LJauregui

3 hours ago, Coco8 said:

USCIS approved my waiver in a week. I cannot believe you are still waiting!

Wow, maybe trying to get it expedited by USCIS or getting the senator to help expedite my case may be actually delaying the decision. Good to know it took a weak in your case. Also in DMM15 case it was super fast.

Thanks

17 hours ago, DMM15 said:

Hi, 

Here is my timeline if it helps:

 

May 26th 2017: DOS received NOS from embassy

July 7th 2017: Favorable Recommendation Sent

July 19th 2017: USCIS received recommendation

August 7th: Case shows approved in website

 

Hi DMM15, was your waiver processed in Vermont center?.  Also, did you get it expedited?. I have same timeline as yours except my case has not been approved by USCIS yet and it is in expedite method since past Sunday (08/06/17).

43 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

Oh, OK. I think you need the USCIS final decision. That is what people who are applying for other visas have to show. Hopefully once you get the number the Mass Senator can expedite it for you. 

 

If you are in the US they should have done the H1B in the US. You could have stayed in the US and then go to Peru for the holidays and get the stamp on the passport. 

 

Good luck! All this is a pain in the a** I am in a very similar situation so I get it.

 

I was so lucky that the international office could process my H1B visa around March 2017 few weeks before Trump stopped the premium processing for H1B visas. So my only choice was the consular processing. 

Good luck for you as well!. But it is really frustrating to wait for the waiver, I hope I could have done it earlier.

4 hours ago, Coco8 said:

 

Hi: People in the US that apply for H1B inside the US can apply for it without the final decision from USCIS. Basically, once you have the USCIS receipt with the DOS decision you send the H1B application and they decide H1B+waiver at the same time.  

 

Yes, USCIS takes a while. Plus, there is a lot of variation on how long it takes to decide. There is also variation when it comes to how long the USCIS receipt takes to arrive too. Some people got it in a week and some in 3 weeks, probably due to how long the mail takes to arrive. 

 

I'm not sure it would be helpful, but if you e-mail DOS (the waiver email), you can ask them if they can give you an official letter with the final decision for your H1B application. I've read that some people got that. I am not sure if the USCIS number is on the letter but it might help you out. DOS takes a week to answer an email. 

 

PS: I am confused. If they have already approved your H1B then maybe you don't need a J1 waiver.  I have to send the waiver along with the H1B application. That is what the Brazilian guy did as well.

Thanks Coco8 for the information. 

My H1B visa has been approved by consular approval, but I have to go out of the US and get an interview at a US embassy in my country. I was told I need to show them my J-1 visa waiver, however I am not certain if the letter from DoS is enough or I need the form I-612 from USCIS. I know for H1B visa using the Change of Status method the letter from DoS is enough.

Thanks

On 4/3/2017 at 9:25 PM, BrazilianJ1 said:

Here is my timeline with the H-1B processing time

 

- 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 

- My University got the DOS recommendation letter on March 6th

- H-1B premium petition was submitted on March 7th

- H-1B approval was update at the system on March 15th

- H-1B approval was received by my University on March 20th

- I received the H-1B approval documents on March 24th

- I had my US consulate interview on March 27th

- Start date at work on April 3rd.

Hi everyone and BrazilianJ1,

I am a post-doctor at Harvard University and Harvard has applied for me to the H1B visa by consular method. My H1B visa was approved back in March of 2017. I have also applied for the J1 visa waiver in March and I got the waiver recommendation from the DoS on July 7th and I am waiting for the waiver from the USCIS. I have not gotten the receipt number yet so when I call USCIS I can not get my case expedited. I am waiting for the waiver from USCIS so I can go back to my home country (Peru) and get my visa stamp. I want to ask you, how come you did not need to wait for the USCIS waiver approval?. How is your case different than mine. Did anyone else applied for H1B visa using the waiver recommendation from DoS instead of the waiver from USCIS?. 

I also contacted the Mass senator and she is emailing the USCIS but I don't know how much that can help.

Please, let me know. 

Thanks.

Here is my timeline:

Hi there, I am applying for the J-1 visa waiver by no objection and I am waiting for the DoS advisory opinion. Two weeks have already past, and I am worry it will take long time, based on recent timelines posted here. Did anyone tried to email the DoS or a congressman/senator to expedite the process in the DoS or USCIS steps?. My current work permit expires in July 17th and I cannot renew without the waiver.

Thanks in advance.