J1 visa waiver NOS 2021 Timeline

[Hebz 1]

Hello everyone,

 

Just wanted to check and see if anyone else is experiencing delays in the processing of NOS waiver application. My application was sent last week of August to the DOS and my embassy sent the NOS first week of September. The website got updated on Oct 21st stating that my application was received. I am still waiting for my NOS letter to appear on the website, it's been almost 3 months now...I'm hoping I can get everything set before April 2022 

[Coco8 1,042]

Ask the embassy to send it again. It shouldn't take this long. Maybe they have it or maybe the don't, but having the embassy send it again won't hurt.

Edited December 3, 2021 by Coco8

[mitron 0]

Hello,

On 12/3/2021 at 12:41 AM, Hebz said:

Hello everyone,

 

Just wanted to check and see if anyone else is experiencing delays in the processing of NOS waiver application. My application was sent last week of August to the DOS and my embassy sent the NOS first week of September. The website got updated on Oct 21st stating that my application was received. I am still waiting for my NOS letter to appear on the website, it's been almost 3 months now...I'm hoping I can get everything set before April 2022 

Any updates Hebz?

I have submitted my app roughly same time as you - mid-Aug for the DS3035 app and fees and end of Aug for the NOC from Embassy. My application was only marked Received on the portal on 9 Nov - even later than yours even though mine has reached them before! My J1 is also expiring soon and the Embassy re-confirmed that they had sent it on 27 Aug.

I have sent several emails to the DoS and of course they dont even reply.

Any tricks/tips?
 

[Hebz 1]

Hey everyone, just a quick update. I contacted the embassy to send another letter, and make sure that they send it with the barcode page to the DOS. They sent it on Monday and it appeared on the DOS website the next day (Dec 14). Not sure if it's the first letter that appeared or they were that quick to receive the second letter.

 

Next step is the recommendation from DOS, it says on their website that it takes 12 to 16 weeks after receiving all required documents. I hope it doesn't take longer than that!

[Coco8 1,042]

On 12/15/2021 at 12:21 PM, Hebz said:

Hey everyone, just a quick update. I contacted the embassy to send another letter, and make sure that they send it with the barcode page to the DOS. They sent it on Monday and it appeared on the DOS website the next day (Dec 14). Not sure if it's the first letter that appeared or they were that quick to receive the second letter.

 

Next step is the recommendation from DOS, it says on their website that it takes 12 to 16 weeks after receiving all required documents. I hope it doesn't take longer than that!

 

Yes, it tends to appear very fast. They probably (1) missed it the other time (2) the embassy didn't send the barcode or made some mistake.

[dr.neil100 0]

hello all, 

Here is my timeline.

I sent my application and documents in Sep-2021 first week, which USCIS received on Sep 9, 2021. Embassy sent NOS on Sep 20, 2021 to designated email.

My status got first time updated as received for documents like application, fees, etc. on Nov 16, 2021. However, NOS was pending even after a month.

Finally, I wrote to Public Inquiries Division at 212ewaiver@state.gov asking about delays in NOS receipt. Today I saw that NOS is showing to be received on Nov 15, 2021. They updated with back dated.

All documents received for now, status is still pending.

Good luck to all!

[palvi07 7]

Hi Everyone, 

 

I applied for J1 waiver to DoS in September 2021. The mail tracking shows that the documents were received on September 24, 2021 and the Indian embassy sent the NOC on Oct 4, 2021. J1 waiver tracking portal shows nothing till today. I am really stressed about it. Is it normal?

 

Looking forward to any suggestions. Thank you!

[mitron 0]

On 12/6/2021 at 2:05 PM, mitron said:

Hello,

Any updates Hebz?

I have submitted my app roughly same time as you - mid-Aug for the DS3035 app and fees and end of Aug for the NOC from Embassy. My application was only marked Received on the portal on 9 Nov - even later than yours even though mine has reached them before! My J1 is also expiring soon and the Embassy re-confirmed that they had sent it on 27 Aug.

I have sent several emails to the DoS and of course they dont even reply.

Any tricks/tips?
 

Just an update. I had asked the Embassy to resend the NOS to the DOS and they did so and in about 10 days, the DOS gave a favorable recommendation. But I dont know if the resending had anything to do with it since the day I got it was literally hte last day before their own FAQ-guided timeline of 16 weeks was up. I had emailed them multiple times about an update and they only did so when the 16 weeks was up. The Embassy also made a mistake on the letter due to a typo in the address. But the Barcode and Name, DOB etc at least were correct. Anyway, still waiting for the next steps from USCIS.

From my research, the final USCIS Waiver granting takes a couple of weeks at least. Also: The self-addressed, stamped enveloped I had sent to the DOS along with my Waiver Application still havent been sent back to me. I was under the impression that they send a copy of the Waiver Favorable recommendation to the applicant when they send it to USCIS. Perhaps this has changed since their email informing me said that they had sent it electronically.

If anyone gets the I-612 receipt from USCIS, please let us know the timeline of when you receive it compared to the time since the DOS recommendation was sent.

Edited January 4, 2022 by mitron

[Amoyar_Dever 30]

On 1/4/2022 at 2:46 PM, mitron said:

Just an update. I had asked the Embassy to resend the NOS to the DOS and they did so and in about 10 days, the DOS gave a favorable recommendation. But I dont know if the resending had anything to do with it since the day I got it was literally hte last day before their own FAQ-guided timeline of 16 weeks was up. I had emailed them multiple times about an update and they only did so when the 16 weeks was up. The Embassy also made a mistake on the letter due to a typo in the address. But the Barcode and Name, DOB etc at least were correct. Anyway, still waiting for the next steps from USCIS.

