Chemres108

9 hours ago, waiverj said:

Hi, I sent my application at the beginning of March. I also received FR on Oct 29th, with no hard copy from DOS. I didn't receive yet the approval notice. If I enter my receipt number on USCIS website, this is what I am currently seeing

Can anyone please help or share their experience?  Thanks a lot.

My case was showing the same in USCIS website, but it was approved after few days. I think it is fine and just to need wait little more. 

9 hours ago, Hardship waiver said:

Congratulations to those who got their waiver. If anybody knows, how can I speak to someone from the department of state regarding the waiver? The only thing available now is through writing an email to to 212waiver but that always gives the same response. 

I don't think there is any other contact apart from the 212waiver email. The only other option can be contacting your local congressman and explain your situation. 

On 11/16/2020 at 7:54 PM, MZQ said:

My case has not progressed since they received my NOS on September 8. They already received everything else on August 18. I have seen many in a similar timeline getting FR all through October into November. But nothing on my end. I contacted DoS by email and got the same ubiquitous response: they are processing and it takes 8-16 weeks. Smh.

Sometimes they take long to response. I received response of my first 2 emails in 18 and 21 days, but last one with the FR news in 5 days. 

On 11/12/2020 at 11:37 AM, dcj1waiver said:

Just wanted to give y'all an update.

According to the online status checker, I got my FR from DOS on October 29, 2020, but I am yet to receive anything from them by mail. I live in DC and I know that's where DOS is processing my paperwork, so who knows what the delay is.

 

However, USCIS has gone ahead and approved my waiver and here's the timeline:

- November 3, 2020, USCIS accepted my Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement.

- November 4, 2020, USCIS received my Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement.

- November 7, 2020, I received form I-797C by mail notifying me of receipt of FR from DOS and giving me my case number.

- November 10, 2020, USCIS approved my case.

 

I am still waiting to receive both my FR from DOS my final waiver approval by USCIS by mail. My University went ahead and filed my H1-B application on November 10th once they heard that my USCIS case status had changed to approved and included a scanned copy of the I-797C notice of receipt in the application packet.

 

Great! My university is submitting the H1B this week and I still have 15 days of J1 left. Good luck with your H1B.

Hello all, 

Received the final I-797 today from USCIS. It took just 2 weeks after the case was approved by DOS. Very happy and good luck to everyone who is waiting. Please let me know if I can help with any questions. Thinking about putting the I-797 in a frame and hanging it on the wall with all my awards and achievements. 

Below is my timeline. 

Application sent on June 25th

Received on June 29th

NOS letter sent by embassy on Jul 7th

Case received on Aug 16th

NOS appeared on Sep 7th

FR sent on Oct 29th (No hard copy from DOS received)

I797 (approval notice) received on Nov 16th (approved on USCIS website on Nov 10th)

You can send email to DOS. I sent them 3 times and they replied back with a status change everytime. 

Hello all, 

Received the final I-797 today from USCIS. It took just 2 weeks after the case was approved by DOS. Very happy and good luck to everyone who is waiting. Please let me know if I can help with any questions. Thinking about putting the I-797 in a frame and hanging it on the wall with all my awards and achievements. 

Below is my timeline. 

Application sent on June 25th

Received on June 29th

NOS letter sent by embassy on Jul 7th

Case received on Aug 16th

NOS appeared on Sep 7th

FR sent on Oct 29th (No hard copy from DOS received)

I797 (approval notice) received on Nov 16th (approved on USCIS website on Nov 10th)

6 hours ago, food_fanatic said:

Thanks so much for your reply. Have you tried calling them before? Have they been helpful?

So far no. My case just been showed received by USCIS. It needs ome time to get updated in the system. Thanks!

10 hours ago, food_fanatic said:

Also, for all those who have received their receipt numbers, is there a particular USCIS service center that the DoS sends the applications to? (I think this can be figured out based on the first three letters of the receipt number. Asking because I might try contacting that service center directly!

It is for most of the cases routed to Vermont Servie Center. You can enquire with USCIS at (800) 375-5283. DOS gave me this number. Thanks!

I received I-797C today (1 week after DOS FR) from USCIS and status is showing case was received another USCIS office (did not receive any hard copy of FR from DOS). I belive we need to create account to know the details. Can anyone tell me how do I create the account? Thanks!

On 11/1/2020 at 1:31 PM, dcj1waiver said:

Yep, that's the plan! I still have about 20 days left on my grace period, but it feels like it would be cutting it too close to wait for the USCIS final waiver certificate.

Ok. Let me know how it goes. I am in the same boat but have one additional month than yours. 

