Advisory opinion for only one of the two J1 programs

[gsecer 0]

Hi everyone,

I’ve had two separate J-1 programs.
• The first was government-funded, so I already know I’m subject to the 212(e) two-year home-residency rule.
• For the second program, I would like to request an advisory opinion.

The DOS instructions say to include every DS-2019 I’ve ever had. My concern is that if I send in the forms from the first program, the reviewer might simply decide I’m subject to 212(e) without looking closely at the second program. Or simply, the reviewer may not make separate evaluations for each program.

Would it be acceptable to submit only the DS-2019s from the second program for the advisory opinion, or would that be considered misleading?

Thanks for any advice!

[appleblossom 4,384]

10 hours ago, gsecer said:

Would it be acceptable to submit only the DS-2019s from the second program for the advisory opinion, or would that be considered misleading?

 

 

It would not be acceptable, no. The instructions are super clear, they say 'every/all……..ever issued to you' so you must include every one. 

 

They'll be able to see both anyway, so trying to hide one wouldn't be a good idea. You also have to provide evidence that you've completed the 2 year HRR if applicable, so that should be it obvious to the reviewer that you've completed the requirement for the first program. 

Edited June 24 by appleblossom

[gsecer 0]

6 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

It would not be acceptable, no. The instructions are super clear, they say 'every/all……..ever issued to you' so you must include every one. 

 

They'll be able to see both anyway, so trying to hide one wouldn't be a good idea. You also have to provide evidence that you've completed the 2 year HRR if applicable, so that should be it obvious to the reviewer that you've completed the requirement for the first program. 

Thank you!

I haven't completed the 2 year HRR for the first one yet.

I just know that I am subject to it.

That said, I want to learn whether there is any additional requirement from the second one.

Do you have any idea how can I ask them to provide guidance on the second one separately?

 

 

Edited June 24 by gsecer

[Boiler 47,432]

I am not sure I have seen someone with 2 2YRHRR before? Can they be served consecutively was my first thought.

[gsecer 0]

18 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I am not sure I have seen someone with 2 2YRHRR before? Can they be served consecutively was my first thought.

My understanding is that one may have served some of the first one before the second one begins.

[jan22 3,174]

On 6/24/2025 at 8:21 AM, Boiler said:

I am not sure I have seen someone with 2 2YRHRR before? Can they be served consecutively was my first thought.

They can be served concurrently once the second J-1 program has been completed and the person has left the US.  Any time spent in the home country between the two program could not, of course, be applied to meeting the requirement for the second program.  So, the second one essentially “resets the clock” back to zero but the time accumulated after the second J-1 applies to both.

 

Important note — the home country residence must be tha same for the two programs.  If there’s a different home country for the second one, the two-rear residency requirement must be met for each country in that country, which can’t possibly be done at the same time.