J1 Hardship Waiver 2021-2022 Timeline

[SMARCA4 15]

Sent to USCIS early 6/21

I-612/613 sent to DOS mid 8/21

I-612/613 updated on DOS website mid 11/21.

 

Nothing since then. 

Tried multiple congressional inquiries with no luck so far.

 

I have till 9/30 to adjust to GC, after that H1b Is my only option I guess..

 

[COPK 5]

USCIS requested opinion on 3/21, DoS received I-613/I-612 on 12/21. My case is still pending too. 

[MayurSh 0]

On 6/29/2022 at 7:26 AM, HardshipWaiverApr said:

Hey MayurSh,

 

I have similar timeline:

• Mailed end of October
• On hold at USCIS end of March
• DOS received I612/I613 end of March

DOS took 10 days to update I612/I613. Seems like you don’t have a scholarship, why did you do Hardship instead of No Objection then?

Thanks for sharing, coz we can't get NOC for physicians from our country. 

[SMARCA4 15]

I hate to bring bad news but the hardship processing time just got updated “officially”.

 

it used to be 4-6 months, now it’s 9-12!

[Pillowchis 6]

1 hour ago, AnasMD said:

I hate to bring bad news but the hardship processing time just got updated “officially”.

 

it used to be 4-6 months, now it’s 9-12!

Thank you for the information. 

[PeterW 17]

Hello, do you guys have any update in DOS? It is so painful to wait.😭

[Hardship LM 1]

Do we know when the time starts counting?  My lawyer is not sure if it starts when everything is sent to DOS, or when we first file to USCIS? any idea?

I filed to USCIS on April 2021.  On September USCIS sent to DOS.  

[PeterW 17]

7 minutes ago, Hardship LM said:

Do we know when the time starts counting?  My lawyer is not sure if it starts when everything is sent to DOS, or when we first file to USCIS? any idea?

I filed to USCIS on April 2021.  On September USCIS sent to DOS.  

It should be the time shown in the DOS website they received it.

[SMARCA4 15]

They start counting from the day they receive I-612/613. Whatever happens before that doesn’t matter in terms of processing time.

[Pillowchis 6]

35 minutes ago, Hardship LM said:

Do we know when the time starts counting?  My lawyer is not sure if it starts when everything is sent to DOS, or when we first file to USCIS? any idea?

I filed to USCIS on April 2021.  On September USCIS sent to DOS.  

Per DOS “When all documents have been received, the processing time starts to run and the requests are taken in order of receipt.”

DOS received my I612/613 Sept 2021 and Im still waiting.

[PeterW 17]

5 hours ago, Pillowchis said:

Per DOS “When all documents have been received, the processing time starts to run and the requests are taken in order of receipt.”

DOS received my I612/613 Sept 2021 and Im still waiting.

It is so painful! I hope you will receive the recommendation soon! 

[PeterW 17]

Hi guys, any progress of your hardship waive from DOS during these days?

[Hardship LM 1]

No news. But I have a question for the physicians in the group,  do you guys know if doing a fellowship while waiting for the waiver is permissible? I finished my residency on 6/30/22.  thank you  

[SMARCA4 15]

I think it is permissible, because I was able to renew my DS-2019 while waiver is pending. However, keep in mind that you won’t be able to renew DS-2019 as soon as waiver gets approved. So, once approved, you have till the end of the academic year, then you need to switch to H1 or GC, of whatever options available for you..

 

may I ask how long your waiver has been pending? And when did DOS receive your I-612/613 forms?

[Hardship LM 1]

Well I just called ECFMG, and because I extended my J1 for the boards I cannot really apply for a fellowship right now, they were kinda vague about it only saying that board extension should not be used as a bridge in between residency and fellowship. My lawyer said that if the fellowship will give me a new DS2019 then I will need to file for another waiver.  So not a good option for me I believe. 

 

I started my waiver application in April 2021.  DOS said they received my documents in February 2022. (frustrating because they were sent in September 2021).