JWaiver_2019

On 7/23/2019 at 5:06 PM, eliottreid said:

That is incorrect. I know of at least 4 people who got it. Even in this forum you'll find people who got it.

Agree, depends on how you present your case and prepare in advance.

On 6/22/2019 at 12:08 AM, eliottreid said:

Hey @JWaiver_2019, any idea what I should do for my sponsor? I emailed the person on my DS2019 a month ago and she didn't respond  I know sponsor view can take forever if they don't expedite it. 😕 

I am not sure for your case .. As I have provided all details in my earlier posts to guide all other applicants, with all my actions to expedite things and resolve issues I faced, I am sharing here again, but all applicants should read all posts and trust me it will really pay you back (choice is yours):

I did some home work (including reading all past posts/threads in this forum and learning from experiences) before submitting application and was in direct contact with the office responsible for sponsor views (in my case, office was mentioned on DS2019). I was communicating with them since beginning of application (actually I called them for advice before submitting DOS application as well), and kept them updated with the progress and was not difficult for me to request the office to return sponsor views within few days of DOS request (check my timeline).

May be I was lucky since this depends from case to case, some offices are easy to communicate others not. Just try to get office contact information (hard to get for full brights I believe) .. but do whatever you can .... or wait ... and try to talk or visit in person rather than sending email. This is my advice, if possible in your situation.

1 hour ago, Olufunke said:

IHi guys, please advise, my case has been pending since March 19th, reached out to my lawyer and he said he's waiting for Dos to send the case number to send to the embassy for my No Objection Statement...i told him to use the same case number he wrote on the packet....please guys am so confused right now, and I dnt know if he's wrong or right

Your case processing has not started yet and pending your action actually.

It is your lawyer's responsibility to guide you correctly.

Try to read all posts in this thread and you will get all required information and can save time and money and some peace of mind.

When u apply online, u get packet with case number from DOS website and this is all what you need (if didnt get case number before).

In packet u get some papers to be submitted to you embassy and it already have printed case number privided by DOS. So which case number your lawyer need? Is this first time for him. 

Check yourself DOS J1 waiver web page and read all steps carefully and you will get idea what is missing from your side.

Ley us know even if some doubts remain in your mind.

DoS will open and start processing your case once receive NOS from embassy else no way to blame DOS for delays.

On 6/6/2019 at 4:08 AM, Tissa said:

I just now found this forum. Hopefully someone can answer my question because our lawyer gives us very vague estimates as far as the timeline goes.

We filed for Hardship waiver forever ago and have been waiting. I was under J1 and the program was sponsored by the USA. As of today here is where we are as far as our waiver goes (see the image). Looks like Sponsor views have been received in April. Given all of your experiences and statistics you guys have been following up with here, how long till we hear anything at all about our case? How much longer till we finally get a decision on the waiver? 

 

Thank you in advance!

May be you can submit this Qs at Hardship waiver forum. This thread is for No Objection category and we don't have much information on your hardship waiver situation.

14 hours ago, Illy said:

Hi,

I wanted to give you an update on my status. Something weird happened, I received in the mail a copy of the favorable recommendation from the DoS dated May 31.

Although still in the website they show no info (no docs received, nor NOS, it is still a blank page!)

I thought I would write it in case the same happens to anyone else. I guess maybe they forgot to update the info on the website all together for my case...

 

Now, I just wanted to see if someone could confirm: once I receive the recommendation, then the website j1visawaiverstatus.state.gov becomes useless, right?

I need to wait for the USCIS receipt notice and then possibly look for online updates from USCIS website only, right?

 

Another question, since some of you said that once the case goes to USCIS, then it is already possible to send the H1-b application.

Can this happen just with the DoS recomendation or only after receiving the notice of action from USCIS with the case number?

Also, where did you find official documentation about this possibility? My employer is unable to confirm whether or not this is possible.

 

Thank you!

Letter from DOS looks enough for you. It tells you lot of thing and location where they have sent your case.

Wait for NOA from USCIS and it may reach you within 15 days (U.S address) or start calling USCIS to get receipt number after 15 days.

You may have more details in this thread. Read it carefully for responses that fit your situation for planning next steps.

If something is not covered, we may help you specifically as per our knowledge.

48 minutes ago, Serhat said:

Today is 62nd day... Still waiting. Is it normal?  

You have hit the average processing time today so decision should be on the way or try calling USCIS for the status. Website sometimes doesn't show status and applicants have received decision by mail.

19 hours ago, Sam86 said:

My journey finally ended today!!!

my case was accepted on May 2nd by the Vermount USCIS office and today I received the final approval in the mail. My online status was never updated though...

there is Hope!

all the best to you guys!

