J1 waiver 2020 NOS update timeline

[cherp 13]

20 hours ago, V.T. said:

Hello everyone, I just got a hold of my waiver from the USCIS.

Thought I should post my timeline, so people are aware of how long it's taking/what goes into it.

• April 2020, I fill out the electronic form DS-3035.
• May 2020, I request my government to issue a No Objection Statement (NOS).
• June 2020, my government requests the embassy in the US to issue a NOS to the Department of State (DoS) using the barcode from the DS-3035 form. 
• June 2020, I submit all the requested paperwork to the DoS (statement of reason, visas, passport, fee, DS-3035).
• October 2020, the DoS acknowledges receipt of the requested documents.
• November 2020, DoS tells me some documents are missing (which is not correct, since I kept track of everything I printed out and sent). I email them the requested documents (my advice: do not do that...mail them).
• July 2021, I ask a congressman to help my case advance. No luck.
• August 2021, I ask another congressman to help out. This time, it works. The DoS sends me an email saying "a waiver reviewer" is looking into my case.
• September 2021, the DoS tells me a document is missing (again). This time, just to be sure, I mail them everything (again).
• (mid) September 2021, I mail them a change of address form (this is reflected in the system in a week).
• (end of) September 2021, the DoS portal shows FR.
• (start of) October 2021, DoS sends me (and the USCIS) a physical copy of FR confirmation.
• (mid) October 2021, USCIS sends me an I-797C form stating they are considering my case. Within 5 days, their website shows waiver granted.
• (end of) October 2021, the waiver from USCIS comes in the mail.

 

Hope you find this helpful.

My recommendations:

• It is a waiting game, but if you feel it is taking too long, get your congresspeople/senators to talk to them on your behalf (two if need be).
• Do not email them. I would recommend mailing them missing documents (if applicable)

 

Good luck to you all!

Did they send the letters to the updated address no problem?

[pedroneo 26]

21 hours ago, V.T. said:

Hello everyone, I just got a hold of my waiver from the USCIS.

Thought I should post my timeline, so people are aware of how long it's taking/what goes into it.

• April 2020, I fill out the electronic form DS-3035.
• May 2020, I request my government to issue a No Objection Statement (NOS).
• June 2020, my government requests the embassy in the US to issue a NOS to the Department of State (DoS) using the barcode from the DS-3035 form. 
• June 2020, I submit all the requested paperwork to the DoS (statement of reason, visas, passport, fee, DS-3035).
• October 2020, the DoS acknowledges receipt of the requested documents.
• November 2020, DoS tells me some documents are missing (which is not correct, since I kept track of everything I printed out and sent). I email them the requested documents (my advice: do not do that...mail them).
• July 2021, I ask a congressman to help my case advance. No luck.
• August 2021, I ask another congressman to help out. This time, it works. The DoS sends me an email saying "a waiver reviewer" is looking into my case.
• September 2021, the DoS tells me a document is missing (again). This time, just to be sure, I mail them everything (again).
• (mid) September 2021, I mail them a change of address form (this is reflected in the system in a week).
• (end of) September 2021, the DoS portal shows FR.
• (start of) October 2021, DoS sends me (and the USCIS) a physical copy of FR confirmation.
• (mid) October 2021, USCIS sends me an I-797C form stating they are considering my case. Within 5 days, their website shows waiver granted.
• (end of) October 2021, the waiver from USCIS comes in the mail.

 

Hope you find this helpful.

My recommendations:

• It is a waiting game, but if you feel it is taking too long, get your congresspeople/senators to talk to them on your behalf (two if need be).
• Do not email them. I would recommend mailing them missing documents (if applicable)

 

Good luck to you all!

I also got request for missing documents, even though I sent everything. However, they told me to either mail or fax it. I chose to fax. Do you think I should mail it? My Embassy faxed them my NOS and everything seemed OK on DOS end.

[Sarade 0]

What if I extend my DS2019 while my j1 waiver is pending? Should I send new DS2019 form to DOS? Thanks!

[V.T. 4]

8 hours ago, cherp said:

Did they send the letters to the updated address no problem?

Yes, they were pretty good about dealing with change of address.

[V.T. 4]

7 hours ago, pedroneo said:

I also got request for missing documents, even though I sent everything. However, they told me to either mail or fax it. I chose to fax. Do you think I should mail it? My Embassy faxed them my NOS and everything seemed OK on DOS end.

Faxing should be ok.

