2019 J1 WAIVER TIMELINE - New Applicants

[qwerty101 5]

10 hours ago, MdM2020 said:

Hi everybody,

 

I have a question and maybe you can help. I've read many different stories about how to apply to H1b with the waiver. Some people got it with DOS recommendation, some people needed USCIS I-797, and some people were asked the I-612. 

My lawyer said I could do it with the DOS recommendation, my university wants I-797, but now I've read about the I-612. This is so confusing...

Hi,

 

I've heard of people filing for H1B with just the DoS recommendation. But, it also depends on the employer, their law firm, and their company policies. 

My employers wouldn't let me start on my F-1 OPT until I had my waiver even though the two have nothing to do with each other. However, they were fine with just the DoS letter to proceed forward. 

 

So it all depends on what your employer's policy is based on the recommendation of the law firm they employ.

 

As far as I-612 is concerned, don't worry about it as the DoS will file that with the USCIS in cases of 'No objection' after they issue a FR recommendation.

[J1visa 10]

12 hours ago, tnnandi said:

From this screenshot, it's clear that your case has been approved. Unfortunately, I haven't reached this stage yet; I have only received the I-797C, Notice of Action, which in my case says "Notice Type: Receipt Notice" and not "Approval Notice". For subsequent immigration steps, you need the final approval letter from USCIS, which I think you can expect to get anytime soon.

@tnnandi Thank you for the clarification. Hopefully you will get the Approval notice soon! Keep on checking online. I got the application in my phone too! I received the Approval notice on January 20th in my mail, but it was dated on January 14th. The receipt notice was dated in the document on Jan. 7th and I received on the 10th. 

It won't take long! No worries!!  

[Han77 1]

Hi all,

 

Approximately 4 months after the submission yesterday I saw the first update on the webpage (Docs received on February 10. I sent them in October!). And as of today they sent the favorable recommendation!  Nothing happened in 4 months and everything happened in 2 days!

 

Good luck to you all!

 

 

[MdM2020 0]

2 hours ago, qwerty101 said:

Hi,

 

I've heard of people filing for H1B with just the DoS recommendation. But, it also depends on the employer, their law firm, and their company policies. 

My employers wouldn't let me start on my F-1 OPT until I had my waiver even though the two have nothing to do with each other. However, they were fine with just the DoS letter to proceed forward. 

 

So it all depends on what your employer's policy is based on the recommendation of the law firm they employ.

 

As far as I-612 is concerned, don't worry about it as the DoS will file that with the USCIS in cases of 'No objection' after they issue a FR recommendation.

Thanks for the explanation, I did not know it could be so different for each case.

[jessjess 3]

On 2/11/2020 at 6:51 PM, tnnandi said:

Also, the screenshot says that you are (were) supposed to get the approval notice bu Jan 30, beyond which you should contact USCIS. I refer that approval notice as I-797B form. But since you mention I-797B is not applicable for your case (I'd be curious to know why), maybe that doesn't matter.

@J1visa @tnnandi Hi guys! I see you've been having some discussion back and forth. Just curious how long it took for your case to be approved by USCIS after they received the notice. For my case, the USCIS received notice on Jan 8, and it's Feb 13 today, and I still haven't heard any notice. 

Can I also ask what country you are with? I wonder if that affect the processing time. Thank you guys! Very glad to see your cases got approved. 

[tnnandi 7]

16 minutes ago, jessjess said:

@J1visa @tnnandi Hi guys! I see you've been having some discussion back and forth. Just curious how long it took for your case to be approved by USCIS after they received the notice. For my case, the USCIS received notice on Jan 8, and it's Feb 13 today, and I still haven't heard any notice. 

Can I also ask what country you are with? I wonder if that affect the processing time. Thank you guys! Very glad to see your cases got approved. 

HI jessjess,

 

For me, USCIS received my case from DoS on Jan 29th (I got the I-797C notice, i.e. the receipt notice on Feb 2nd), but my case didn't progress anymore. I'm yet to receive the USCIS approval, so I'm in the same situation as you. I'm from India, and my case is being processed at the Vermont center. I don't think the USCIS step is related to the country.

Edited February 13, 2020 by tnnandi

[jessjess 3]

14 minutes ago, tnnandi said:

HI jessjess,

 

For me, USCIS received my case from DoS on Jan 29th (I got the I-797C notice, i.e. the receipt notice on Feb 2nd), but my case didn't progress anymore. I'm yet to receive the USCIS approval, so I'm in the same situation as you. I'm from India, and my case is being processed at the Vermont center. I don't think the USCIS step is related to the country.

