2019 J1 WAIVER TIMELINE - New Applicants

[tnnandi 7]

15 hours ago, anu55 said:

Dear All,

Upon receiving my J1 waiver application DoS updated my case number to the case number, which I received during the advisory opinion for subject to 212e. However, my home country sent the waiver letter with the case number on the bar code. Now I am very worried that the DoS will not be able to link the waiver letter to my updated/consolidated J1 case file. Has anyone have faced similar situation? Can you please advise what should I do? 

Based on my understanding, DoS won't be able to link your no-objection letter with your waiver application if they have different case numbers. You can do the following: 1) request your home-country's embassy to resend the no-objection letter using the case number shown on the DoS website (do you have any barcode corresponding to the advisory opinion case?), and 2) send an email to 212ewaiver@state.gov and explain the situation (although, you have to wait 15-30 days to get a response).

[jessjess 3]

16 hours ago, anu55 said:

Dear All,

Upon receiving my J1 waiver application DoS updated my case number to the case number, which I received during the advisory opinion for subject to 212e. However, my home country sent the waiver letter with the case number on the bar code. Now I am very worried that the DoS will not be able to link the waiver letter to my updated/consolidated J1 case file. Has anyone have faced similar situation? Can you please advise what should I do? 

Hi, I’ve had a similar situation. It should be alright. The DOS updated everything to the case number I received for advisory opinion. I also emailed them to confirm while I was in the panic mode before they updated anything on the website. Just keep checking both numbers if you’re not sure. You can email them about your situation and give them both numbers to get a confirmation. It usually takes 14 work days for them to get back to you. 

Edited January 24, 2020 by jessjess

[Mgj1 2]

1 hour ago, tnnandi said:

Hi,

 

I just checked the DoS website to find out that they have issued a favorable recommendation for my J-1 waiver. Now, it seems I've to wait for a letter from USCIS as the final confirmation for the favorable recommendation. For that, do I need to do anything, i.e. fill up any form or something? Or will it be taken care automatically? Also, after how many days of the favorable recommendation by the DoS can I expect the letter from USCIS to be in hand?

Hi

 

You just have to wait! It is almost done!!! ...

It took 10 days for me to get the USCIS approval online and 7 days to have the letter from them at home. 

 

Hang in there 😉

[anu55 1]

On 1/24/2020 at 7:50 PM, jessjess said:

Hi, I’ve had a similar situation. It should be alright. The DOS updated everything to the case number I received for advisory opinion. I also emailed them to confirm while I was in the panic mode before they updated anything on the website. Just keep checking both numbers if you’re not sure. You can email them about your situation and give them both numbers to get a confirmation. It usually takes 14 work days for them to get back to you. 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. This was very assuring as I was in panic mode. I can confirm that DoS has successfully linked my waiver certificate with old case number to my new case number. My attorney had emailed them on December 23 about this and they replied yesterday confirming that they have linked the two, and today the website has also been updated. 

[anu55 1]

On 1/24/2020 at 6:50 PM, tnnandi said:

Based on my understanding, DoS won't be able to link your no-objection letter with your waiver application if they have different case numbers. You can do the following: 1) request your home-country's embassy to resend the no-objection letter using the case number shown on the DoS website (do you have any barcode corresponding to the advisory opinion case?), and 2) send an email to 212ewaiver@state.gov and explain the situation (although, you have to wait 15-30 days to get a response).

Thanks! My home country didn't respond to my request for a second letter with the updated case number. Meanwhile, the DoS linked the no-objection letter with my waiver application. Thanks! Based on your experience, how long does the DoS take the update website with their recommendation once they have received all the documents? 

Edited January 25, 2020 by anu55

[anu55 1]

The DoS has updated their website that they have now received my no-objection letter from the home country, and have also responded to the email inquiry about it saying that "the case is now complete to process accordingly." Can anyone advise me how many days does it take to receive a recommendation? Thanks! 

[nelsonspbr 1]

My final timeline:

 

2019/09/12 -- Submitted online application

2019/09/12 -- Sent e-mail to Brazilian embassy requesting NOS

2019/09/13 -- Mailed documents (SOR, passport, DS-2019, DS-3035, $120 check, two self-addressed envelopes) to DOS via UPS in São Paulo

2019/09/16 -- Package arrived at DOS (verified via UPS tracking)

2019/09/18 -- $120 Check was cashed (appeared as "Dos Waiver Fees Payment" in the bank statement)

2019/09/18 -- Brazilian embassy sent NOS to DOS

2019/10/02 -- Documents appeared as received at DOS

2019/10/07 -- NOS appeared as received at DOS

2019/12/18 -- Received e-mail from DOS saying my application was in administrative review

2019/12/19 -- Favorable recommendation sent by DOS

2019/12/31 -- Received DOS letter at home in Brazil (they used one of the self-addressed envelopes)

2020/01/08 -- USCIS posted I-797C (receipt notice)

2020/01/17 -- USCIS posted I-797B (approval notice)

2020/01/24 -- Received letters from USCIS (both receipt and approval) at home in Brazil

 

It took 3 weeks for the documents and application to appear in the DOS website, 8 weeks for me to get the favorable recommendation, and 5 weeks for me to get all documents at home -- around four months total. Some tips:

- Regular check works if you have a US account;

- You can purchase self-addressed envelopes at UPS; in the end only one was used, but that might be specific for Brazil; USCIS uses their own postage;

- Although you can, I never called USCIS -- I just waited for the I-797;

- In the end you are going to get the letter from DOS (which they also send to USCIS), I-797C (receipt), and I-797B (approval); and

- Start soon... I wish I knew I could request the waiver while I was in the US; anyways, everything worked in the end.

