Hi All,
I have been going through the J-1 visa related 2-year home residency requirement waiver process in the past 6 months. Now that it is finally over, I wanted to share my timeline with people because the immigration forums have been a great help for me in the process.
First I have to note that I am from Turkey and have been working in US under J-1 status as a Research Scholar (post-doctoral). I was subject to the requirement due to my particular skill-set. I applied for the waiver on the No objection basis. Here is my timeline:
November 5, 2013: I sent out my application to Department of State (DOS) and simultaneously to the Turkish Embassy in Washington for the No Objection Letter (NOL). My case became active on the DOS online system after about 3 weeks, indicating that they received all my application materials, except, of course, the NOL.
February 1, 2014: The Turkish Embassy sent me an e-mail indicating that they forwarded the NOL to DOS.
February 14, 2014: The status of my case on the online waiver system was updated saying that they received the NOL.
February 24, 2014: DOS online system was updated that a “Funding source memo” was requested and an “Unknown” document was sent. I became a little paranoid at this stage. I never received any funding from the Turkish Government. However, my funds were coming from a grant that my advisor received from a US Government Agency. Turned out I was OK though since the grant was not granted to me personally to fund my exchange visitor program (I was not a principle investigator or anything.)
March 5, 2014: DOS online system was updated to reflect that the “Unknown” document was received. Decision was still “Pending”.
March 24, 2014: The decision on the DOS online system was updated to “Favorable Recommendation” and it was indicated that the “Recommendation” was sent.
April 4, 2014: I received a I-797C, notice of action from U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicating that my I-612 is now being processed as of March 31,2014. I did NOT, however, receive a copy of the Favorable Recommendation letter from DOS in the mail.
April 8, 2014: I sent an e-mail to the [email protected] (only way to inquire DOS about your waiver processing) asking about the recommendation letter.
April 28, 2014: I received a reply from [email protected] with the attached copy of the recommendation letter. Have not still received any copy in the mail. Also, no updates from USCIS at this point.
May 7, 2014: The USCIS online system indicated that they approved my I-612 and mailed the notice of approval. Finally!!
Entire process took about 6 months as one may anticipate. Obviously it depends on how fast your home country or sometimes your sponsor responds when they are inquired. Best of luck to anyone going through the same hassle.
I have been going through the J-1 visa related 2-year home residency requirement waiver process in the past 6 months. Now that it is finally over, I wanted to share my timeline with people because the immigration forums have been a great help for me in the process.
First I have to note that I am from Turkey and have been working in US under J-1 status as a Research Scholar (post-doctoral). I was subject to the requirement due to my particular skill-set. I applied for the waiver on the No objection basis. Here is my timeline:
November 5, 2013: I sent out my application to Department of State (DOS) and simultaneously to the Turkish Embassy in Washington for the No Objection Letter (NOL). My case became active on the DOS online system after about 3 weeks, indicating that they received all my application materials, except, of course, the NOL.
February 1, 2014: The Turkish Embassy sent me an e-mail indicating that they forwarded the NOL to DOS.
February 14, 2014: The status of my case on the online waiver system was updated saying that they received the NOL.
February 24, 2014: DOS online system was updated that a “Funding source memo” was requested and an “Unknown” document was sent. I became a little paranoid at this stage. I never received any funding from the Turkish Government. However, my funds were coming from a grant that my advisor received from a US Government Agency. Turned out I was OK though since the grant was not granted to me personally to fund my exchange visitor program (I was not a principle investigator or anything.)
March 5, 2014: DOS online system was updated to reflect that the “Unknown” document was received. Decision was still “Pending”.
March 24, 2014: The decision on the DOS online system was updated to “Favorable Recommendation” and it was indicated that the “Recommendation” was sent.
April 4, 2014: I received a I-797C, notice of action from U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicating that my I-612 is now being processed as of March 31,2014. I did NOT, however, receive a copy of the Favorable Recommendation letter from DOS in the mail.
April 8, 2014: I sent an e-mail to the [email protected] (only way to inquire DOS about your waiver processing) asking about the recommendation letter.
April 28, 2014: I received a reply from [email protected] with the attached copy of the recommendation letter. Have not still received any copy in the mail. Also, no updates from USCIS at this point.
May 7, 2014: The USCIS online system indicated that they approved my I-612 and mailed the notice of approval. Finally!!
Entire process took about 6 months as one may anticipate. Obviously it depends on how fast your home country or sometimes your sponsor responds when they are inquired. Best of luck to anyone going through the same hassle.
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