J1 waiver 2020 NOS update timeline

[hareru 1]

57 minutes ago, talboth said:

Hi @hareru,

 

      There is a chance that your status was never updated on their egov website and the mail might have been lost, both of which have been known to happen. Are you using my.uscis.gov to check status? That usually has more updated information. If both egov and my.uscis.gov shows received, please consider contacting USCIS emma chat or calling USCIS to ask about a status update from a live agent.

Thank you @talboth. I checked @  my.uscis.gov  but it is still showing a pending status  . I tried to call USCIS but I could not get past the automated system. Any tip how I can  talk to an agent on the phone at USCIS ?   Thank you all for your suggestions .

[talboth 0]

7 minutes ago, hareru said:

Thank you @talboth. I checked @  my.uscis.gov  but it is still showing a pending status  . I tried to call USCIS but I could not get past the automated system. Any tip how I can  talk to an agent on the phone at USCIS ?   Thank you all for your suggestions .

Hi @hareru, I think if you tell them that you have technical problems you can go past the automatic chat bot. Not sure about how to bypass the phone bot though. 

[hareru 1]

4 hours ago, talboth said:

Hi @hareru, I think if you tell them that you have technical problems you can go past the automatic chat bot. Not sure about how to bypass the phone bot though. 

Thank you @talboth. I will  try.

[Mike Frinch 0]

Hi All,

 

I'd like to share a small update. My FR was approved on March 02, 2021 (after exactly 16 weeks). As of today (March 18) I have not yet received a notice of action (containing a receipt number) from the USCIS.

I called USCIS at +1 800-375-5283 and did the following to get to talk with a live person:

 

- Tell the automated bot: "I have never received a case number";

- The bot asked me if I filed in my petition more than 30 days ago, I replied "Yes" (a white lie :P)

- The bot (magically and surprisingly) connected me with a representative.

 

I have called the number around 8:00 am ET. The representative was very kind: she shared with me the receipt number (after giving her my first name and last name). She also double-checked my current living address. I directly inserted the receipt number to my.uscis account (please see attached). My application is being processed at the Vermont Center. I should receive the hard copy of the notice of action in these days.

 

Hoping to receive the final decision soon. My waiver is based on NOS.

 

Thanks

 

[hareru 1]

3 hours ago, Mike Frinch said:

Hi All,

 

I'd like to share a small update. My FR was approved on March 02, 2021 (after exactly 16 weeks). As of today (March 18) I have not yet received a notice of action (containing a receipt number) from the USCIS.

I called USCIS at +1 800-375-5283 and did the following to get to talk with a live person:

 

- Tell the automated bot: "I have never received a case number";

- The bot asked me if I filed in my petition more than 30 days ago, I replied "Yes" (a white lie :P)

- The bot (magically and surprisingly) connected me with a representative.

 

I have called the number around 8:00 am ET. The representative was very kind: she shared with me the receipt number (after giving her my first name and last name). She also double-checked my current living address. I directly inserted the receipt number to my.uscis account (please see attached). My application is being processed at the Vermont Center. I should receive the hard copy of the notice of action in these days.

 

Hoping to receive the final decision soon. My waiver is based on NOS.

 

Thanks

 

Thank you @Mike Frinch for sharing your experience . I was able  to talk with a representative doing what you did . Good luck  to you and everyone . It is really tough to just sit and wait .

[ps_j1 0]

 

Hello All,

 

I have applied for J1-waiver because it was stamped in my passport that it applies to me. However, my DS2019 (issued in 2010 for a three month internship) didn't say that 212e applies to me.

Specifically, 

- I didn't receive government funding;

- nor the subject falls in my country (India)  skill list (group-11),

- nor I am a physician. 

 

Now it's has been more than four months, since the NOS was received by DOS, and the waiting is getting painful.  What could be the hold-up?

 

 

[Mike Frinch 0]

Hi @ps_j1,

 

Have you tried contacting them? 

 

I actually sent the following email to them around 12 weeks and 16 weeks after all the documents were received. Email: 212ewaiver@state.gov

 

To whom it may concern,

My name is XX and I am standing by awaiting a decision on the J1 Waiver based on No Objection (all the required documents were received at the beginning of November 2020). Given that my current J1 visa will expire soon, I would like to kindly ask to receive an advisory opinion as soon as possible. Details of my application follow:

Case Number: XX

First Name: XX

Last name: XX

Date of Birth: XX

Basis for the waiver  application: No Objection Statement

Best regards,

XX

 

They always replied within a week. First time just saying that the application was pending, while the second time they told me that I got FR.

 

Hope this help.

 

 

[ps_j1 0]

I have contacted them once, I got a canned response.