 

Please feel free to ask questions, especially if you are from Brazil -- I can provide more specifics about how to prepare your petition, documentation, etc.

 

Glossary

DOS: US Department of State

NOS: No Objection Statement

SOR: Statement of Reason

[tnnandi 7]

On 1/25/2020 at 2:50 PM, anu55 said:

Thanks! My home country didn't respond to my request for a second letter with the updated case number. Meanwhile, the DoS linked the no-objection letter with my waiver application. Thanks! Based on your experience, how long does the DoS take the update website with their recommendation once they have received all the documents? 

For me, it was around a month. It took 1 month to show that all documents have been received, and another month for the favorable recommendation.

[LauCC 2]

In my case, took a month to show the documents received. Then a couple of weeks to show the NOS received. Since the NOS reception on Dec. 10 th I haven't had any news... 

 

 

[LauCC 2]

On 1/27/2020 at 5:50 PM, nelsonspbr said:

My final timeline:

 

2019/09/12 -- Submitted online application

2019/09/12 -- Sent e-mail to Brazilian embassy requesting NOS

2019/09/13 -- Mailed documents (SOR, passport, DS-2019, DS-3035, $120 check, two self-addressed envelopes) to DOS via UPS in São Paulo

2019/09/16 -- Package arrived at DOS (verified via UPS tracking)

2019/09/18 -- $120 Check was cashed (appeared as "Dos Waiver Fees Payment" in the bank statement)

2019/09/18 -- Brazilian embassy sent NOS to DOS

2019/10/02 -- Documents appeared as received at DOS

2019/10/07 -- NOS appeared as received at DOS

2019/12/18 -- Received e-mail from DOS saying my application was in administrative review

2019/12/19 -- Favorable recommendation sent by DOS

2019/12/31 -- Received DOS letter at home in Brazil (they used one of the self-addressed envelopes)

2020/01/08 -- USCIS posted I-797C (receipt notice)

2020/01/17 -- USCIS posted I-797B (approval notice)

2020/01/24 -- Received letters from USCIS (both receipt and approval) at home in Brazil

 

It took 3 weeks for the documents and application to appear in the DOS website, 8 weeks for me to get the favorable recommendation, and 5 weeks for me to get all documents at home -- around four months total. Some tips:

- Regular check works if you have a US account;

- You can purchase self-addressed envelopes at UPS; in the end only one was used, but that might be specific for Brazil; USCIS uses their own postage;

- Although you can, I never called USCIS -- I just waited for the I-797;

- In the end you are going to get the letter from DOS (which they also send to USCIS), I-797C (receipt), and I-797B (approval); and

- Start soon... I wish I knew I could request the waiver while I was in the US; anyways, everything worked in the end.

 

Please feel free to ask questions, especially if you are from Brazil -- I can provide more specifics about how to prepare your petition, documentation, etc.

 

Glossary

DOS: US Department of State

NOS: No Objection Statement

SOR: Statement of Reason

Hi, this is rally helpful. By any chance did your visa included your country gov. Funding ?

[nelsonspbr 1]

1 hour ago, LauCC said:

Hi, this is rally helpful. By any chance did your visa included your country gov. Funding ?

@LauCC No, my J-1 was entirely funded by the company that hired me in the US.

[canel020 1]

Finally got the "Case was approved" this morning at the USCIS!

 

Complete timeline:

 

All documents received on October 29th, 2019

Favorable recommendation sent on January 16th 2020

Case approved by USCIS on January 28th 2020

[qwerty101 5]

21 minutes ago, canel020 said:

Finally got the "Case was approved" this morning at the USCIS!

 

Complete timeline:

 

All documents received on October 29th, 2019

Favorable recommendation sent on January 16th 2020

Case approved by USCIS on January 28th 2020

Hi @canel020 Great news! Congos!

When did you receive your USCIS receipt number? 

 

I got a FR from DOS on 22nd Jan 2020 and I am currently waiting for USCIS receipt number.

[canel020 1]

2 hours ago, qwerty101 said:

Hi @canel020 Great news! Congos!

When did you receive your USCIS receipt number? 

 

I got a FR from DOS on 22nd Jan 2020 and I am currently waiting for USCIS receipt number.

Thanks a lot! I believe it was a week after the favorable recommendation.

[tnnandi 7]

On 1/31/2020 at 10:50 AM, qwerty101 said:

Hi @canel020 Great news! Congos!

When did you receive your USCIS receipt number? 

 

I got a FR from DOS on 22nd Jan 2020 and I am currently waiting for USCIS receipt number.

I'm on the same boat too, got the favorable recommendation from DoS on Jan 23rd, still waiting for the USCIS receipt number. Got a letter a couple of days ago from DoS, which mentioned the favorable recommendation and a copy of which was also sent to USCIS. I assume USCIS needs that letter before starting the work at their end.