Hardship LM

Any news from those waiting at DOS since 2022?  I had to go back to my country and I wanted to request another J1 visa for a fellowship but was told by 2 lawyers that it would trigger another waiver in the future.  

Everything pending for me as well. 

USCIS received: April 7, 2021

USCIS sent to DOS: Sept 2, 2021.

DOS received: Feb 9, 2022.

Unfortunately I had to go back to my country and now my US citizen son had been hospitalized and needing so much medical services, going thru the real hardship right now. Hope we all get our response soon. Best wishes everyone. 

35 minutes ago, DrIdaddoq said:

I see. Thank! 
man, I check every day like 5 times like a crazy person. 

LOL I had to stop myself from doing that because it was way too much stress every time. So now I check once a day or every other day, and the days that I don't check my mental health is way better! haha   My J1 expires in 11 days, I 'll be leaving the country soon but my lawyer suggested to stay here even after J1 expires... I can't do it due to my finances but any thoughts ?

16 hours ago, Waiver 2021 said:

November 17, 2021 USCIS requested advisory opinion from DOS. DOS recived my DS-3035 application on March 18, 2021. However, there is no update about the delivery status of I-612/I-613 since then. Multiple inquiries to USCIS and DOS. USCIS says that they are waiting on DOS to provide an opinion. On the other hand, DOS says that they can not provide a recommendation until all forms are delivered. I am stuck in this situation. Is there anyone going through the same situation? 

In my case, they took them 5 months to update as received. 

Sent to USCIS: 4/7/21. Forwarded to DOS: 9/2/21.  DOS "received" date: 2/9/22.  Status: pending. 

42 minutes ago, PeterW said:

Hello, I noticed that your received date by DOS is 3 weeks ahead of mine. Have you received recommendation from DOS? Thks!

Hi, 

I'm around those dates too!

My DOS received date is February 9th, 2022.  No recommendation yet. 

However, USCIS forwarded my file to DOS on September 2nd 2021. It took them 5 months to update it !!   

Maybe it takes more time for ECFMG sponsored applicants? Is there a separate threat for IMGs? maybe we should create one and figure out our own trend/timeline

4 minutes ago, ErinK said:

unfortunately it's an automated response. I got the exact same response. I then requested an expedited processing based on humanitarian need that they rejected within a day. Not even enough time to go through the documents I sent them. My case is really urgent based on the opinions from two lawyers and the congress person who was trying to help us. It's literally the matter of life and death. It's all auto reply unfortunately. You don't lose anything by asking for expedited processing though. 

Yeah my lawyer tried twice to expedite the process, but same as you they denied it within minutes without reading my documents.  

I'm sorry you're going thru a life/death situation.  We are all super stressed out, I wish there was something else we could do like create a viral twitter thread or something to get the president's attention lol 

Helo!

I did my first congressional inquiry. This is what the DOS responded... Is this a general automatic response? I don't want to feel hopeful if it's just an automatic response to everybody.   Thanks for reading me. 

Thank you for contacting 212(e) Waiver Congressional Inquiries.

The Waiver Review Division is working to process "####" case. Processing times for waiver recommendations by the Department of State, Waiver Review Division vary depending on the basis under which the applicant requests a waiver of the two-year home-country physical presence requirement.  The processing time of nine to twelve months is an estimated timeframe and sometimes can take longer.  When all documents have been received, the processing time starts to run and the requests are taken in order of receipt.  Once a recommendation has been made, "####" case will be electronically forwarded to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) California Service Center (CSC) where  "####" J-1 waiver eligibility will be determined.  We assure you that the request will be processed as soon as possible.  "####" may continue to monitor the status of the request by going to https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov/ and using case number "####".

The Waiver Review Division does have an expedited processing track, but it is reserved only for those cases in which there is a significant humanitarian need or in which there exists a clear and significant U.S. government interest.  Should this office/the applicant feel this case meets one or both of these criteria, please send an email outlining the circumstances and clearly request expedited processing.

We hope that this information proves helpful. 

Regards,

Waiver Review Division

U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Consular Affairs

Any good news around here? If so, pleaaaase share and give us some hope 

Although this is killing me, I’d like to assume that they would want to accelerate the process because the fiscal year is about to end. Assuming they want to end the year with good numbers they should hurry up right now. 

23 hours ago, ErinK said:

Did you ever find the definitive answer to if are eligible for extension through fellowship? Assuming there is a fellowship out there that is willing to take applicants off cycle and sponsor J-1.

So you lawyer believes that a brand new DS2019 creates a brand new 2-year home residency requirement that you then need to waive? Wouldn't fellowship J-1 be through ECFMG? It's not like you are getting a new DS2019 from a completely different entity. Many don't extend for boards and go into fellowships after residency and I don't believe going into fellowship creates a second 2-year home residency for them. If it did, why would anybody on J-1 go into fellowship! 

ECFMG never said it would be a new DS2019, even though I asked in two different phone calls. They only said that they would not approve an extension of my J1 if I'm already out of residency.  Like no gaps allowed.  So  I guess the fact that I'm in my board extension period makes me not eligible for a fellowship extension.  However, the first person mentioned that I would have to withdraw my board extension before applying for fellowship extension but that it was up to the department of state to approve the fellowship J1 (either extension or new DS2019).  I have an offer for fellowship, but now I don't even know what the heck to do. 

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).   

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  

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.  

To complete my timeline... I applied early 2021.  USCIS sent to DOS on 9/2021. DOS updated files on 2/2022. 

Hello,  just sharing my timeline. I'm still waiting and it's been more than 4 months with DOS.  Last year a friend of mine got his answer in less than 4 months.  Please share your timeline just so we can support each other.  Thank you all for sharing.