J1 Hardship Waiver 2021-2022 Timeline

[TonyW 6]

Hi does anyone know how long it takes for Dos sent its Recommendation to USCIS making a decision? thank you.

[Hardship_waiver 54]

On 9/17/2023 at 1:27 AM, lennikov said:

It feels like that because it is the punishment for people who want to break their promise to return to their home country, so DOS ensures that this category waiver will take 24 months or more. In many cases, people run out of legal presence unless they can get an O-1 you will run out of legal presence on J-1 eventually before the decision by DOS is made to return to their home country, fulfill their 2 years home residency, return to the US and get their green card, completely forgetting about the Hardships case only to get a letter with Favorable (and completely useless by that point) decision from DOS some 3-4 years down the line. 

Hardship is one among the five waiver categories. The rest categories also break their promise and their reason is primarily their job (except persecution). Incase of hardship, their is a US citizen involved (with actual hardship once it crosses the USCIS stage). This punsihment is only for hardship category and especially for the US citizens. Doesn't make any sense. 

[ErinK 35]

28 minutes ago, Hardship_waiver said:

Hardship is one among the five waiver categories. The rest categories also break their promise and their reason is primarily their job (except persecution). Incase of hardship, their is a US citizen involved (with actual hardship once it crosses the USCIS stage). This punsihment is only for hardship category and especially for the US citizens. Doesn't make any sense. 

I think this is the way they look at all these other categories:

 

-No objection: Oh you have a phd and your country doesn't need you. Great! Stay! (This is the easiest category)

-Interested U.S. government agency: You want to work for an agency we care about? Great! Stay!

-Conrad 30: You want to be a doctor in an underserved area in the States that no U.S. citizen wants to go and you are willing to lock yourself in a 3-year harsh contract? Go right ahead 

-Persecution: I guess we can't tell you to go back to a country that will hurt you or kill you. Whatever. Just stay here. We know that even if we reject your waiver, you are going to apply for asylum and probably win

 

You see how hardship is the only category they can/want to mess with? 

[extreme_hardship 22]

9 hours ago, TonyW said:

Hi does anyone know how long it takes for Dos sent its Recommendation to USCIS making a decision? thank you.

From what I observed, its usually a month for the recommendation to reach USCIS and another month for the USCIS to send the final decision. 
did you get a favorable from the DOS? 

[surefire6 13]

On 9/12/2023 at 11:55 PM, J1 Physician said:

We can not file this before 13 months mark?

Correct is has to be past 12 months so Mandamus attorneys wont file before the 13 month mark.

 

[neonatal2023 2]

Any Venezuelan in this group that applied for hardship waiver secondary to US citizen spouse and child, that got approved or denied ? Or for how long have you been there waiting? Thanks! 

[Sabina Bart 28]

Hi guys, does anyone know how to change address with DOS? I just moved to a new state. My lawyer said it’s in the portal, maybe she meant via email. 

[Resonance20 3]

Its on  the DOS website.

 

https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov

 

 

Click on inform DOS about change of address. Fill the online form, sign and mail to them.

[Hardship_waiver 54]

12 hours ago, ErinK said:

I think this is the way they look at all these other categories:

 

-No objection: Oh you have a phd and your country doesn't need you. Great! Stay! (This is the easiest category)

-Interested U.S. government agency: You want to work for an agency we care about? Great! Stay!

-Conrad 30: You want to be a doctor in an underserved area in the States that no U.S. citizen wants to go and you are willing to lock yourself in a 3-year harsh contract? Go right ahead 

-Persecution: I guess we can't tell you to go back to a country that will hurt you or kill you. Whatever. Just stay here. We know that even if we reject your waiver, you are going to apply for asylum and probably win

 

You see how hardship is the only category they can/want to mess with? 

Hardship: There are many hardship cases where applicants have PhD too. 

From any aspect, it's hard to understand what DoS wants to achieve. At least it's clear, it's not Covid, it's something else. 

[Mickey344 14]

Any new hardship approvals this month? 10 days to go for the end of the 2023 fiscal year.

[TonyW 6]

On 9/19/2023 at 10:22 PM, extreme_hardship said:

From what I observed, its usually a month for the recommendation to reach USCIS and another month for the USCIS to send the final decision. 
did you get a favorable from the DOS? 

Yes, 17 months, approved this month.

[Hardship_waiver 54]

22 hours ago, Mickey344 said:

Any new hardship approvals this month? 10 days to go for the end of the 2023 fiscal year.

Saw this one today. It doesn't show the date of recommendation, but it was pending till last week. 

[Hardship_waiver 54]

Another one got it finally. 

[Mickey344 14]

21 months for recommendation. Wow!! 

[Dstar 0]

11 hours ago, TonyW said:

Yes, 17 months, approved this month.

Congrats. Did you have a US government sponsor? or based on US spouse or child?