Natasha Sichula

Hello,
 
My J1 waiver journey is over. I wanted to share with you guys my timeline, since this forum helped me a lot during this endless process.
 
J1 waiver NOS basis.
 
    Item Date of Occurrence Shipped Waiver packet to DOS 5/7/2021     Waiver app Received by DOS according to tracking 5/10/2021     Went to my Embassy in US to process NOS 5/10/2021     Check for Application Fee was cashed by DoS according to Bank 5/13/2021     My country's Embassy in Washington sent NOS to DoS 6/17/2021     DOS marked as received the following documents: Fee, DS3035, DS2019, Passport data page, Statement of Reason 6/29/2021     DOS marked as received the No Objection Statement from my Embassy 7/11/2021     Date of DS3035  changed on DoS portal to 08/06/21 8/6/2021     Favorable Recommendation showed up on DoS Waiver Portal 10/18/2021     Received mail with DoS favorable recommendation letter 10/23/2021     Received mail with USCIS Notice of Action letter with case# 10/29/2021     USCIS waiver approved on USCIS online case status  11/15/2021

Hi Everyone,
 
I finally got my FR from DOS last Friday. See my timeline below: 
I sent my docs to DoS on May 28, 2021, delivered at St. Louis on May 31, updated on J1 waiver status website on Aug 17, 2021.
Question: How long it usually takes to receive a USCIS letter or a case number?
 
 

 
Question 

Got my Favorable Recommendation on November 8, 2021
Here’s my timeline:
•May 24, 2021 Zambian Embassy sends NOS to State Department
•May 25, 2021 Immigration lawyers and I pay and file for all my documents
•July 6, 2021 all documents aside from my NOS marked as received
•August 6, Immigration Lawyers send an Inquiry to State Department about my NOS
•August 11, I ask the Zambian Embassy to resend the NOS as we wait to hear from State Department, and they resend it.
•September 29, 2021 State Dept emails my lawyers saying there’s no record of my NOS in the Waiver Review dept
•September 30, 2021 Zambian Embassy mails NOS and also sends it as an email attachment to the generic email on State dept website just in case they’re having trouble with the mailing service 
•October 10, 2021 NOS still not reflecting, the Zambian Embassy sends it using priority FedEx shipping and they give me a tracking number. At the State Dept, J. Harrison signs my Fedex package.
•October 24, 2021 NOS still not reflecting as received. I submit an inquiry through a Chicago congress representative.
•October 25, 2021 State Department responds to Chicago congress saying my NOS is not at the Waiver Review division of the State Department 
•October 27, 2021 State Department asks Chicago Congress to tell my embassy to fax my NOS to State Department. Zambian Embassy doesn’t have a Fax. State Department then provides an Email for Zambian Embassy to mail the NOS
•November 4, 2021 NOS Marked as received and backtracked to show July 5th as received date on State Department website
•November 8, 2021 Favorable response
Note that the J1 visa in my passport clearly started that I am not subject to the 2 year residency requirement. My work lawyers still advised me to get it as a precaution before they filled for my H1B visa.
Good luck everyone with your journey ❤️Sending you prayers, and positive vibes
 
 

Got my Favorable Recommendation on November 8, 2021
Here’s my timeline:
•May 24, 2021 Zambian Embassy sends NOS to State Department
•May 25, 2021 Immigration lawyers and I pay and file for all my documents
•July 6, 2021 all documents aside from my NOS marked as received
•August 6, Immigration Lawyers send an Inquiry to State Department about my NOS
•August 11, I ask the Zambian Embassy to resend the NOS as we wait to hear from State Department, and they resend it.
•September 29, 2021 State Dept emails my lawyers saying there’s no record of my NOS in the Waiver Review dept
•September 30, 2021 Zambian Embassy mails NOS and also sends it as an email attachment to the generic email on State dept website just in case they’re having trouble with the mailing service 
•October 10, 2021 NOS still not reflecting, the Zambian Embassy sends it using priority FedEx shipping and they give me a tracking number. At the State Dept, J. Harrison signs my Fedex package.
•October 24, 2021 NOS still not reflecting as received. I submit an inquiry through a Chicago congress representative.
•October 25, 2021 State Department responds to Chicago congress saying my NOS is not at the Waiver Review division of the State Department 
•October 27, 2021 State Department asks Chicago Congress to tell my embassy to fax my NOS to State Department. Zambian Embassy doesn’t have a Fax. State Department then provides an Email for Zambian Embassy to mail the NOS
•November 4, 2021 NOS Marked as received and backtracked to show July 5th as received date on State Department website
•November 8, 2021 Favorable response
Note that the J1 visa in my passport clearly started that I am not subject to the 2 year residency requirement. My work lawyers still advised me to get it as a precaution before they filled for my H1B visa.
Good luck everyone with your journey ❤️Sending you prayers, and positive vibes
 
 

