MelinaDC
05-17-2008, 10:07 PM
I am a Belgian citizen, and have applied for a J1 visa for an unpaid research internship at a university. The university is currently processing the DS-2019.
No one has been able to tell me yet if the 2 year home requirement applies to my situation. There are 3 possible reasons that a person may have to go back to their home country after completion, and 2 of these definitely do not apply to my situation:
1. The exchange visitor entered the US to receive medical education/training.
NO, I am not a medical student.
2. The exchange visitor is a national/resident of a country designated as requiring the specialized knowledge/skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program
NO, my country is not in need of this.
However, the following point I am NOT sure of...
3. The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the US government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence....:confused:
How can I find out about this BEFORE I enter the US on my J1? The uni's international office told me that people from industrialised countries do not usually have the 2 year requirement, but I would like to be sure. I have asked an immigration lawyer but she asked me for the exact J1 visa I will get, which I do not know! Can I get this in writing?
:confused: PLEASE someone help as my internship starts in 4 weeks! If the 2 year requirment does apply to me, I will cancel the application and continue working in my current job, for which I need to give 3 weeks notice! I also would like to know before I get my plane tickets for the US...
Thank you
No one has been able to tell me yet if the 2 year home requirement applies to my situation. There are 3 possible reasons that a person may have to go back to their home country after completion, and 2 of these definitely do not apply to my situation:
1. The exchange visitor entered the US to receive medical education/training.
NO, I am not a medical student.
2. The exchange visitor is a national/resident of a country designated as requiring the specialized knowledge/skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program
NO, my country is not in need of this.
However, the following point I am NOT sure of...
3. The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the US government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence....:confused:
How can I find out about this BEFORE I enter the US on my J1? The uni's international office told me that people from industrialised countries do not usually have the 2 year requirement, but I would like to be sure. I have asked an immigration lawyer but she asked me for the exact J1 visa I will get, which I do not know! Can I get this in writing?
:confused: PLEASE someone help as my internship starts in 4 weeks! If the 2 year requirment does apply to me, I will cancel the application and continue working in my current job, for which I need to give 3 weeks notice! I also would like to know before I get my plane tickets for the US...
Thank you