From my research, the final USCIS Waiver granting takes a couple of weeks at least. Also: The self-addressed, stamped enveloped I had sent to the DOS along with my Waiver Application still havent been sent back to me. I was under the impression that they send a copy of the Waiver Favorable recommendation to the applicant when they send it to USCIS. Perhaps this has changed since their email informing me said that they had sent it electronically.

If anyone gets the I-612 receipt from USCIS, please let us know the timeline of when you receive it compared to the time since the DOS recommendation was sent.

I haven't reached to that stage in my waiver process yet so can't tell anything ... sorry!

Could you please clarify if you counted 16 weeks from the day documents were marked as received on DoS website OR from the date they were mailed to St. Louis?

[mitron 0]

3 hours ago, Amoyar_Dever said:

I haven't reached to that stage in my waiver process yet so can't tell anything ... sorry!

Could you please clarify if you counted 16 weeks from the day documents were marked as received on DoS website OR from the date they were mailed to St. Louis?

I counted from the day the NOS was marked as sent to the DC office as per Embassy (the Application was sent to St Louis only 1-1.5 week earlier, but the fee was already cashed by then). And yes, its  unclear in their wording if they count it form the date its marked as received by the postal service at St Louis or the date in the portal. Basically it takes several weeks (~8 w) for them to simply cash the fee and forward the app to the DC office. So in general, if the NOS is sent about the same time as the Application, then I think its a waste of time (I didnt realize this). Send the App at least 8 weeks before the NOS, that way your App docs are at DC while the NOS is being prepared and sent. They will still count 12-16 w form the day the NOS arrives I think, but I think that is there to include the ~8w to send app from St Louis to DC. But there's no way to be sure. For me it went like this: Sent App to St Louis mid-Aug, Embassy sent NOS to DC end of Aug. Portal shows App (everything except NOS) in early to mid-Nov, Embassy re-sends NOS upon request on early Dec and get notified of Favorable reco sent to USCIS on mid Dec. So counting from end of Aug (the day all docs were at DC, and so should count as starting point) to when I got the Fav. Reco, it was almost exactly 16 weeks.

[Amoyar_Dever 30]

@mitronThanks. It's very clear and detailed. My check was cashed on Oct. 22, 2021. Embassy sent NOS on Oct. 29, 2021. It has been more than 10 weeks now but no record on the website of DoS. I am so worried. My DS-2019 is going to expire on April 30, 2022. I hope to get waiver by that time otherwise I would be in serious trouble. Same like you, DoS is not responding to my emails.  

[Coco8 1,042]

On 1/3/2022 at 5:56 PM, palvi07 said:

Hi Everyone, 

 

I applied for J1 waiver to DoS in September 2021. The mail tracking shows that the documents were received on September 24, 2021 and the Indian embassy sent the NOC on Oct 4, 2021. J1 waiver tracking portal shows nothing till today. I am really stressed about it. Is it normal?

 

Looking forward to any suggestions. Thank you!

The waiver does not show that the documents were received?

 

If that's the case, then contact them at that email they have. It is not normal.

 

 

[mitron 0]

On 1/6/2022 at 3:29 PM, Amoyar_Dever said:

@mitronThanks. It's very clear and detailed. My check was cashed on Oct. 22, 2021. Embassy sent NOS on Oct. 29, 2021. It has been more than 10 weeks now but no record on the website of DoS. I am so worried. My DS-2019 is going to expire on April 30, 2022. I hope to get waiver by that time otherwise I would be in serious trouble. Same like you, DoS is not responding to my emails.  

Hi, I think you have plenty of time since its April. It takes >8 weeks before the docs show up on the portal (and then they backdate it by about a week). Acc to my timeline, you should receive your fav. reco by end of Feb. Not clear on the I-612 receipt from USCIS (which is the final stage), but from earlier years' forums, it shouldn't take more than 2-3 weeks after that. You also have 1 month grace period after J1 expires.

[mitron 0]

On 1/3/2022 at 5:56 PM, palvi07 said:

Hi Everyone, 

 

I applied for J1 waiver to DoS in September 2021. The mail tracking shows that the documents were received on September 24, 2021 and the Indian embassy sent the NOC on Oct 4, 2021. J1 waiver tracking portal shows nothing till today. I am really stressed about it. Is it normal?

 

Looking forward to any suggestions. Thank you!

Hi, I would definitely email them since its been over the time that the whole process should take to finish at least form the DoS side. Include the Case no., DOB, Nationality, Reason for Waiver (No Objection), and reason for email. Stress the dates and the no. of weeks since final docs (i.e. NOC) was sent. Also ask Embassy to re-send the NOS to the DOS since they seem to update it more quickly once they receive it again.

[palvi07 7]

2 minutes ago, mitron said:

Hi, I would definitely email them since its been over the time that the whole process should take to finish at least form the DoS side. Include the Case no., DOB, Nationality, Reason for Waiver (No Objection), and reason for email. Stress the dates and the no. of weeks since final docs (i.e. NOC) was sent. Also ask Embassy to re-send the NOS to the DOS since they seem to update it more quickly once they receive it again.

Thank you so much!! I already emailed them 3 times and received no response. I also requested Embassy to resend NOC to DOS in first week of January and embassy did it. I am now waiting for any update. I am out of ideas now.