Cris Santos

10 minutes ago, ChadJ said:

Thank you! I finally got through and got my receipt number! The approval was sent last week and should be arriving in Canada in a few days. Address appears to be fine.

 

Now I just have to figure out why the DOS FR letter hasn't arrived 😅

That’s good news!! 😁

Once you get USCIS letters (they send 2, a receipt notice and an approval notice) you’ll be all set. DOS doesn’t send anything (I think they used to at some point but not anymore) 

3 hours ago, ChadJ said:

Is there a particular thing I should say to get USCIS to tell me whether I'm in their system? I was told that I needed to talk to DOS, which is besides the point. If I haven't received mail with my receipt number, I can't give them a receipt number, right?

 

Also, I don't understand how the mailing address could be wrong. Everything looks perfect on the form 🤦‍♂️. It's been over 40 days since my FR and I'm yet to receive any mail from DOS or USCIS...

I just told them I had received FR from DOS but haven’t got anything from USCIS in the mail. That triggered the agent to check if they could see me in their system (using my name and DOB as I didn’t have a receipt number). In my case once they realized I was in the system they gave me the receipt number (I heard from others that this is not always the case) 

1 hour ago, ChadJ said:

Wondering if anyone is on my timeline - my status was updated to favorable recommendation on Dec 21st (although it says it was updated Dec 13th), but I'm yet to receive any mail from either DOS or USCIS? If I'm in Canada does it take longer? Anyone else on a similar timeline with a similar or different experience?

 

I'm kind of freaking out as I need to move out of this apartment by the end of the month, and while I can have the other two tenants watch for my mail that's not exactly a great option. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

 

You can call USCIS or ask to chat with a live agent via Emma chat (during business hours). Explain your situation so they can check if you’re in USCIS system and maybe give you a receipt number. That way you can check if your notices had been mailed out or not. I received FR from DOS on Dec 27th and already received both letters from USCIS but I’m in the US 

17 hours ago, pedroneo said:

Received in the mailbox both I-797C and I-797. It took 2 weeks from FR. Now waiting for I-612.

I thought i-797 (approval notice) was the last document to receive, isn’t it?

1 hour ago, mitron said:

How did you get the Receipt number from Emma. I just get redirected to the usual links with FAQs etc?

 

You can type in “live agent” during business hours and chat with a real person

On 1/4/2022 at 2:46 PM, mitron said:

If anyone gets the I-612 receipt from USCIS, please let us know the timeline of when you receive it compared to the time since the DOS recommendation was sent.

I received FR from DOS on 12/27/2021, my timeline with USCIS is in the attached picture. I haven’t received anything in the mail yet. Got my receipt number via Emma chat 

11 minutes ago, Amoyar_Dever said:

Thanks. That's what I was told. NOS from home country + favorable NIH sponsor views are more important than anything else. 

 

Any update in your case? Did your sponsor get sponsor view request from DoS?

Yep! I’m also sponsored by NIH. They just sent their views to DOS a few days ago 🤞🏻

5 hours ago, Nachi said:

So here is my case: Got FR from DOS in August. Did not receive anything from them. Now waiting for USCIS for 4 months!! I tried emailing the waiver division but no response. I consulted an immigration lawyer and she said that everything is delayed but would not say how long it would take.  This is really frustrating as I have an approved H1 from University!

 

 

 

At this point you should focus on trying to contact USCIS. I’ve seen people using Emma chat and calling (I haven’t reached that stage so can’t help with details). Four months is above average even considering pandemic delays 

6 hours ago, Amoyar_Dever said:

 

Guys,

I submitted Statement of Reason (SoR) literally as this-

 

"I have received an outstanding job offer from (employer's name), and I would like to take advantage of that opportunity to advance my career."

 

Now I'm worried that it is too short, and could cause problem in getting favorable recommendation. What do you guys think? Is it too short? My case is not showing up yet on DoS website (delivered October 20) so should I submit a new long SoR? Has anyone submitted SoR after submitting DS3035?

 

PS: My DS2019 sponsor is NIH so DoS would be requiring sponsor views from NIH.  

 

Thanks!

I think you should be fine, I believe the no objection letter from your home country + favorable NIH sponsor views are what matter the most. NIH sponsor views won’t rely on your SoR 

7 hours ago, J1Indian said:

Yipee finally got FR. Exactly 5 months since acceptance. Hang it there everyone who are waiting. 

Congratulations!! 

5 minutes ago, J1_Visa waiver said:

Thanks @fguazuma and @vabhi6. My program sponsor is University of Chicago.  I was told Fulbright Scholarships are the govt funded one. Correct me if I am wrong!  My case is updated in the DOS yesterday - Sponsor views received. Do I need to do anything further?

