Can I apply for a new J1 Visa while my current J1 is still valid?

[Arielle123 0]

Good morning all,

 

I am requesting your help after many efforts to get an answer from the embassy or my sponsor, without any success.

 

I am currently in the US with a J1 visa Intern that is expiring on 10/06/2017. My employer offered me to extend my internship until December.

I saw that I have to apply for a DS-2019 extension until December, which should normally be approved.

 

Nevertheless, I may have to leave and re-enter the US between 10/06/2017 (my J1 Visa expiration date) and December (the new expiration date of my DS-2019).

In order to re-enter the US in that period, I need a new visa.

 

My question is: can I apply for a new J1 Visa Intern when my current J1 Visa Intern is still valid?

Let's say that I go back to France in September, is it possible to apply for the new J1 at this moment even if my current one is not expired?

 

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

Edited July 20, 2017 by Arielle123

[Coco8 1,042]

The expiration of your J1 stamp on your passport and the expiration of DS 2019 are two different things.

 

(1) You can extend your J1 intership for a max of 12 months. Will the 12 months be on December? 

 

(2) You can stay in the US with your extended DS 2019 even if your J1 stamp has expired. The J1 stamp is just to leave and get back into the US, so as long as you stay in the US you are set. 

If you go to France, as long as you have your new DS 2019 extension, you can get a new J1 stamp. Yes, you can get a new stamp before it expires because basically you'd be doing that just a month or a few days in advance of the expiration date. However, take into account that visas take a while to process so you might want to avoid leaving the US until your internship is up. If you get 2 week vacation you might not be able to get a new J1 stamp in that time. You might get lucky and be able to do an abbreviated renewal and avoid the interview, but it will still take 2 weeks at the very least. 

 

 

[Arielle123 0]

Thank you very much Coco8 for your answer.

 

1) My current J1 Visa was a 6-months visa so adding 4 months for a new one is ok because it is still less than 12 months.

 

2) My idea was to go to France mid-September, and having an appointment already scheduled at the embassy in order to go there right away when I arrive in France. I remember when I was doing the process for the first J1 that it only took 3-4 days before receiving my passport with the J1 stamp after the interview. Maybe I was lucky but I was hoping it could be the same this time. If this would fail, I could still go back to the US beginning of October before my J1 stamp expiration date (10/06/2017).

What do you think about it?

[Coco8 1,042]

You cannot do (2). You will need to provide your i-94 to apply for the renewal and you can only do that once you get to France. 
 

To be honest, I think it is not possible. You will need over 2 weeks. Also, check this out. This person says her friend had the J1 renewal denied. I'd just stay in the US.

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2017 by Coco8

[Arielle123 0]

What do you mean by "provide your i-94", since it is only a stamp on my passport? In order to apply for J1, shouldn't I only fill the DS-160 again and provide the extended DS-2019?

 

My sponsor told me "I don't see why you could not apply for a new J1 why your J1 is not expired but you have to check"...

[Coco8 1,042]

 

42 minutes ago, Arielle123 said:

What do you mean by "provide your i-94", since it is only a stamp on my passport? In order to apply for J1, shouldn't I only fill the DS-160 again and provide the extended DS-2019?

 

My sponsor told me "I don't see why you could not apply for a new J1 why your J1 is not expired but you have to check"...

No, i-94 is not a stamp on the passport. You have to got here,

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/

 

And click "Get most recent i-94". You get a new number every trip. So if you left to France you'd get a new number and you need to put that number of the application for a new J1 stamp on your passport. So you cannot basically apply for renewal when you are in the US and go just for the interview. Trust me, I renew an F1 student visa. 

 

I don't remember if the DS-160 asks for the i-94 or you have to include it when you say you want to renew the visa. The online application system has a ton of questions and I remember that it asks for the i-94. I wanted to start my application and pay the fee for the application before traveling back home because there were a lot of holidays the time I was traveling (so banks were closed) and I couldn't do it. The whole renewal took me like 3 weeks.

 

Your sponsor is just a company. They do not have experience with consulates or how long it takes to apply for a visa. Also, didn't you see the thread I showed you? That person's friend was denied the J1 for an extended DS 2019. That is exactly what you are trying to do.