 

I contacted them via local senator representative, the first time they responded that   they do not have my NOS (despite it showing on the j1-waiver website). So I forwarded the screenshot to the senator representative, and now the response is "it will be processed as soon as possible" 😞 

[Mlle_Wanderlust 3]

11 hours ago, ps_j1 said:

 

Hello All,

 

I have applied for J1-waiver because it was stamped in my passport that it applies to me. However, my DS2019 (issued in 2010 for a three month internship) didn't say that 212e applies to me.

Specifically, 

- I didn't receive government funding;

- nor the subject falls in my country (India)  skill list (group-11),

- nor I am a physician. 

 

Now it's has been more than four months, since the NOS was received by DOS, and the waiting is getting painful.  What could be the hold-up?

 

 

I’m not sure as to why you’d need it for something issued in 2010- that’s already 11 years. Did you get another J1 to come here? When is your DS2019 expiring? 
 

really sorry to hear that I’m in an equally bad situation  

[Mlle_Wanderlust 3]

On 3/2/2021 at 10:27 AM, JMCPMT said:

Hi everyone,

 

First, wanted to say thank you all for sharing your experiences, it's been helpful to see as I wait for my situation to unfold. 

 

Unfortunately, I have not been as lucky. Thought I would share my timeline for everyone, even though it is not particularly inspiring or hopeful

• Submitted the J1 waiver application in June.
• NOS from the French Embassy took a long time, but was sent in November, and received in late November.
• Case was completed in late December when my sponsor views from NIH were submitted. Although this does not show up, it has been confirmed by my lawyer and an MD senator.
• J1 expired on February 7th, and grace period ends this Friday, March 7th
• In January, I contacted the MD senators, and they contacted DOS to expedite, but DOS refused the expedition, but confirmed that the case was complete.
• Last week, I submitted a letter from my PI indicating how much the lab needs me.

Nervously checking every day, envious of @dm2003's situation. I believe I have one of the tightest deadline situations, but it has not resolved, so that may clash with the theory that your deadline helps the situation.

 

Good luck to everyone!

Any update???

I am confused as to why you applied through no objection since you were subject to the 212(e) because of working at the NIH which means government funding. Why would the French Embassy have to provide a NOS then?

 

I hope you got a positive response.

[JMCPMT 1]

To answer your last question - non objection was the case that suited me most. I am not persecuted or under extreme hardship. The French embassy states that a job offer is a valid reason to get a NOS from them. I’m not sure how you think I should/could have applied
 

Main update (helpful for anyone with sponsor views, even though those are few)

 

In January 5th, the DOS responded to our lawyer and told them our case was complete, and in line to be processed. A few or so later, my senator got the same reply. This implied that our sponsor views had been received. 
 

however, 2 months passed, and our lawyer got suspicious. We contacted NIH, and the confirmed that they never received a request for sponsor views. We updated my senator, and they were able to get the DOS to finally request the sponsors views. NIH agreed to expedite the case, so I am waiting on them, and then will ask the DOS to expedite the case as they delayed the process a few months. 
 

side note: I worked for NIH and then Hopkins before transferring to UAB (all on J1) - This does not cause the 2yr req to accumulate. 

[ps_j1 0]

1 hour ago, Mlle_Wanderlust said:

I’m not sure as to why you’d need it for something issued in 2010- that’s already 11 years. Did you get another J1 to come here? When is your DS2019 expiring? 
 

really sorry to hear that I’m in an equally bad situation  

I came for an internship on J1 during my undergraduate education. Since 2011, I am on F1 visa and currently working on F1-OPT. The OPT expires in June, and my employer wants to file H1b as soon as possible.

[Mlle_Wanderlust 3]

7 hours ago, JMCPMT said:

To answer your last question - non objection was the case that suited me most. I am not persecuted or under extreme hardship. The French embassy states that a job offer is a valid reason to get a NOS from them. I’m not sure how you think I should/could have applied
 

Main update (helpful for anyone with sponsor views, even though those are few)

 

In January 5th, the DOS responded to our lawyer and told them our case was complete, and in line to be processed. A few or so later, my senator got the same reply. This implied that our sponsor views had been received. 
 

however, 2 months passed, and our lawyer got suspicious. We contacted NIH, and the confirmed that they never received a request for sponsor views. We updated my senator, and they were able to get the DOS to finally request the sponsors views. NIH agreed to expedite the case, so I am waiting on them, and then will ask the DOS to expedite the case as they delayed the process a few months. 
 

side note: I worked for NIH and then Hopkins before transferring to UAB (all on J1) - This does not cause the 2yr req to accumulate. 

I hope you get it soon. It’s really stressful.

 

your last point “ this does not cause the 2 year req to accumulate “, meaning if one transfers their J1 while being on the same program there’s only one waiver needed ??

[JMCPMT 1]

1 hour ago, Mlle_Wanderlust said:

I hope you get it soon. It’s really stressful.

 

your last point “ this does not cause the 2 year req to accumulate “, meaning if one transfers their J1 while being on the same program there’s only one waiver needed ??

Exactly

[Buse 0]

It is took a long time but finally I’ve got FR.