J1 waiver questions

[J1visa 10]

Hi, everybody! 

Thank you so much for your valuable posts. I am still in my process of receiving my J-1 waiver. So far, this is were my case goes. It took 3 months for my government send the NOS and USCIS to receive it. I have read about the rest of the process and I guess I have to wait until the 16 weeks are due. Times are really long!! 😫

I have some questions and hopefully someone of you can help me to clarify them, please.

-For the change of status in the checklist of the I-485, says:

"Documentation of immigrant category, such as a copy of Form I-797, Approval or Receipt Notice, for the Form I-130 filed on your behalf (unless you are filing your Form I-485 with the Form I-130 filed on your behalf)" is that the final notice that they send us to the mail? or we can download it from the website? 

 

- I am not pretty sure when I have to notify my J-1 sponsor that I got married and in the process of changing my status. Some people say I have to notify them when I send the adjustment of status papers,  other people say as soon as I get my waiver approved, but I really don't know. Any advice, please? Or could anyone tell me how did you do? I am really nervous thinking about it. I don't want it affects my adjustment of status process. ☹️ 

 

Thank you! 

 

[PK_ 43]

On 11/2/2019 at 3:19 PM, J1visa said:

-For the change of status in the checklist of the I-485, says:

"Documentation of immigrant category, such as a copy of Form I-797, Approval or Receipt Notice, for the Form I-130 filed on your behalf (unless you are filing your Form I-485 with the Form I-130 filed on your behalf)" is that the final notice that they send us to the mail? or we can download it from the website? 

This has nothing to do with J1 waiver. This is related to filing I-130 and I-485 concurrently, so you should send both I-130 and I-485 in the same package. See https://www.uscis.gov/greencard/concurrent-filing-form-i-485

If you have already sent I-130, then you will need to attach the I-130 approval or receipt notice with the I-485 form.

 

On 11/2/2019 at 3:19 PM, J1visa said:

- I am not pretty sure when I have to notify my J-1 sponsor that I got married and in the process of changing my status. Some people say I have to notify them when I send the adjustment of status papers,  other people say as soon as I get my waiver approved, but I really don't know. Any advice, please? Or could anyone tell me how did you do? I am really nervous thinking about it. I don't want it affects my adjustment of status process.

For your marriage status, you may want to update your sponsor since it may affect your health insurance and/or income tax withholding.

For adjustment of status, you don't really need to update anyone since your J1 visa is still valid. Once you have received EAD, then you may inform them to update I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification).

For the J1 waiver, you don't really have to notify the program sponsor unless your sponsor needs to be involved in the waiver process (e.g. government sponsored).

 

As far as the adjustment of status process, you just need either the DOS favorable recommendation letter OR the final USCIS I-612 approval notice. You will be receiving the DOS favorable recommendation letter first. Based on your timeline, I would expect you to received it within the next 1.5 months. 

[PK_ 43]

We have just received the physical DOS favorable recommendation letter, and it says at the bottom that the letter is also sent to

• Your country's embassy
• All of your program sponsors
• You

So, they will all be notified of your waiver favorable recommendation.

[J1visa 10]

11 hours ago, PK_ said:

We have just received the physical DOS favorable recommendation letter, and it says at the bottom that the letter is also sent to

• Your country's embassy
• All of your program sponsors
• You

So, they will all be notified of your waiver favorable recommendation.

I am glad you finally have it. Thank you for sharing with us. 

 

Thanks a lot!  

Edited November 9, 2019 by J1visa

[cosmonauts 125]

My sponsor was aware that I got married because they gave me the day off We timed our AOS with the end of my DS-2019, so we sent it about a month before it expired. As I also learned from that experience, getting a waiver doesn't allow you to get your DS-2019 extended. I wanted to see if I could get an extension for the summer in order to reduce the time I couldn't work but it wasn't possible.

 

I also didn't have the actual waiver in my hands when I sent my AOS package because we were cutting it too close but we had the favorable recommendation. We brought it with us to our AOS interview but they never asked for it.

[J1visa 10]

On 11/12/2019 at 6:11 PM, tamaara said:

My sponsor was aware that I got married because they gave me the day off We timed our AOS with the end of my DS-2019, so we sent it about a month before it expired. As I also learned from that experience, getting a waiver doesn't allow you to get your DS-2019 extended. I wanted to see if I could get an extension for the summer in order to reduce the time I couldn't work but it wasn't possible.

 

I also didn't have the actual waiver in my hands when I sent my AOS package because we were cutting it too close but we had the favorable recommendation. We brought it with us to our AOS interview but they never asked for it.

Tamaara, thank you so much.... Did you receive the favorable recommendation in paper as well? Do you speak Spanish? Can I ask you in Spanish if so, please? 

Edited November 16, 2019 by J1visa

[cosmonauts 125]

33 minutes ago, J1visa said:

Tamaara, thank you so much.... Did you receive the favorable recommendation in paper as well? Do you speak Spanish? Can I ask you in Spanish if so, please? 

Of course, send me a private message.

[Rachlee92 8]

Hi, I’m sorry this doesn’t answer your question but can I ask when you saw the first update on your case status? Were you able to see it soon after you had sent the documents in?