r/J1waiver

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share my timeline and experience because reading other people’s posts has helped me navigate this process so far.

I got a Favorable Recommendation on my J1 waiver from the DOS yesterday, August 18, 2026.

The NOS showed as received on the system on June 29, 2026, but my home country had sent the letter a few days earlier than that.
All other documents showed up as received on July 14, 2026, but I had also submitted everything way before that.
Overall, from the time I submitted the documents and my embassy sent the NOS, it took about ~3 weeks for all to show in the website. That alone was stressful.

Some background: I applied for the NOS waiver and in my statement of reason I explained that I would be pursuing the AOS via marriage to an US citizen. As evidence, I sent my I-130.
My research was fully funded by my home country, so I had to get a letter from the funding agency and submit that to my embassy in order to get their NOS. If anyone else is from Brazil and had FAPESP, I’m happy to answer more questions about this.

Now I just have to wait for USCIS’s final decision.

I would like to know if anybody on this platform had a successful waiver or at least RFE with this administration after being U.S. government-funded program (Fulbright).

I know many of you are nervous about the recent D/S elimination that will come in effect starting September 15, 2026. A lawsuit today was filed in the federal court of Massachusetts in this matter. Let’s tune in!

If you have access to PACER, you can read more detail:

Court: U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
Case number: 1:26-cv-13799
Filed: August 18, 2026

My attorney says the H-1B can be filed with just the USCIS receipt (not the final waiver approval), and that she's had many cases go through fine this way — some even got H-1B approved before the J-1 waiver itself was finalized. I'm a bit nervous given the recent RFE/NOID guidance on filings without the waiver approval notice in hand.

Questions for anyone who's been through this:

1. Did you file H-1B with just the waiver receipt, or wait for the full approval?
2. If you filed early, did you get an RFE or was it smooth?
3. How far apart (timing-wise) were your J-1 waiver approval and H-1B approval?
4. Can you all share your timeline from DOS favorable recommendation to H-1B approval, and at what stage in that process you actually filed the H-1B?

Trying to get a realistic sense of the risk here. Any timelines or outcomes appreciated — thank you!

I came to the U.S. in 2019 on a J-1 for one semester through the Global UGRAD program. After that, I returned to my home country and spent about 18 months there before coming back to the U.S. in August 2021 on an F-1 visa. Since then, I’ve gone back twice and spent about another two months there, so I currently have roughly four months left to satisfy the two-year home residency requirement.
I now have an approved I-140 and I’m considering applying for a J-1 waiver based on a No Objection Statement from my home country. My concern is that my original J-1 program was DOS-funded, which I understand can make an NOS waiver much harder to get.
Has anyone been in a similar situation where the J-1 was government-funded but most of the two-year requirement had already been completed? Does having only about four months remaining make any meaningful difference to the chances of getting a favorable recommendation?
I’m also curious about current timelines. How long are NOS waiver cases taking these days from submission to a DOS recommendation?
Lastly, would it make sense to file the I-485 now while the waiver is pending, or is it better to wait until the waiver is approved first? I should still have up to three years of F-1 OPT status available, so I’m trying to figure out the safest timing.

Hi everyone, I’m writing this post to seek advice and insights from former/current Au Pairs and anyone experienced with US J-1 visa and agency procedures.
I’m currently navigating a complicated situation regarding my DS-2019 status and visa re-application, and I would really appreciate your guidance on the best way forward.
Current Situation Overview:
My profile is currently on hold/affected following a visa refusal and the subsequent cancellation/invalidation of my DS-2019 by my current sponsor agency.
I am weighing two options: strongly advocating (with host family support) to have the current agency reopen/reissue my DS-2019, or starting fresh by switching to a different designated sponsor agency (e.g., Cultural Care, Au Pair in America, EurAupair, etc.).
Key Questions I Need Advice On:
DS-2019 Reissuance: Has anyone successfully had their DS-2019 reinstated or reissued by an agency after a visa refusal? How much leverage or direct intervention from the host family is typically needed to make this happen?
Switching Sponsor Agencies: If my current agency refuses to support a second attempt, how smooth is the process of moving to another designated sponsor? Does a previous cancellation or agency switch negatively impact a new application or SEVIS record?
Visa Re-application Strategy: For those who were refused on their first attempt and approved on their second, what key adjustments did you make to your profile, ties, or interview answers to turn the outcome around?
Any realistic advice, personal experiences, or tips would mean a lot to me right now. Thank you so much for your support!