After reading your post, I checked my status and it is still showing accepted but I have received my final waiver one month ago by mail. I trust calling customer care is more reliable than online service. This looks good information for others waiting for status update. Pick your phone and call USCIS for status update if it is longer than normal time.

17 hours ago, Sam86 said:

After you posted that your case was never update online, I panicked and called USCIS yesterday (my case was accepted in the lockbox on May 2nd)but they said they are still processing it 🙄

I am going to wait until end on June and then I guess I will need to ask help to congressmen as my deadline will be close to apply for H1B.

Can you give some suggestion on who to contact for this as it worked well for you? Thank you!!

My case was received by them early April and then accepted after one month. SO take it into account as well. Please see my posts for timeline. It took almost 6-7 weeks for USCIS to process my waiver.

Please see my last post regarding congressmen option and how and when to use wisely.

10 hours ago, Kr1234 said:

Thanks for the reply. If needed how to contact congressmen, if u share the process and steps  it will be helpful. 

I used this link to find our area representative information to contact:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

I made my case using USCIS expedite criteria (severe financial loss and USCIS error with evidence), and used congressman office to request this expedited service instead of calling USCIS, that is little more difficult than this path in my opinion.

You should not proceed for this option without strong reason or you may get pre-formatted response from USCIS through congressman office and you may lose this option in future in real need. So make sure you have good evidence to support your claim and then go with this option. I hope this helps!

9 hours ago, Kr1234 said:

I believe u created your uscis account, still its not updated there too? So you came to know that you got waiver only by receiving the waiver in mailbox? I thought USCIS updates are easier by creating account but i guess its not😢

I have both USCIS account and also mobile tracking app. I have also checked status on 'mycasestatus' site. This is not usual so hope rest of you will get some updates but I thought to share this is also possibility. I got my case solved with congressmen help, so may be this is a reason, but who knows.

Interesting Fact, may be helpful for some of you.

I have already got USCIS final waiver two weeks ago and today thought to check status on USCIS website since it was not updated last week. I am surprised that my status is still showing case accepted by lockbox.

So anything may happen. Keep active and engaged for your cases after certain timelines.

7 hours ago, trleaper said:

Hi all,

 

Here's my timeline so far for a No Objection Statement based waiver.

 

I did have a question - if I haven't heard back from the USCIS about my case being accepted, so haven't received a NOA or any notice whatsoever from them since April 11th now, should I be worried? I tried calling the USCIS multiple times last week to talk to multiple level 1 and level 2 officers, but all of them said they weren't able to find anything related to an I-612 belonging to me in their system. I'm a bit worried now thinking that the FR might not have gotten there at all, as unlikely as that might be. Or that it might have gotten stuck somewhere even if it did get there. Is there a way to get the USCIS officers to check directly with the Waiver Review Division in USCIS directly, or any way to contact them? Or for people who have talked to USCIS officers to be told the same thing, did you have to say anything specific to get them to help you further? They didn't really seem to understand what I was talking about that well when I explained the waiver to them - I've pointed them to the I-612 instructions saying I don't have to file the I-612 application myself since this is a No Objection based waiver, and that seemed to help them understand a bit. But at the end they always said that no info about the waiver comes up in their system, and that I should wait longer before checking with them again or check with the DOS. I also emailed the DOS waiver email to see if they could be of any help, but that doesn't seem very likely either. Any advice/help would be appreciated, thank you!

 

 

 

 

Please go to my profile and read my posts. You will get better idea how things worked for me with lot of issues.

First thing, call USCIS customer service and request to open inquiry and you must receive email response in a week for some additional information like resend DOS FR. And you should receive NOA soon.

Check for receiving date mentioned on the letter and should expect USCIS decision before 6-8 weeks before you started getting worried for No Objection case (Hardship and other situations take more time).

I got congressman office involved and they provide me exact information that I tallied with other events and found exactly same. So in my case, yes, it works. But again, make a case strong enough with good justification, why you need their involvement so they will definitely work with you seriously. Based on my experience so take decision with your own wisdom and based on your situation. Try to read all previous posts in both 2019 and 2018 timeline, you will get very good information.

11 hours ago, the_peruvian said:

Hi guys, do you know if there is a form we can submit to DOS if we change our address?

This can be done online only, available @ https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov/

Select following from the list and update online:

• Inform the Department of State of a change to personal data (such as mailing address, email, phone, etc.

Hi Guys,

Today, I got final waiver in mail but online website is not updated with the status.  

My J1 waiver journey is concluded positively with final waiver!! Journey started on December 26, 2018 and concluded today on May 18, 2019. Almost 6 month to pass all steps.

I had to involve congressmen and provide documentation to prove that there is USCIS error in updating my case in time and delay is beyond normal processing time plus I may need to leave if waiver doesn't come in time (my visa expiry is really near now).