I see. Sorry to hear that. I'm very anxious because I saw other people's cases got approve within a week or two after the USCIS received notices. It's pretty much a month now for my case. 

 

Good luck to you. Hope it will happen soon. 

[tnnandi 7]

2 minutes ago, jessjess said:

I see. Sorry to hear that. I'm very anxious because I saw other people's cases got approve within a week or two after the USCIS received notices. It's pretty much a month now for my case. 

 

Good luck to you. Hope it will happen soon. 

Yes, I'm very anxious too, as I expected to get the approval within 7-10 days of the receipt notice. I requested for an expedited processing with USCIS (over the phone), but the request was rejected within a day.

[jessjess 3]

2 minutes ago, tnnandi said:

Yes, I'm very anxious too, as I expected to get the approval within 7-10 days of the receipt notice. I requested for an expedited processing with USCIS (over the phone), but the request was rejected within a day.

I called USCIS and talked to a rep on the phone. She said the processing time is 4-6 months. I told her how fast I'm seeing here on those cases. She still says 4-6 months. I really hope that won't be the case.

[tnnandi 7]

Just now, jessjess said:

I called USCIS and talked to a rep on the phone. She said the processing time is 4-6 months. I told her how fast I'm seeing here on those cases. She still says 4-6 months. I really hope that won't be the case.

I got exactly the same response, i.e. it takes 4-6 months. That processing time is actually for the I-612 cases for waiver based on criteria other than no-objection, where the applicant submits the I-612 personally (unlike us, where the I-612 application is done by the DoS). Since, this distinction between the two I-612 paths is not made clear on the USCIS websites, unfortunately we get that response.

[abie 1]

Hello ALL, 

I have been reading many posts in this forum and they are very helpful. I just sent out my waiver application on the basis of "no objection" statement to DOS. Their website shows that application materials were received on January 21. Meanwhile, Indian Embassy informed me that they have sent the "no objection statement" directly to the waiver review division on 29th January. I am yet to see that on the DOS website. I guess at this point I need to keep waiting for any update from DOS. However, I got some doubts as I have seen somewhere in this Forum that there is I-612 form. I remember submitting only DS-3035 along with other materials. Am I missing something here? Your feedback will be very helpful. Also, is anyone has applied for waiver during this time, I would like to hear your experience and timeline. Thank you all so much!

[JDRao 0]

I have never received my approval notice by USCIS in my mail. When requested online, USCIS asked me to file I-824 with fee. Did any one face such situation? If so, how long does it take to get the duplicated waiver from USCIS. Can I attend the H1-B visa interview with just the print screen of approval?

[waiver2020 2]

10 hours ago, abie said:

Hello ALL, 

I have been reading many posts in this forum and they are very helpful. I just sent out my waiver application on the basis of "no objection" statement to DOS. Their website shows that application materials were received on January 21. Meanwhile, Indian Embassy informed me that they have sent the "no objection statement" directly to the waiver review division on 29th January. I am yet to see that on the DOS website. I guess at this point I need to keep waiting for any update from DOS. However, I got some doubts as I have seen somewhere in this Forum that there is I-612 form. I remember submitting only DS-3035 along with other materials. Am I missing something here? Your feedback will be very helpful. Also, is anyone has applied for waiver during this time, I would like to hear your experience and timeline. Thank you all so much!

Hi. You sound like you sent the DoS what they asked for. I-612 is what DoS sends to the USCIS with the Favorable Recommendation. So you don't need to do anything but wait to see an update on the website. Hope this helps. 

Edited February 14, 2020 by waiverTR

[waiver2020 2]

4 hours ago, JDRao said:

I have never received my approval notice by USCIS in my mail. When requested online, USCIS asked me to file I-824 with fee. Did any one face such situation? If so, how long does it take to get the duplicated waiver from USCIS. Can I attend the H1-B visa interview with just the print screen of approval?

I suggest you to call again and hope to speak to someone else. Never heard of such a thing before. Did you have a lawyer maybe? They may get another copy, if I am correct. Did you receive the receipt notice that says they got your case? I think the interview should be fine if you bring everything related to this waiver with you, so they can confirm it is your waiver case etc. Hope this helps. 

Edited February 14, 2020 by waiverTR

[JDRao 0]

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, I did get the acknowledgment to my Indian address. One of the agents suggested me to change the mailing address to US address can help in faster processing. But quite opposite happened. I never received to my US address on file.

I have got my H1-B visa petition approved and was wondering if i could attend my interview with the print screen to indicate that the waiver case was approved along with  other original documents.