PeterW

On 8/6/2023 at 10:53 AM, Mickey344 said:

The notice from USCIS is more important for adjustment of status since that’s where the final decision for J-1 hardship waiver comes from. DoS gives their recommendation and USCIS decides. How long did it take you to get a decision after DoS received your I-612/613?

Thanks for your answer. For my case, it is 15 months since DOS received my I-612/613.

On 8/4/2023 at 1:59 AM, Hardship_waiver said:

DoS typically mails you the decision in the stamped envelope that you submit with the application. However, not everyone receives that. 

My recommendation was sent at 07/12/2023. But I haven't received any mail from DOS. Is this mail important for green card? Or the notice from USCIS is good enough?

Thanks

6 minutes ago, Sabina Bart said:

Congratulations! 🎆Did you have Gov funding? What was the basis for the hardship? 

I don't have US Gov funding. My US kid has medical condition.

Hi guys,

I just found my  hardship waiver received the favorable recommendation on 07/12/2023. The I-612 and I-613 were received on April 07, 2022 by DOS. Good luck to everyone!

4 hours ago, surefire6 said:

Hi, Guys 

After filling a writ of mandamus over a month ago 

I got my Favorable recommendation my case was at DOS since sept of 2021

Congrat! May I ask what is mandamus and how to file? My case has stayed in DOS for 15 months and I have return to my home country for 5 months. It is a nightmare for our family.

On 5/25/2023 at 1:22 AM, Timotheus_X said:

@PeterW thanks for your comment! For the March case you are referring to, do you know if this was a spontaneous decision by DoS, or if the applicant filed a Writ of Mandamus suit? I am seriously considering that now.

Sorry, I have no idea about that. I think they are spontaneous desicions, as the waiting is aroung 1 year.

22 minutes ago, SMARCA4 said:

Waiting since November 2021!

Oh!! I guess it will be recommended soon. Maybe this month.

10 hours ago, Saysono said:

I’m about a week short of 16 months too. Went to DOS in early feb 2022

To what I know some cases went to DOS in March had been recommended. But the April cases are still waiting.

17 hours ago, Magnet said:

Not mine but this took 20 months at the DOS!! This is a crazy amount of time at DOS which makes it extremely hard to plan our careers.

 

 

Yes, it is super hard. Mine has been 14 months, but it is still pending. 

4 hours ago, VZN said:

This is actually my case that was denied. I had one of the best J1 waiver attorneys when I filed the case. My scholarship was Fulbright funded.

My former employer filed O1 on my behalf but it also got denied. 

Me and my family went back to my home country now( 5 months still hunting a job).

If your case is still pending, do not lose hope. Maybe things will work out for you. But, start to think about Plan B if there is a possibility. 

Wish you ALl the best.

I am sorry to hear that. My case has been more than 1 year in WRD. Due to the expiration of my J, I am also staying with my family in my home country rigit now. My US kid becomes sick frequently here. 

6 hours ago, VZN said:

Mine was received by DOS on October 17th of 2021 but still pending. J1 Expired in December of 2022, relocated to my home country,  lost my job, currently unemployed 🙃. 

My J has also expried and stayed in my home country. We are in real hardship now. 

10 hours ago, Laferbe said:

How do you figure out your DOS case number? Do you get a letter when they receive the documents like USCIS? Or is it the same case number you use on the USCIS website? 

you need to file a DS-3035 to DOS. During this process, you will have a case number.

13 hours ago, neonatal2023 said:

@extreme_hardship:  do you know that person that got approved in almost 1 year while most of us have been waiting almost 2 years? was it a exceptional hardship or persecution hardship?  

It is hardship. Recently, most of the cases are 1 year.

23 hours ago, Waiver 2021 said:

I have never hated the word (Pending) so much in my life until the this nightmare waiver case. I have been looking at this word every day for the last two years and just started my third one. 

me too. I have returned to my home country due to the end of J1. My whole family is wating for the waiver and wish to come back to the US ASAP.

1 hour ago, Hardship_waiver said:

Sad to know about that. Use the highlighted tab in the image to update your address. 

Thanks so much!

Hi Everyone, 

My family had been forced to return to my home country due to termination of J1 and delay process of the hardship waiver in DOS. I have to changed mailing address of all my accounts to my friend's home. For the waiver system in DOS, do I have to change the contact address? As the recommendation is electronic, I feel confused about that. Thank you so much!

10 hours ago, extreme_hardship said:

Two recent Favorable Recommendations (not mine ). Around a year for both.

 

So encouraging! I am so desperate now. Theses two cases gave us hope. Good luck to everyone. 

10 hours ago, Robble42 said:

Yeah, I'd really like to see that case. We got a not favorable recommendation this morning (no sponsor) and we had been waiting for 77 weeks.

My god, it is so sad.

56 minutes ago, Waiver 2021 said:

Another day, week, month goes by waiting as we are holding on the hope of a better tomorrow despite all the suffering. 

Good luck to everyone. We have been out of the US, still waiting🙏

7 hours ago, Freidrichm said:

A lawyer told me that in these cases it's always political. If the US government funded the waiver applicant and they are determined to send them back to their home country, they will always so no, even when USCIS finds hardship. and sadly, there is no appeal possibility. 

So sad.

22 hours ago, Hardship_atn said:

Hello,

I just got my favor today. Here is my timeline. 

 

Hope you all will have good news soon!

 

Congratulations! You give me hope. Although I have to leave the US in several days. Hopefully I can come back soon!

3 minutes ago, g3dan00 said:

really sorry to hear that. When the waiver is approved (if you are outside), can't you continue the process with consular processing? 

I have no idea. I think I can continue the consular processing for H1B. Otherwise, we have no way to solve this problem.

19 minutes ago, neonatal2023 said:

I have also applied for Temporary Protected status (TPS) so my hope is that application gets approved soon and I could potentially start working with that while my hardship gets approved. Anyone else is on the same boat? 

I never know TPS before. It seems that it a way to solve a problem. How can I apply for it? My grace period has only 2 weeks left? Could you recommend me your attorney? Thanks

17 hours ago, ErinK said:

Many in this group have applied with US citizen spouse and child. Mine has been with DoS for the past 10 months and still nothing. Before that it was with USCIS for 8 months including an RFE. You can't stay legally just because your case is pending. Start looking into another J-1 or changing to O-1. O-1 package preparation takes a long time so start early and hire a lawyer that specializes in  O-1/EB1/NIW. Chen is really good. 

Mine is similar. Currently, my J1 has expired but it is still pending in DOS. The response from DOS is always "copy and paste". My US kid has medical problems. But they don't care. We have to leave the US this month.

2 hours ago, Hardship_waiver said:

Those with USC spouse hardship are staying in US even after expiry of their status as they know their unlawful presence can be forgiven when they file for green card, but those with USC child are facing a hell-like situation. Once they file waiver, they stop looking other country options hoping decision will come before their status expires only to know that DOS will take infinite time to process it. Once status ends and they stay, they risk their green card. 

If DOS is facing backlog issues due to covid, they should provide some protection for hardship waiver applicants (persecution cases are still being processed faster). Sad to see that nobody cares here for this aspect. Expedite requests/congressional inquiries are already over.

Yes. It is impossible for the US kid to live indepently in the USA without their J visa parents. But the time of recommedation is horribly long. when the J program end, they have to leave. As a result, the US kid with medical problems will have not sufficient medical support in the home country of their parents. Nobody care the kids' health?