So congressmen office contacted me after a week to sign a document for them to contact USCIS on my behalf and then after one week I got informed that USCIS is investigating congressmen request.
So, congressmen involvement really worked for me otherwise there could be further delay since USCIS lost my case and then found and updated acceptance date with one month gap of receiving date for processing etc. It took only few day for USCIS to investigate and conclude after congressmen involvement.

Use congressmen option carefully and when things are very tight and not going well in your favor! This will really work with wise decision and homework (evidences)!

I hope this information will be helpful for those still waiting or facing some issues. I will be happy to help you guys with specific questions, if you have.

Wish you all the best for your J1 waiver journeys for positive outcomes too!

Thanks everyone and specially those who responded to my questions offering help!

4 minutes ago, BorquMic said:

The receive date is 05/08/2019 per I-767

Thanks 🙏🏿 

Thanks dear. I was asking for this since my receive and acceptance date stated on I797c has one month gap. This is helpful.

4 hours ago, Rafa2018 said:

I have been in touch with State Senator's office since the beginning. They have been contacting USCIS directly about my case (about 3-4 times already). We've always received the same pre-made patronized answer. Not much they can do!

Wish you all the best!! 

55 minutes ago, BorquMic said:

I finally received my I-767. 

 

Congrats! This is acceptance date. What is your receive date? If you can share...

3 hours ago, Caizi said:

Hi All： 

 

How long dose it usually take to receive a copy of FR from DOS? 

There is no tracking number for my self-address envelopes... 😥

 

 

For the U.S. address: Few days to 15 days after 'FR sent' status date on DOS website.

30 minutes ago, Sunshine33 said:

Your information is very helpful. Thanks

This is a crazy question but does it make sense to check your j1 visa waiver status two three times a day? Do they have a specific day or time to update their web page? 

 

Yes, I know as per experience. DOS update system around 2am everyday. So no need to check status multiple times in a day.

16 minutes ago, Abayomi said:

Hey guys. Can anyone please detail all intrinsic information about submitting a waiver. I mean any extra information that could help that is not necessarily written on the DoS website. I never knew you need to write case number and country of last residence. 

I am submitting in August when my family is in the US and I need little details that might be very important. Thanks 

You can gather all information from this forum (2018 and 2019 timelines). This will be very helpful, take some time review all posts and make your notes. 

Second, when you will submit application online on DOS website, you will receive instructions with your downloaded packet and this information is mentioned there.

Also, read instructions and follow steps mentioned on this DOS official website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange/waiver-of-the-exchange-visitor/how-to-apply-waiver.html

I hope this helps.

Most of us have used this approach and got FR successfully without involvement of attorney. Need to do good preparation for favorable outcome. Choice is yours!

15 hours ago, rachelrae said:

Morning, I am not using US. government funding, or fulbright, or second waiver. The salary is from our university. My wife who is J2 visa needs to be waivered together with me. I think it is a straight forward case.

So there is no logic that could make sense, I don't know if USCIS put all lockbox processed FRs in a box for a lucky draw once or twice a month and send decisions!

17 hours ago, Micht said:

Just got an update, they sent my favorable recommendation yesterday!

Congrats!

15 hours ago, Rafa2018 said:

I have been waiting for the USCIS (Vermont Center) final decision on my J-1 waiver (no-objection statement) since November 17th, 2018. I have just received the approval document in the mail (May 15, 2019) just to see that they made a mistake and sent me what I believe to be someone else's ( A Cardiologist going to TX) with my name and case number on it. The excitement to have received is blinding (Hahaha) but beware and read your documents throughly!

Why don't you write to congressman for help. It looks there is some kind of mixing with your case and it should be corrected. 6 month is really long for No Objection cases unless your situation is complex for some reasons. Mentioned J1 waiver processing time on USCIS webiste are only for I-612 submitted directly to USCIS not the petitions (FR) submitted by DOS. You must check and request for investigation on your issue by calling USCIS.

12 hours ago, cmsk said:

Hey guys - today I received the acknowledgement that my documents were received (yay!)

It doesn't show the Non Objection Letter yet, but I know my embassy has already sent it (last week). Who should I contact to make sure they update it? Is it that j1 waiver email or is there a telephone number?

 

You can write email to 212ewaiver@state.gov if status is not update after 30 days. Before this, it is of no use.

13 hours ago, eliottreid said:

Guys, please help me.

Am I supposed to write the case number and my region of last residency in ALL the pages of everything including DS 3035 and everything on the pdf that I printed??

Thanks,
 

Yes, this is correct. All pages. Also, on envelope.

2 hours ago, rachelrae said:

You are right. Is there any way to speed up?

What is your context, can you please share like US government funding or fulbright or second waiver or similar complex situations that results in delayed decisions mostly? Straight forward cases receive decision very fast as per recent experience sharing in this forum.