Got my Favorable Recommendation on November 8, 2021
Here’s my timeline:
•May 24, 2021 Zambian Embassy sends NOS to State Department
•May 25, 2021 Immigration lawyers and I pay and file for all my documents
•July 6, 2021 all documents aside from my NOS marked as received
•August 6, Immigration Lawyers send an Inquiry to State Department about my NOS
•August 11, I ask the Zambian Embassy to resend the NOS as we wait to hear from State Department, and they resend it.
•September 29, 2021 State Dept emails my lawyers saying there’s no record of my NOS in the Waiver Review dept
•September 30, 2021 Zambian Embassy mails NOS and also sends it as an email attachment to the generic email on State dept website just in case they’re having trouble with the mailing service 
•October 10, 2021 NOS still not reflecting, the Zambian Embassy sends it using priority FedEx shipping and they give me a tracking number. At the State Dept, J. Harrison signs my Fedex package.
•October 24, 2021 NOS still not reflecting as received. I submit an inquiry through a Chicago congress representative.
•October 25, 2021 State Department responds to Chicago congress saying my NOS is not at the Waiver Review division of the State Department 
•October 27, 2021 State Department asks Chicago Congress to tell my embassy to fax my NOS to State Department. Zambian Embassy doesn’t have a Fax. State Department then provides an Email for Zambian Embassy to mail the NOS
•November 4, 2021 NOS Marked as received and backtracked to show July 5th as received date on State Department website
•November 8, 2021 Favorable response
Note that the J1 visa in my passport clearly started that I am not subject to the 2 year residency requirement. My work lawyers still advised me to get it as a precaution before they filled for my H1B visa.
Good luck everyone with your journey ❤️Sending you prayers, and positive vibes
 
 

Got my Favorable Recommendation on November 8, 2021
Here’s my timeline:
•May 24, 2021 Zambian Embassy sends NOS to State Department
•May 25, 2021 Immigration lawyers and I pay and file for all my documents
•July 6, 2021 all documents aside from my NOS marked as received
•August 6, Immigration Lawyers send an Inquiry to State Department about my NOS
•August 11, I ask the Zambian Embassy to resend the NOS as we wait to hear from State Department, and they resend it.
•September 29, 2021 State Dept emails my lawyers saying there’s no record of my NOS in the Waiver Review dept
•September 30, 2021 Zambian Embassy mails NOS and also sends it as an email attachment to the generic email on State dept website just in case they’re having trouble with the mailing service 
•October 10, 2021 NOS still not reflecting, the Zambian Embassy sends it using priority FedEx shipping and they give me a tracking number. At the State Dept, J. Harrison signs my Fedex package.
•October 24, 2021 NOS still not reflecting as received. I submit an inquiry through a Chicago congress representative.
•October 25, 2021 State Department responds to Chicago congress saying my NOS is not at the Waiver Review division of the State Department 
•October 27, 2021 State Department asks Chicago Congress to tell my embassy to fax my NOS to State Department. Zambian Embassy doesn’t have a Fax. State Department then provides an Email for Zambian Embassy to mail the NOS
•November 4, 2021 NOS Marked as received and backtracked to show July 5th as received date on State Department website
•November 8, 2021 Favorable response
Note that the J1 visa in my passport clearly started that I am not subject to the 2 year residency requirement. My work lawyers still advised me to get it as a precaution before they filled for my H1B visa.
Good luck everyone with your journey ❤️Sending you prayers, and positive vibes
 
 

Got my Favorable Recommendation on November 8, 2021
Here’s my timeline:
•May 24, 2021 Zambian Embassy sends NOS to State Department
•May 25, 2021 Immigration lawyers and I pay and file for all my documents
•July 6, 2021 all documents aside from my NOS marked as received
•August 6, Immigration Lawyers send an Inquiry to State Department about my NOS
•August 11, I ask the Zambian Embassy to resend the NOS as we wait to hear from State Department, and they resend it.
•September 29, 2021 State Dept emails my lawyers saying there’s no record of my NOS in the Waiver Review dept
•September 30, 2021 Zambian Embassy mails NOS and also sends it as an email attachment to the generic email on State dept website just in case they’re having trouble with the mailing service 
•October 10, 2021 NOS still not reflecting, the Zambian Embassy sends it using priority FedEx shipping and they give me a tracking number. At the State Dept, J. Harrison signs my Fedex package.
•October 24, 2021 NOS still not reflecting as received. I submit an inquiry through a Chicago congress representative.
•October 25, 2021 State Department responds to Chicago congress saying my NOS is not at the Waiver Review division of the State Department 
•October 27, 2021 State Department asks Chicago Congress to tell my embassy to fax my NOS to State Department. Zambian Embassy doesn’t have a Fax. State Department then provides an Email for Zambian Embassy to mail the NOS
•November 4, 2021 NOS Marked as received and backtracked to show July 5th as received date on State Department website
•November 8, 2021 Favorable response
Note that the J1 visa in my passport clearly started that I am not subject to the 2 year residency requirement. My work lawyers still advised me to get it as a precaution before they filled for my H1B visa.
Good luck everyone with your journey ❤️Sending you prayers, and positive vibes
 
