BrazilianJ1

The specialist in my international office just told me that base on their experience in the past. I am changing status to H1-b visa.

Hi all,
I am writing to share my exhausting experience to get the J1 waiver bases - no objection. I had one year fellowship from my country in 2014/2015 than one year fellowship from my lab 2015/2016. After finishing my PhD I got a job offer from the same lab in US, to change my status I had to apply for the J1 waiver. My country embassy gave me the no objection letter right after my defense on December 9th 2016. Here I will share my timeline:
 
- DS-3035 and all documents needed sent on December 8th, 2016
- No objection statement (NOS) from Brazilian embassy sent on December 9th, 2016
- DOS received the documents on December 28th, 2016
DOS did not update the NOS as received, I emailed DOS on January 8th, 2017. I received a reply on January 12th saying that DOS did not receive the NOS and provided me a number to ask my embassy to fax the NOS in my behalf. 
- DOS received the NOS on January 13th, 2017.
- DOS recommended my J1waiver application and sent to USCIS the letter on February 16th, 2017
- The USCIS received the DOS recommendation on February 23rd 
- The USCIS notice of my application acceptance was received by me (in my country) on March 9th, 2017.
 
If you are applying for the J1 waiver email the DOS to follow up your process. Unfortunately that may not speed up your process but will help out if something goes wrong at some point (in my case they lost the NOS letter from my embassy). If you are changing your status you may not need to wait for the USCIS I-612 (waiver) form. Once your new visa is processed you can make you appointment in your embassy and they will be able to check that DOS recommended your waiver. 
 
Best of lucky!