TonyW

7 hours ago, Hardship_waiver said:

That explains well the ongoing crises for hardship cases (these cases only lead to an increased hardship along the process). At this stage, the hardship waiver is of no use as many have already fulfilled or will fulfill the two-years requirement in a few months by going home due to delayed decisions.  

 

The only thing an applicant gets in this black-box process (no seniority, no timeline) is everyday of suffering, losing job & opportunities by keeping false hopes with the system. 

The only way to end miseries of U.S. citizens facing hardship is by ending the hardship J-waiver categrory so that people can plan better for their loved ones facing extreme hardship.  

When I filed my I-612, I only had about 8 months to fulfill the two years requirement.

I have filed five I-539 forms to Extend Nonimmigrant Status (I was a tourist to accompany my family). The fourth one was denied by USCIC so I had to leave the US.

It was very painful. 

2 hours ago, g3dan00 said:

Hi, sorry to hear that you went into trouble and congrats on the approval. By 21 days you mean from the day you received Favorable Recommendation until the day you saw "Case Approved" in Uscis i-612 case status? 

DoS made their decision and sent the recommendation on the same day.  I don't know when USCIS received the recommendation but it was approved 21 days after I tracked Favorable Recommendation on DoS website.

An update on my case:

It took 21 days from DOS Sent Favorable Recommendation to USCIS final approval in Sep 2023.

Hopefully, this will help.

I-613->DOS favorable April 2022-Sep 2023

Ironically I had to leave the US to fulfill the 2 year requirement and literally, I don't need the approval. My family in the US received the approval notice on the same day for my immigrant visa interview. 

12 hours ago, Dstar said:

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

US gov sponsor+US spouse and child

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.

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

7 hours ago, extreme_hardship said:

Hey congrats @TonyW, though I am sorry that it took so long for you

Do you mind sharing how long it took the Sponsor to make a decision? I.e when was the request for sponsor views sent and when was the response received ?

Also what was the basis for hardship? Was there a citizen child involved ?

 

Thanks a bunch!

My sponsor is a federal research institute, but it surprised me that it only took 5 days from Request for Sponsor Views to issuing a favorable sponsor view, and in the email from my sponsor it said Please allow up to two weeks for the sponsor views to be noted on the Department of State’s tracking website.

HOWEVER, it took 30 days for DoS to update their website saying Sponsor Views Received.

Yes, a citizen child is involved. Ironically when I first applied I only had one child, now I have two and the younger one is 1 year old now.

3 minutes ago, Freidrichm said:

Congratulations! Is the 72 weeks wait at the DOS alone or in total DOS + USCIS? 

72 weeks DoS alone...

72 weeks/504 days/16 months

I am back in my home country and will fulfill 2 years next month, so I don't know what is the point of this ridiculous waiting.

PS. The sponsor sent their recommendation, and 30 days later DoS finally Received it.

Because of the pandemic, I have to go back to the US to support my US family, even though I only have a few months left to fulfill this inhuman restriction.

1. In May 2022 DoS received all the documents including I-613 form. In the same month, I emailed DoS to expedite my case but like everyone else they refused. Later I emailed them again with a doctor's letter but  DoS said each case had only one chance to expedite and I used mine in April. I emailed back that there was no such statement on their website. 

2. Later DoS changed the processing time to 52 weeks, and I contacted DoS immediately but they said it was always up to 52 weeks.

3. In June 2023 I emailed DoS how I could file a formal complaint and on the second day, they sent my case for sponsor view. My sponsor (US gov) sent FAVORABLE sponsor view to DoS and suggested in two weeks DoS will update. Almost one month passed, no update. 

I have been tracking this topic for years as a guest. Today I want to tell my story to support all you guys who have similar experiences, the ones who are willing to file a lawsuit. I left the US in early 2023, leaving my US family alone in the US. In one month, regardless of DoS's decision, I have been in my home country for 2 years, but I will always support you guys like me. 

Actually, I lived in the DC area, I am thinking of a protest in front of their office building with a banner. I would like you guys can share a slogan.