 

Got my Favorable Recommendation on November 8, 2021
Here’s my timeline:
•May 24, 2021 Zambian Embassy sends NOS to State Department
•May 25, 2021 Immigration lawyers and I pay and file for all my documents
•July 6, 2021 all documents aside from my NOS marked as received
•August 6, Immigration Lawyers send an Inquiry to State Department about my NOS
•August 11, I ask the Zambian Embassy to resend the NOS as we wait to hear from State Department, and they resend it.
•September 29, 2021 State Dept emails my lawyers saying there’s no record of my NOS in the Waiver Review dept
•September 30, 2021 Zambian Embassy mails NOS and also sends it as an email attachment to the generic email on State dept website just in case they’re having trouble with the mailing service 
•October 10, 2021 NOS still not reflecting, the Zambian Embassy sends it using priority FedEx shipping and they give me a tracking number. At the State Dept, J. Harrison signs my Fedex package.
•October 24, 2021 NOS still not reflecting as received. I submit an inquiry through a Chicago congress representative.
•October 25, 2021 State Department responds to Chicago congress saying my NOS is not at the Waiver Review division of the State Department 
•October 27, 2021 State Department asks Chicago Congress to tell my embassy to fax my NOS to State Department. Zambian Embassy doesn’t have a Fax. State Department then provides an Email for Zambian Embassy to mail the NOS
•November 4, 2021 NOS Marked as received and backtracked to show July 5th as received date on State Department website
•November 8, 2021 Favorable response
Note that the J1 visa in my passport clearly started that I am not subject to the 2 year residency requirement. My work lawyers still advised me to get it as a precaution before they filled for my H1B visa.
Good luck everyone with your journey ❤️Sending you prayers, and positive vibes
 
 

I got my FR today :). My application was sent to DOS late February and marked received in April. NOS was sent by embassy end of May but appeared on the website in mid October after DOS replied to one of the  3 emails I sent. Here is my timeline:

Good luck guys!

Got my FR today based on Non-Objection
 
Send the docs on April 20th, Embassy sent the NOS on May 15. 
 
All documents received in June 22, except NOS.
 
I emailed DOS asking if there was any problem, they answered there was no problem; NOS uploaded and received in July 1st 
 
Got my FR in November 4th. 
 
Good luck everyone!
 
 
 
 

I don't have a solution but I want to acknowledge that your fears and stress are not unique.
 
Unfortunately, this situation, where the NoS was sent but never updated on the website is a recurring situation that has no apparent solution -- nor the congressmen, nor the lawyers, nor your-self can actually talk with someone that handles your case AND with the one that receives documents (via e-mail or otherwise). Most likely, you'll going to get a (canned) reply, similar to the one above, from a (hopefully) human that checks the same website as we do. My *personal* take is that in this case, it is likely that your embassy really sent the NoS the way they do it each time, the way it used to work. However, because "uNpReCeDeNtEd TiMeS" all bets are off. In addition, DoS has no incentives to update that website with all received documents, as the time will start counting from that moment on, and they are likely understaffed -- they can also reply "oh the embassy is sending in batches or the documents may be at the locker-box" (despite one sending the NoS via e-mail).
 
 

Your No Objection statement is missing. There is a Fax they can send it to rather than send it by mail.
 
The fact that someone else from Zambia says they are having the same issue makes me think whether the embassy is sending it to the wrong place or not sending it.
 
 

Hi, same story. my dates are exactly same, and no NOS  update still

Hi all,
 
I sent all the documents to DoS on 25th of May (2021) and they showed up on their website in the first days of July. My embassy sent (via e-mail) the NOS twice, on 29th of May and on 7th of July. However, even to date (31st of August) the NOS doesn't show up on their website.
 
Anyone else finding a big delay (3 months+) before the website reflects the NOS? My J1 expires mid October.
 
I find this process one of the worse: no transparency whatsoever, random delays, no answers, and misleading information (e.g., website says "that 12-16 weeks after we received all the documents", should be "12-16 weeks after an arbitrary, unknown point in the future when we feel like we'll update the case to reflect the document that we received"). I understand that the COVID19 situation slow things down, but the process seems really broken to me.
 
I've asked twice DoS via e-mail about the status of my NOS and I never received a response back (except the two automatic e-mails with contradictory information -- "we'll get back to you in 10 business days" and then "we'll get back to you in 25-30 days"). I've tried to ask help from two senators and none of them were able to help (my experience is that they can help once the case is at USCIS, but not so much when it is at DoS).
 
Finally, I have more than four J1s, do you think that this may cause a delay? None of them were government sponsored.
 
Thanks.

I have a very similar timeline. Still to date, the No Objection Statement from my embassy is not posted.
 
In addition, I asked one local congressman to inquiry about my case at DoS. On month later, they got a reply from DoS with no meaningful information whatsoever.