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I got the hardcopy in the envelope that i had provided initially. Not sure if there is any policy change. Good luck!

Thanks! Yes, and I entered the case number onto the egov.uscis.gov website so I could keep track. Hope you get it soon! Are you applying for the EB2NIW too (saw it in your profile). Good luck!

Hi All, Just wanted to post my timeline here in case it benefits anyone out there who is waiting for J1 waiver through NOS. - 4/6/22 - Application (DS3035, money order, etc) was delivered via USPS - 4/20/22 - NOS letter was delivered via USPS (from embassy, it took 2 weeks to process) - 4/21/22 - Application marked as received on the DOS website (excluding NOS) - 5/15/22 (a Sunday!!) - NOS marked as received - 6/27/22 - Congressional inquiry (a senator's office) - DOS responded with generic language - 8/10/22 - DOS issued favorable recommendation = 126 days (18 weeks) from delivery by USPS = 111 days (16 weeks) from application was received by DOS = 87 days (12.5 weeks) from NOS receipt - 8/13/22 - Received FR copy in the mail - 8/16/22 - USCIS received I-612 from DOS - 8/19/22 - Received USCIS I797C receipt notice - 9/6/22 - USCIS approved the waiver = 158 days (22 weeks) from delivery by USPS = 138 days (20 weeks) from application was received by DOS = 114 days (16 weeks) from NOS receipt = 21 days (3 weeks) from USCIS receipt of I612 - 9/12/22 - Received paper copy from USCIS in the mail I am grateful for this community and support. Please don't give up and always keep the faith!

Hi Pinguina, Thanks for your advice! Do you have any updates, i.e., did you get your H1B approved prior to the waiver approval? My hospital is going to file H1B this week, just a few days before my J1 grace period ends. Pretty stressful! Thanks! Adrian

Hi Pinguina, sorry I haven’t been checking the forum lately. Congrats on getting the FR! Very happy for you! My J1 expired on 8/14, so now I am just waiting before my grace period ends on 9/13. My international office will file the H1B a few days prior to 9/13 without premium processing to buy me time. They will file the premium processing if and when I get the USCIS approval. Good luck!

Hi all, this forum has helped me going through this journey. Many many thanks for those who have shared their experience with us. I am still waiting for DoS recommendation for my NOS waiver request (no goverment funding, see my timeline below) and sadly my J1 will expire on 8/14. My current employer is willing to file a H1B (cap-exempt with premium processing) and is suggesting that we file it soon so that I have a pending review while waiting for the DoS recommendation and USCIS approval. This is so that I could at least stay stateside even after my grace period ends on 9/13. They are banking that USCIS will send and RFE and hopefully by then I will have my waiver ready. Any thoughts if I should do this or if I should wait until I at least get a favorable recommendation from DoS? I requested 3 congressional assistance (2 senators, 1 rep), only one of the senator offices obliged (on 6/27). Unfortunately, they immediately received the boiler plate response from DoS. No indication of this inquiry was received on the j1waiverstatus website. I also emailed DoS once but no response. Thank you all!