In my opinion, it would not hurt mailing them as well.

From my experience, email does not work with them

[V.T. 4]

6 hours ago, Sarade said:

What if I extend my DS2019 while my j1 waiver is pending? Should I send new DS2019 form to DOS? Thanks!

If you have a DS2019 form that they don't have (including a potentially new one), I would.

I'm betting on being upfront about everything.

 

You might want to get professional advice on this. It sounds tricky...

[WaiverFinder 13]

A small, yet so reassuring, update on my side. Today the NOS was marked as received (on 5th of July) on their website. The other documents were marked as received on 6th of July. All the documents were sent at the end of May. I saw that some of you got the Favorable Recommendation quite fast after the NOS showed up. I wonder if this will be the case here too.

[erdpin 0]

22 hours ago, cherp said:

Did they send the letters to the updated address no problem?

Hello,

When you request an address change, do you resend two self-addressed, stamped legal-size envelopes? Because the other envelopes have our old addresses. Thank you!

[cherp 13]

1 hour ago, erdpin said:

Hello,

When you request an address change, do you resend two self-addressed, stamped legal-size envelopes? Because the other envelopes have our old addresses. Thank you!

I did not... but I still havent received any mail back so Idk

[sgrrrr 1]

On 9/22/2021 at 9:58 AM, MariTH said:

I actually just got an update in the system saying they have received my paperwork. Looking at your timeline, did they update the system with the "No Objection Statement" 5 days after your other documents were marked received or did they backtrack the date?

 

16 weeks, wow. Have you emailed them and asked for an update?

Hey! What was your 'received date'? I sent my documents more than 12 weeks ago and the check was also cashed but no update on the website. I emailed them but I am not expecting a reply anytime soon.. 

[pedroneo 26]

On 10/27/2021 at 9:59 PM, V.T. said:

Faxing should be ok.

In my opinion, it would not hurt mailing them as well.

From my experience, email does not work with them

Surprise, surprise. I have an update from that e-mail.

 

Today I received another e-mail asking for "READABLE" copies of the documents they requested, as apparently they could not read the faxed versions, seriously. Not only that, but they also requested copies of all my DS-2019s that according to them I forgot to fax (they have not requested copies of DS-2019 in the previous e-mail). This is insane. They request documents that I sent with my original package back in August.

 

I got so upset today that I sent them a copy of every single document by mail. I did Fedex overnight so they can get it by Friday 8:30AM. Why the hell are they requesting documents they are supposed to have? Did they just lose it and request again? Assuming they mark as received in the system and then ask for everything again, this is the only thing I can imagine. The incompetence in this Department is outrageous, and our fate is decided by these people.

 

Oh well, enough with the rant. At least I could mail directly to the Waiver Division instead of Missouri, where we have to mail for the start of the waiver application. My only positive thought is that they are working on my case... one can dream.

Edited October 29, 2021 by pedroneo

[Cris Santos 22]

@pedroneo what you described is truly outrageous… but yea, the good thing is that means they are working on your case and hope you’ll get a deliberation soon 🙌🏻
 

On my end the only news is that the Congressional Inquiry is now reflected in the system (DOS answer was not helpful at all, they just mentioned that my case was with an officer for review and processing 🙄). Hopefully this will trigger more updates 

[J1Indian 13]

1 hour ago, Cris Santos said:

@pedroneo what you described is truly outrageous… but yea, the good thing is that means they are working on your case and hope you’ll get a deliberation soon 🙌🏻
 

On my end the only news is that the Congressional Inquiry is now reflected in the system (DOS answer was not helpful at all, they just mentioned that my case was with an officer for review and processing 🙄). Hopefully this will trigger more updates 

Thanks. When was the enquiry actually made and how long did it take to reflect on the website?

[Cris Santos 22]

1 hour ago, J1Indian said:

Thanks. When was the enquiry actually made and how long did it take to reflect on the website?

I contacted my congressman at the end of September but I believe they only sent the inquiry on October 25th (I had to follow up with them multiple times). They got a reply on October 27th and the system was updated today (10/29) reflecting 10/28 as the date of inquiry. 

[pedroneo 26]

Did anyone ever send mail to the Waiver Division using this address?

 

Waiver Review Division
U.S. Department of State
CA/VO/DO/W
SA-17, Floor 11
Washington, DC 20522-1711

 

My Fedex overnight package I sent yesterday says "operational delay" due to incorrect address. #######? This is becoming a nightmare. See print screen attached.