Recent J1 waiver timeline 2017

[Poopahpoopah 2]

22 minutes ago, KurosawaSan said:

@DetectiveBabadook Department of State. Did you contact NIST about getting favorable sponsor views? What program were you on in the US?

I did ask them what they usually decide before I applied for the waiver. I was a guest researcher on a J1.

Edited March 1, 2017 by DetectiveBabadook

[cosmonauts 125]

On 2/10/2017 at 10:05 PM, kath1980 said:

I received I-797 from USCIS concurring with DOS but it took a while. I called USCIS, spoke to a second level officer and he told me that USCIS approved my waiver and to expect notice in a couple weeks. I suggest you call USCIS. 

Hi everyone, I received NOA that USCIS received my case on Feb 2nd. I haven't heard back and I can't check the status online since it only says received from another office. I'm waiting for the waiver to apply for AOS

 

I tried calling the Vermont Center but it was useless, they only said that they are reviewing cases from Oct 2016. How did you get them to review your particular case over the phone? @kath1980

[BrazilianJ1 2]

Hi all,

I am writing to share my exhausting experience to get the J1 waiver bases - no objection. I had one year fellowship from my country in 2014/2015 than one year fellowship from my lab 2015/2016. After finishing my PhD I got a job offer from the same lab in US, to change my status I had to apply for the J1 waiver. My country embassy gave me the no objection letter right after my defense on December 9th 2016. Here I will share my timeline:

 

- DS-3035 and all documents needed sent on December 8th, 2016

- No objection statement (NOS) from Brazilian embassy sent on December 9th, 2016

- DOS received the documents on December 28th, 2016

DOS did not update the NOS as received, I emailed DOS on January 8th, 2017. I received a reply on January 12th saying that DOS did not receive the NOS and provided me a number to ask my embassy to fax the NOS in my behalf. 

- DOS received the NOS on January 13th, 2017.

- DOS recommended my J1waiver application and sent to USCIS the letter on February 16th, 2017

- The USCIS received the DOS recommendation on February 23rd 

- The USCIS notice of my application acceptance was received by me (in my country) on March 9th, 2017.

 

If you are applying for the J1 waiver email the DOS to follow up your process. Unfortunately that may not speed up your process but will help out if something goes wrong at some point (in my case they lost the NOS letter from my embassy). If you are changing your status you may not need to wait for the USCIS I-612 (waiver) form. Once your new visa is processed you can make you appointment in your embassy and they will be able to check that DOS recommended your waiver. 

 

Best of lucky! 

    

Edited March 9, 2017 by BrazilianJ1

[Poopahpoopah 2]

6 minutes ago, BrazilianJ1 said:

If you are changing your status you may not need to wait for the USCIS I-612 (waiver) form. Once your new visa is processed you can make you appointment in your embassy and they will be able to check that DOS recommended your waiver. 

    

How do you know this? Did it work for you? Which visa did you apply for?

[BrazilianJ1 2]

8 minutes ago, DetectiveBabadook said:

How do you know this? Did it work for you? Which visa did you apply for?

 The specialist in my international office just told me that base on their experience in the past. I am changing status to H1-b visa.

Edited March 9, 2017 by BrazilianJ1

[Poopahpoopah 2]

Just now, BrazilianJ1 said:

 The specialist in my international office just told me that their base on their experience in the past. I am changing status to H1-b visa.

Awesome, thanks for the info. So they are just processing your H1B visa without waiting for the waiver? And then what?

I'm in the same situation as you, but I don't have a specialist to help me unfortunately.

[BrazilianJ1 2]

16 minutes ago, DetectiveBabadook said:

How do you know this? Did it work for you? Which visa did you apply for?

Since the DOS recommends your waiver application you can apply for the H1b. To apply for the visa in your embassy you will need a H1b petition approved. The embassy may be able to check that DOS recommended your waiver during the process/interview. However, I think you should contact your embassy just to be sure.   

Edited March 9, 2017 by BrazilianJ1

[BrazilianJ1 2]

11 minutes ago, DetectiveBabadook said:

Awesome, thanks for the info. So they are just processing your H1B visa without waiting for the waiver? And then what?

I'm in the same situation as you, but I don't have a specialist to help me unfortunately.

Don't forget that you will need the recommendation letter from DOS to apply for the H1b petition. 

[Poopahpoopah 2]

1 minute ago, BrazilianJ1 said:

Since the DOS recommends your waiver application you can apply for the H1b. To apply for the visa in your embassy you will need a H1b petition approved. The embassy may be able to check that DOS recommended your waiver during the process/interview. However, I think you should contact your embassy just to be sure.   

Thanks. You mention speaking to your embassy.. are you currently in the US and say that you need to contact your home embassy or are you outside of the US and is working on the H1B visa through the US embassy in your home country? 

[Poopahpoopah 2]

Just now, BrazilianJ1 said:

Don't forget that you will need the recommendation letter from DOS to apply for the H1b petition. 

Thanks, I have that already. Was just thinking that I couldn't get the H1B without the final approval.

[BrazilianJ1 2]

3 minutes ago, DetectiveBabadook said:

Thanks. You mention speaking to your embassy.. are you currently in the US and say that you need to contact your home embassy or are you outside of the US and is working on the H1B visa through the US embassy in your home country? 

I am currently out of US. My specialist said that I could not wait for the H1b process in US, since my J1 program is over. My university is processing my H1b and not me. 

Edited March 10, 2017 by BrazilianJ1

[Poopahpoopah 2]

Just now, BrazilianJ1 said:

I am currently out of US, my specialist said that I could not wait for the H1b process in US,since my J1 program is over. My university is processing my H1b and not me. 

Ok, I appreciate your help. My J1 visa expires soon too, but hopefully I can get the H1B before I have to leave...

 

[BrazilianJ1 2]

Just now, DetectiveBabadook said:

Ok, I appreciate your help. My J1 visa expires soon too, but hopefully I can get the H1B before I have to leave...

 

Best of lucky! I am happy to help out. I have been out of US since November.... it is a truly exhausting process. 

[Poopahpoopah 2]

Just now, BrazilianJ1 said:

Best of lucky! I am happy to help out. I have been out of US since November.... it is a truly exhausting process. 

Ugh, tell me about it. Good luck to you too! 

[Mrs. DPK 66]

The favorable recommendation for my DS 3035 was sent November 15th 2016. It is March 10th (almost 4 months), and USCIS has no record of my case. DOS will not provide any information (they tell me to contact USCIS every time). I have called USCIS 4 times. The last time I talked to a 2nd level officer, he told me there is information about my other activity with USCIS (visa etc.), but nothing to do with a J1 waiver or Department of State. This means I've been giving the correct information (they have me in the system), so that's not a potential reason why they can't find my case. I've heard of some people waiting a while during this "in-between" step, but nothing close to 4 months with no I-797 receipt generated. The last officer filed a case and sent a request of information to the Vermont Processing Center. He said to wait up to 2 weeks for a response. It has been 3 weeks now and I haven't heard anything. Just wanted to put this out there. If anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear it. If ur worried that your processing is taking a while, be thankful it isn't this bad.