J1 waiver 2020 NOS update timeline

[Chemres108 1]

NOS finally showed received after 2 months of sending by Embassy. It also looks like DOS updates the website once or twice in a month (today (Sep 17) after last update on Aug 28). Hopefully will get the FR soon. Can we file H1B with the DOS FR from this website or need DOS letter by post/ USCIS approval? 

 

Department of State Advisory Opinion Finding: Pending

Item	Action	Date
No Objection Statement	Received	September, 08 2020
Passport Data Page	Received	August, 17 2020
Fee	Received	August, 16 2020
Form DS-3035	Received	August, 16 2020
Form DS-2019	Received	August, 16 2020
Statement Of Reason	Received	August, 16 2020

[J1student 6]

22 hours ago, J1student said:

Anyone got an update from USCIS on their case after a favorable recommendation from DOS lately?

USCIS finally approved my I-612! I see the approval on https://my.uscis.gov/ but it still haven't updated yet on the https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus website. So make sure to create an account in https://my.uscis.gov/ which seems to have more details.

 

Goo luck to all of you waiting still, thank you for being here and updating each other on the progress of this tedious process. 🎉

[JaneNC 1]

I am just gathering research to submit the J-1 Waiver application for a teacher exchange program from Honduras. Do I need to obtain the No Objection Statement from the Honduras Embassy before I submit the application? I've read so many conflicting things online. Does any on this forum have any experience with the Honduras Embassy and the No Objection Statement? Thank you!

[J1student 6]

53 minutes ago, JaneNC said:

I am just gathering research to submit the J-1 Waiver application for a teacher exchange program from Honduras. Do I need to obtain the No Objection Statement from the Honduras Embassy before I submit the application? I've read so many conflicting things online. Does any on this forum have any experience with the Honduras Embassy and the No Objection Statement? Thank you!

You don't need the no objection statement before you submit the application to DOS. But it's better to have it started ASAP. Notice that you cannot apply for the non objection statement without a DOS waiver application number/bar code, so you need to at least print the waiver application first.

[JaneNC 1]

Thank you @J1student! I don't even know how to get the NOS started before I apply. I contacted the embassy and they need the waiver application number/bar code before they will give information. Is there something else I can do to get started? I'm at a loss.

[J1student 6]

1 minute ago, JaneNC said:

Thank you @J1student! I don't even know how to get the NOS started before I apply. I contacted the embassy and they need the waiver application number/bar code before they will give information. Is there something else I can do to get started? I'm at a loss.

@JaneNC to be clear, here is the process:

1. Fill you application for a j-1 waiver at https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov/
2. Print the application form + attach required documents as explain on the website
3. Send the packet to the Department of State (DOS)
4. Print the barcode from step 2 and send whatever required documents your embassy asks for to issue a non objection letter (each country has different requirements)
5. The Embassy will send the non objection letter to DOS, you cannot obtain this letter and send it yourself, it has to go from the Embassy to DOS directly
6. Wait for the decision from DOS
7. In case DOS gives Favorable Recommendation (FR), it will transfer the decision to USCIS, which will ultimately issue the actual waiver (for I-612)

Step 3 and 4 can be done in parallel; you are only involved in steps 1 to 4.

 

I hope this clarifies the process.

 

[JaneNC 1]

@J1student Thank you so much for your thorough guide! This helps a lot!

[BaiLong 1]

I finally got the FR

 

My timeline:

Application packet was sent to DOS:                                                                  May 22^nd 2020

Check was cashed:                                                                                                June 1^st 2020

DOS updated status – Documents received:                                                     August 4^th 2020

 

Application packet was sent to German Embassy:                                          May 22^nd 2020

German Embassy requested additional documents:                                       June 8^th 2020

Sending additional documents to German Embassy:                                      June 9^th 2020

German Embassy sent NOS by mail:                                                                  June 22^nd 2020

DOS updated status – Documents received:                                                    August 5^th 2020

 

DOS updated status - Favorable Recommendation Sent                                September 17^th, 2020

 

 

More updates to come...

[buckethead 0]

Hi everyone,

 

Two weird things happened to me. First is that the Form DS-3035 had a received date of Aug 24th, and then it was updated to Aug 31st. Not sure why. 

Second is that today my case has disappeared from the website. Has any of these things happened to any of you?

 

Thanks

[Chemres108 1]

2 hours ago, buckethead said:

Hi everyone,

 

Two weird things happened to me. First is that the Form DS-3035 had a received date of Aug 24th, and then it was updated to Aug 31st. Not sure why. 

Second is that today my case has disappeared from the website. Has any of these things happened to any of you?

 

Thanks

First one: It is same for me from the begining.

Second one: It was disappeared in the morning but came back again. Probabaly some systme issue.

On 9/21/2020 at 12:27 PM, BaiLong said:

I finally got the FR

 

My timeline:

Application packet was sent to DOS:                                                                  May 22^nd 2020

Check was cashed:                                                                                                June 1^st 2020

DOS updated status – Documents received:                                                     August 4^th 2020

 

Application packet was sent to German Embassy:                                          May 22^nd 2020

German Embassy requested additional documents:                                       June 8^th 2020

Sending additional documents to German Embassy:                                      June 9^th 2020

German Embassy sent NOS by mail:                                                                  June 22^nd 2020

DOS updated status – Documents received:                                                    August 5^th 2020

 

DOS updated status - Favorable Recommendation Sent                                September 17^th, 2020

 

 

More updates to come...

Congrats! did you get the final recommendation letter from DOS in mail?

 

[BaiLong 1]

3 hours ago, Chemres108 said:

Congrats! did you get the final recommendation letter from DOS in mail?

 

Thanks!

No, not yet. I don’t expect to receive it before next week at earliest.

[Chemres108 1]

9 hours ago, BaiLong said:

Thanks!

No, not yet. I don’t expect to receive it before next week at earliest.

ok. Let us know if and when you will receive it. 

[buckethead 0]

22 hours ago, Chemres108 said:

First one: It is same for me from the begining.

Second one: It was disappeared in the morning but came back again. Probabaly some systme issue.

Congrats! did you get the final recommendation letter from DOS in mail?

 

Thanks. Now everything is back

[PRIG 2]

On 9/18/2020 at 9:37 AM, J1student said:

 

Hey@J1,  Have you received final hard copy of waiver yet? My case got approved at the same time as yours. Thanks

 

USCIS finally approved my I-612! I see the approval on https://my.uscis.gov/ but it still haven't updated yet on the https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus website. So make sure to create an account in https://my.uscis.gov/ which seems to have more details.

 

Goo luck to all of you waiting still, thank you for being here and updating each other on the progress of this tedious process. 🎉

 

[J1student 6]

59 minutes ago, PRIG said:

 

FYI, I have received the USCIS final I-612 approval by mail on September 21st. The letter is postmarked September 17th and the actual notice was approved on September 11th. The website at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus still shows my case pending. (use https://my.uscis.gov/ which is more accurate.)