J1 Hardship Waiver 2021-2022 Timeline

[SMARCA4 15]

4 hours ago, RASHAB said:

Dear AnasMD,

Best wishes on your waiver. Would you mind sharing your detailed DOS (j1 status) time table? I am worried why are they taking too much time? It is neither I-140 nor I 485 application!

Thanks for the wishes and good luck to you as well.

 Filed to USCIS and DOS 6/21.

I-612&I-613 received by DOS mid 11/21.

No update since then.

 

I came across a few newly approved cases and all of them had their I-612&613 received between 8/21 and 11/21. So, trying to be optimistic and hope that my turn is going to be soon.

[MayurSh 0]

Dear all, 

My J-1 Hardship timeline: 

Submitted to USCIS 10/2020

Transferred to DOS 08/2021

I-612/613: Updated 05/2022

Still waiting for the response. not sure how long the wait is going to be, however it seems that they are moving a bit faster. Any insights?

Thanks

[SMARCA4 15]

57 minutes ago, MayurSh said:

Dear all, 

My J-1 Hardship timeline: 

Submitted to USCIS 10/2020

Transferred to DOS 08/2021

I-612/613: Updated 05/2022

Still waiting for the response. not sure how long the wait is going to be, however it seems that they are moving a bit faster. Any insights?

Thanks

I also think the same. Things seem to start picking up.

It looks like what matters the most in terms of processing time is the I-612/613 receivng date by DOS.
 

Good luck!

[MayurSh 0]

3 minutes ago, AnasMD said:

I also think the same. Things seem to start picking up.

It looks like what matters the most in terms of processing time is the I-612/613 receivng date by DOS.
 

Good luck!

Thanks for the response. My lawyer delayed in submitting DS 3035 for 7 months after case was transferred to DOS, not sure where they will count the date from: when the case was transferred to them or when they updated the I-612/613. Thanks

[Hardship_waiver 54]

Hi All,

Case submitted to USCIS+DOS: 10/2021

I-612/I-613 moved to DOS: 03/2022

 

No update afterwards. Expedite request denied. Status expiring in August 2022. If you have a hardship, how can you leave US (as hardship means if USC spouse or child leaves US, they will be in trouble). Decisions taking so long time. Without waiver no COS, AOS. 

[SMARCA4 15]

4 hours ago, MayurSh said:

Thanks for the response. My lawyer delayed in submitting DS 3035 for 7 months after case was transferred to DOS, not sure where they will count the date from: when the case was transferred to them or when they updated the I-612/613. Thanks

I submitted a request to expedite my case but it was denied. In the email I received from DOS, they said “Processing times start from when the case is complete”, and then they put my I-612/613 receipt date between parentheses. I guess the clock starts ticking as soon as they have the full package.

[Hardship_waiver 54]

Hi All,

          You must have idea of some current trends regarding hardship waivers. I have a few questions:

 

1) Have you seen much cases getting denied even after USCIS forwarded I-612/I-613 to DOS?

2) Is approval/denial country dependent? If yes, where Asian countries stand. 

3) For those whose J1 has expired but still haven't got approval, on which status are they staying in the U.S.?

 

Thank you for your comments.

[RASHAB 2]

22 minutes ago, Hardship_waiver said:

Hi All,

          You must have idea of some current trends regarding hardship waivers. I have a few questions:

 

1) Have you seen much cases getting denied even after USCIS forwarded I-612/I-613 to DOS?

2) Is approval/denial country dependent? If yes, where Asian countries stand. 

3) For those whose J1 has expired but still haven't got approval, on which status are they staying in the U.S.?

 

Thank you for your comments.

Hello Hardship_waiver:

You raised some very critical but so important questions. I have seen  a few cases from the FB status that they received unfavorable recom. even though USCIS forwarded I-612/I-613 to DoS. I am eagerly waiting for a decision from DoS. I am also very much interested to know answers of the above questions.

 

Regards and thanks.

[RASHAB 2]

On 4/6/2022 at 7:17 AM, Ghugho said:

They will eventually reply you expect 1 to 3 months but don't send them multiple inquiries, due to covid they are backed up. 

 

They did reply me last month, and said my file is complete and they will process it as soon as possible 

Hi Ghugho:

Do you have any update on your waiver?

Thanks.

[Ghugho 6]

4 minutes ago, RASHAB said:

Hi Ghugho:

Do you have any update on your waiver?

Thanks.

Hi Rashab, no whatsoever. I am officially entering 19th month with DoS tomorrow (June 1, 2022). My I612 and I613 are with DoS since December 2020.

[Pillowchis 6]

Hello!

 

I would like to know if anyone in this group submitted  Form I485 while waiting for waiver approval? 
 

Thanks in advance. 

[S9471 60]

On 5/31/2022 at 6:53 AM, Hardship_waiver said:

Hi All,

          You must have idea of some current trends regarding hardship waivers. I have a few questions:

 

1) Have you seen much cases getting denied even after USCIS forwarded I-612/I-613 to DOS?

2) Is approval/denial country dependent? If yes, where Asian countries stand. 

3) For those whose J1 has expired but still haven't got approval, on which status are they staying in the U.S.?

 

Thank you for your comments.

1. That depends. Waiver recommendation from Dos is generally independent of uscis because it all depends on who sponsored your program and what views they have on granting the waiver (e.g., is it fulbright or another program). USCIS forwarding the I-612/613 is not a guarantee of favorable recommendation.

2. Unlikely. It's dependent on who sponsored your program and whether you've received govt. funds. It's also dependent on what the sponsor thinks about you getting the waiver.

3. You're not allowed to stay in the US without status. You're running a huge risk of running into legal issues in the future if you do. for example, if you don't get the waiver, then you need to depart the US anyway since you can't adjust status, and then you also have a period of stay without a status that may cause issues in the future.

[SMARCA4 15]

Any idea how long does it typically take between favorable recommendation on DOS website and receiving the official waiver approval letter from USCIS by mail? (my waiver is still pending but I’m trying to know what to expect in regards to the processing time after approval).

[S9471 60]

Just now, AnasMD said:

Any idea how long does it typically take between favorable recommendation on DOS website and receiving the official waiver approval letter from USCIS by mail? (my waiver is still pending but I’m trying to know what to expect in regards to the processing time after approval).

Anywhere from two weeks to a few months - it depends on a lot of circumstncess...

[SMARCA4 15]

30 minutes ago, S9471 said:

Anywhere from two weeks to a few months - it depends on a lot of circumstncess...

may I know what kind of circumstances may factor in?

also, is it possible to submit the AOS application while waiting for the letter? Or do we need to have it in hand first?

 

Thank you