Any H1b approval recently, my h1b was applied 2 weeks ago through premium, website still shows processing ?

Any idea how many days has it been taking these days for approval

Thank you

Anyone else waiting for DOS approval? Share your timelines please

DOS recommendation May 26.
Uscis still pending.
Applied H1b: got. RFE for pending waiver.

J for board extension will expire in Nov. IF by that time waiver approval doesn’t come (who even knows) what are my options? Can I switch to O visa in time? Will that be consular processing?

Has anyone here ever received this question from the DOS Waiver Review Division during J-1 waiver processing?

“Purpose of your stay: What do you plan to do in the United States? (e.g., employment, academic program, training, or other authorized activity).”

Hi, I applied to O1 visa (lab research)
Uscis sent an REF but they ask for 8 criteria and I only fit for 1
They asked for grants, noble prizes, hight salary, judging the work of others, citations, etc.
I have citations and I reviewed articles (judging work of others) but it looks like my case is very weak.
The lawyer (hired by the univeristy) says she will send the evidences by November (which is the deadline for the RFE) is this normal ?
And USCIS clearly mentioned that we have to send everything before the deadline !!
I was wondering why the lawyer needs 3 months to reply for the RFE
This is my last J1 visa which will expire end of the year, and to get H1b visa I need a waiver while my waiver got denied based on NOS (hometown is on skill list)
Any suggestions that might help ?
Another question, if lab is willing to sponsor for H1b can I reapply for J1 waiver at the same time ?

Uscis received my application on june 16 and I am still waiting for an answer. My start date is somewhere in september, will I make it on time? Why is it taking so long? On their website it says that 80% of similar cases are processed within 3 weeks.

Has anyone who applied for an H-1B requiring consular processing been approved without paying the $100k fee after July 24th?

My H-1B application was filed under premium processing on June 18th and receipt notice on june 23rd. No updates from USCIS. My attorney has reached out to them a couple of times, but no progress.
Does anyone have any advice or similar situation?

Can we apply to H1B or spousal green card despite having a pending J1 waiver application?

At what point during the J1 waiver Conrad 30 process, is it not recommended to travel internationally?

I’m a physician currently in my last year of J1 status. I’ve been offered an attending job that plans to sponsor my J1 waiver starting in July 2027.
My spouse is currently on J2 status with an EAD and is working. We really want to avoid a situation where he has to stop working during my 3 year waiver period.

He is an artist with a strong portfolio, and we previously consulted an immigration attorney who felt an O1 case would be feasible for him. At the time, we decided to keep him on J2 with EAD until I finished my J1.

Would it be feasible for him to switch from J2 to his own O1 status while I transition to H1B through the J1 waiver, so that he can continue working independently during my 3 year waiver commitment?

Has anyone done something similar, or are there any issues with spouses maintaining separate statuses like H1B and O1 during the waiver period?

So on the conrad 30 uscis website it states: ALERT: A government shutdown went into effect on Oct. 1, 2025. Unless Congress extends the Conrad 30 waiver provision, foreign nationals who are admitted in or acquire J-1 nonimmigrant status on or after Oct. 1 will not be eligible for a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement under the Conrad 30 waiver program.

Has the program been renewed and they just haven't updated the website yet?

Any insight would be really helpful, thanks.

June 12 - I-129 Filed by lawyer
June 14 - Recieved by USCIS
June 16 - Premium processing clock started
July 7 - Request for RFE
July 24 - Received RFE response
August 11 - Visa approved