2 hours ago, MZQ said:

My timeline is almost identical to you. All documents received on August 18 and the NOS showed up in the system on September 8. Still no FR!!

Consider sending an email to them and tell them you need the FR urgently for your AOS. They will do that soon. Same thing happened to me.

1 hour ago, dcj1waiver said:

Hello! This thread has been a great source of information as I go through the J-1 waiver process. I just wanted to share my timeline in case it's helpful to anyone.

I am an Indian citizen and did not have any US govt funding. I sent my documents to the DOS lockbox on July 9, 2020. The NOS was sent to them before my case was active on the status checker, so I think they lost it. Had to have the Indian embassy re-send my NOS, which they did on Sept 8, 2020.

 

I am waiting for the hard copy of the favorable recommendation so that I can send in my H1-B application packet. Initially we were going to wait until I got the USCIS final waiver approval, but time is running out on my post-J1 grace period.

 

Hope that's helpful!

 

I think you can go ahed with the H1B with the DOS FR. Not sure, how mucn time you have in your J1 grace period, but from another thread I can see USCIS sent the final waiver certificate in 15 days from FR sent by DOS. 

2 hours ago, New_here said:

When did your embassy sent the NOS? I have exactly same time line but no FR  

I sent my documents on June 27th  and my embassy sent NOS on August 4th and it showed on the DoS website on Sep 08th only. 

My Embassy sent on July 7 (took 2 months for that to show up in the system). You can email them and tell you are waiting for that for your AOS. I did the same in last friday and they replied me with FR even before it was showing up in the system. 

25 minutes ago, RVK said:

Oh Spoke too soon. I replied to your message, and for whatever reason went to check my mail and there it was (wasn't there day before yesterday so must have arrived yesterday)! I got both the notice of action and the approval notice pretty much at the same time. Haven't even received the DOS FR hard copy yet but I guess that doesn't matter! Looks like it might take around 15 days post FR update for USCIS notice and approval. Good luck and thank you all who respond here...helps with the panic to know about everyone's timelines

Great! This is good news for all those who are waiting. 

1 hour ago, SRGBR said:

H! How long did it take for the DoS to receive the documents?

It took 7 weeks almost. You can see they received it around Aug 16 (I sent it on June 29). 

1 hour ago, RVK said:

Congrats!! Now waiting for the USCIS. I am getting a little stressed again because its been 15 days since I got the FR update from DOS. I have received neither a hard copy from DOS nor any 612 notice of action from USCIS. I guess I just have to wait. Do let me know if you get any thing from USCIS.

Ok. Keep me posted. DOS mentioned in the email that they sent a hard copy of the letter in my mail. Let's wait and see.

On 10/21/2020 at 7:13 PM, RVK said:

That is stressful! you might want to email 212ewaiver to see what's going on. I haven't done so but a friend did and the Waiver dept did respond back after 15 days with a status update. Good luck!

Got it! The email actually worked. They replied me in 5 days and told my FR was approved even before it was showing in the online system. Did you receive the final certificate from USCIS yet?

Finally FR! It took exactly 16 weeks from the date the document reached to DOS (June 29).

Finally! Hopefully to get the approval from USCIS soon. Took exactly 16 weeks from my document reached to DOS (June 29). 

On 10/27/2020 at 12:22 PM, MZQ said:

Nope. Nothing after that. Based on others, I was thinking that FR would show up around Oct 13-14 but nada.. I hope it updates soon. 🤞

Ok. Nothing yet from here too! Let us keep updating each other.

Did anyone receive favorable recommnedation with NOS updated on Septemeber 8? I have sent documents on June 25 (updated on Aug 16) and NOS sent by Embassy on July 7 (updated on Sep 8). Still it is showing 'Pending'.

On 10/6/2020 at 2:12 PM, MZQ said:

Congrats! My NOS was received in the system on September 8, so I think I might as well see the "FR sent" soon! By the way, once you see FR on DoS site, how does one track your application on USCIS?

Did you get the FR? Mine NOS was also updated on Sep 8, but still pending.

On 10/22/2020 at 10:12 AM, J1NoObj said:

Hey Chemres, I sent my package and embassy sent NOS both in late June, both shows "received" Aug 18 and 22. Still pending! So same boat as you, let me know how things go for you!

Nothing yet. Will keep you updated. Please do the same.

On 10/22/2020 at 10:12 AM, J1NoObj said:

Hey Chemres, I sent my package and embassy sent NOS both in late June, both shows "received" Aug 18 and 22. Still pending! So same boat as you, let me know how things go for you!

I sent them another email in case they check it only after they see my email.