by mail (US address) - Sep, 5 2017
• USCIS received the recommendation - Sep 8, 2017
• - Received NOA1 by mail (US address) - Sep 11, 2017
• - Still waiting for the final approval

 

I've seen some people that got the recommendation after me and already had it approved by USCIS.

I'm starting to get worried, I've called them a few times but it was not helpful at all.

Any ideas of what I can do? Should I try asking them to expedite it?

[vine 3]

39 minutes ago, odeod93 said:

Hey guys, even though I'm still waiting for the USCIS final approval I wanted to share my timeline for the J1 waiver based on No Objection:

 

• Documents Received - July, 18 2017
• No Objection Statement - July, 21 2017
• Recommendation Sent - August, 28 2017
•  - Received recommendation by mail (US address) - Sep, 5 2017
• USCIS received the recommendation - Sep 8, 2017
• - Received NOA1 by mail (US address) - Sep 11, 2017
• - Still waiting for the final approval

 

I've seen some people that got the recommendation after me and already had it approved by USCIS.

I'm starting to get worried, I've called them a few times but it was not helpful at all.

Any ideas of what I can do? Should I try asking them to expedite it?

Just be patient and wait. If you are in the US you could make an info pass appoint to get more information on your case. USCIS got my recommendation on Aug 7th and I still have not been approved. 

[Coco8 1,042]

27 minutes ago, vine said:

Just be patient and wait. If you are in the US you could make an info pass appoint to get more information on your case. USCIS got my recommendation on Aug 7th and I still have not been approved. 

I agree with being patient.

 

You got the NOA 1 from USCIS so there is not problem at USCIS. There is no queue per se in that documents that arrive later should be decided later. That is not how it works so other people's timelines are more of a guide in terms of calculating time frame (from x to y days/months) rather than figuring out how long your case should take base on other people's exact dates. You can drive yourself crazy thinking like that.

 

 

[Wosniak 2]

Thanks everybody for the feedback

[Pickels 2]

My DOS  fav reco was sent early September but I had not yet received any response from USCIS.

 

I called the USCIS today and the second tier officer was able to locate my receipt number. She confirmed my case and that the waiver was approved a couple of days ago. They sent the notice and approval to an old address thgh, albeit me having updated the DOS months ago (I received their fav reco on my updated address).

 

So I need to sort that out but just to let you guys know that calling sometimes works and that DOS address updates not always travel to the USCIS.

 

Worth checking.

[odeod93 2]

You guys  were right, I just needed to be a bit more patient, after exact three months I finally got the approval.

Just updating my final timeline:

• Envelope sent to DOS - July, 10 2017
• Documents Received - July, 18 2017
• No Objection Statement - July, 21 2017
• Recommendation Sent - August, 28 2017
•  - Received recommendation by mail (US address) - September 5, 2017
• USCIS received the recommendation - September 8, 2017
• - Received NOA1 by mail (US address) - September 11, 2017
• USCIS APPROVED - October 10, 2017

Now I'm just waiting for the approval notice to arrive. Thanks for the feedback and support, this forum was really helpful throughout the process!

[logisticamente 152]

3 hours ago, odeod93 said:

You guys  were right, I just needed to be a bit more patient, after exact three months I finally got the approval.

Just updating my final timeline:

• Envelope sent to DOS - July, 10 2017
• Documents Received - July, 18 2017
• No Objection Statement - July, 21 2017
• Recommendation Sent - August, 28 2017
•  - Received recommendation by mail (US address) - September 5, 2017
• USCIS received the recommendation - September 8, 2017
• - Received NOA1 by mail (US address) - September 11, 2017
• USCIS APPROVED - October 10, 2017

Now I'm just waiting for the approval notice to arrive. Thanks for the feedback and support, this forum was really helpful throughout the process!

Congrats !!

[vine 3]

I called yesterday and found out my waiver has been approved by the Vermont Service Center as of October 4th. I still have an info pass appt schedule for next week which will help me confirm it 100%. The officer said I should be getting the notice on the mail by the end of this week beginning of next one. Below is my timeline. 

• Aug 4th, 2017 - Fav Recommendation Sent 
• Aug 7th, 2017 - USCIS received my case
• Oct 4th, 2017 - Approved by USCIS 

Tamara mentioned to me that once they receive your AOS paperwork they speed up the waiver process, which was true for my case as USCIS received my AOS forms on Sept 29th. 

[Wosniak 2]

On 15/09/2017 at 2:25 PM, Wosniak said:

Item	Action	Date
Recommendation	Sent	September, 14 2017
No Objection Statement	Received	August, 04 2017
Fee	Received	July, 11 2017
Form DS-3035	Received	July, 11 2017
Form DS-2019	Received	July, 11 2017
Passport Data Page	Received	July, 11 2017
Statement Of Reason	Received	July, 11 2017

•  - Received recommendation by mail - October 13, 2017
• - USClS Receipt - October 13, 2017
• - USCIS LETTER (APPROVED) - October 13, 2017

[logisticamente 152]

Anyone has any ideas on what to do to in this situation?

Waiver Approved August 21 2017... didn't receive any kind of notices because they were being sent to Dominican Republic... on October 4th I managed to update my address and request them to send another approval notice...  It is October 18 and still haven't received the letter on the mail..  I need to have this letter by November 15 as I need to bring it to the embassy for my visa interview..

And just so you know my K1 visa was approved October 10th and I received the approval letter October 13.. So I do get mail from USCIS.. just not THIS ONE!!!

[jz4112 0]

I received No objection letter from DOS on May 2nd, and I still haven't heard anything back from USCIS.  It's been 6 months for me! I really hope they didn't up something stupid. Are we supposed to receive an email when they approve our cases?

Also I went to the congresswoman's office last Friday and they sent an email to USCIS on my behalf, they told me they expect to hear back from USCIS within a month so we will see!