Fulbright is the most common but there are others (eg NIH, NASA, FDA, etc). It could have been a mistake but since it says “received” I don’t think you need to do anything at this point 

1 hour ago, J1_Visa waiver said:

Can any one tell me what is sponsor views? why its required for J1 scholars? My case just updated today sponsor views (received) after  a long wait...

DOS requests sponsor views whenever the J1 scholar received any sort of government funding. As @fguazuma described they will send their opinion to DOS on whether you should be granted the waiver or not. Each sponsor has its own rules so if possible try to contact your sponsor to both understand their rules and speed up the process. Good luck! 

3 hours ago, pedroneo said:

Which e-mail did you use to contacting them?

 

If anyone remembers, I got a request to send my docs all over again to DOS. I really can't understand what they write in these e-mails. I'm assuming this attachment e-mail says they received my mailed documents after saying the ones I faxed were not readable.

 

 

This is still so confusing 😩

4 hours ago, etcoflife said:

So how many more months from this? Any rough idea what month you are expecting FR?

Very hard to tell. I learned not to create huge expectations in this process, anything can happen 

44 minutes ago, darius8 said:

Any positive reply from your sponsor yet? I contacted my sponsor program director but no response. Do you think we need to contact the DOS branch in DC that monitors our program too? 

My sponsor said they haven’t received DOS request yet. I’m waiting a reply from the department in charge of waivers to see if this is standard or another thing to worry about 😩

I believe each program is different. My program (NIH) has its own policy on sponsors views 

New update in my timeline, sponsor views requested 🙌🏻 I’ll contact my sponsor today 

26 minutes ago, cherp said:

Just got my form I-797C via mail. That's not the waiver, correct?

No, it’s the notice of action. You are one step closer, congrats 😄

1 hour ago, etcoflife said:

Please respond if you guys can. In urgent need of some information. Came in US with a Fulbright J1 for 2 years. As required I went back home and was happy and never thought I would come back. Stayed for around 11 months and then my family situation changed. Went to another country Z and stayed with family there for 3 years and got residency there. Got a new job again in US in J1 but this J1 is not subject because of residency in country Z. I actually tried to stay for 2 years in home country but my circumstances changed and never imagined that I would come back to US.

 

Is it possible to get a waiver in this situation under "No Objection"?

Can I even get a No Objection because I dont live in the first country now?

For family and economic reasons its just not possible for me to go back to the first country and live there for the remaining time just for the sake of completing 2 years.

 

 

Getting a No objection waiver seems very hard for Fulbright scholars, although not impossible (check this great blog post of a successful story https://ygeetz.blogspot.com/2021/08/in-this-blog-i-am-going-to-narrate-my.html?m=1  ) 

Have in mind that the process takes a very long time (likely more than one year), you should discuss the timeline with your new sponsor. 
 

I’m not familiar with the requirements for multiple J1 visas (other than getting the waiver make sure you meet time restrictions or any additional rules before reapplying) 

1 hour ago, J1Indian said:

Thanks. When was the enquiry actually made and how long did it take to reflect on the website?

I contacted my congressman at the end of September but I believe they only sent the inquiry on October 25th (I had to follow up with them multiple times). They got a reply on October 27th and the system was updated today (10/29) reflecting 10/28 as the date of inquiry. 

@pedroneo what you described is truly outrageous… but yea, the good thing is that means they are working on your case and hope you’ll get a deliberation soon 🙌🏻
 

On my end the only news is that the Congressional Inquiry is now reflected in the system (DOS answer was not helpful at all, they just mentioned that my case was with an officer for review and processing 🙄). Hopefully this will trigger more updates 

2 hours ago, AMV 15 said:

Did anyone got FR from DOS in June 1st batch...  

User @Damn Dos .... did 

1 hour ago, J1Indian said:

Thank you I will chat with Emma right now. Do you know what information I can give for Emma to give me a receipt number?. I searched about 10 pages on this forum but I am unable to know if my DoS case number can be tracked by Emma. 

I haven’t reached this stage so I can’t help  someone from a Facebook group called USCIS helpline at 800 375 5283 and the agent tried to track their case by name and date of birth (they also did not have a receipt number) 

25 minutes ago, J1Indian said:

My congressman enquired on my behalf and DOS gave a bizarre reply that he should ask USCIS. He has requested USCIS to send status. I don't understand why USCIS is involved until I get a favorable opinion by DOS. Anybody has any clue on this kinda response?

Maybe DOS issued a favorable recommendation and sent your case to USCIS but their portal updates are lagging? I would expect them to add the FR information to your reply though. Checking with USCIS seems like the way to go, try chatting with Emma if you haven’t already 

38 minutes ago, ItFlows said:

Congrats!!! 

 

May I ask if there was a specific reason that DOS sought for the sponsor view? I wonder this is a standard procedure for everybody. Some don't have that sponsor view item on their query page. 

 

Basically, should I expect to see that on my timeline? 

Sponsors reviews are requested for applicants who received any sort of government funding