My wife is working here in the US on J-1 visa as a Post Doctoral Fellow and She is subject to 2HRR requirement.I came to United States last year on J-2 visa from India and after few month I applied and got the EAD card and now I am also working for XYZ IT company here in the USA and I am subject to two HRR requirement as well. My employer wants to file H-1B visa for me but my wife does not have an offer for H-1B visa so in that case Can I (J-2 visa holder) file a waiver petition independently of the J-1 Principal?
See clip from Attorney Rajiv S. Khanna's conference call video that addresses this question.
https://youtu.be/XAfykYM-cUQ?t=89
FAQ Transcript:
Topics for Discussion, Thursday, 29 October 2015:
FAQ: Withdrawing one pending petition (H-4) when another is (F-1) approved; Writ of Mandamus against delay; Investment property while on H-1 (Buying and renting out a house); Starting my own company while on H-1; Priority date loss upon revocation of I-140; Consequences of getting laid off on H-1; etc.
Other: TN/TD Visa; I-14- approved, company acquired; Job termination AC21; Cross chargeability evidence (Iraq); Applying for H-1 from OPT and travel; H-1 transfer while an extension is pending,I-140 revocation and priority date; Minor son on tourist visa, parent on green card; PERM denial and probability of success; Naturalization delay; etc.
For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
On April 7, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in Shalom Pentecostal Church v. Acting Secretary DHS, 783 F.3d 156 (3d Cir. 2015), found the regulatory requirements that qualifying work experience gained in the United States must have been acquired in lawful status (herein “lawful status requirements”) in 8 CFR 204.5(m)(4) and (11) to be beyond the Department’s legal authority (ultra vires).
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established in 1986 with the objective of eliminating unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulating the tourism industry, and permitting the Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas. VWP eligible travelers may apply for a visa, if they prefer to do so.
I had come to US in September 2008 for 30 days externship (as short term visiting scholar) on J1 visa. After that I went back to India in October and came again in January 2009 on F1 visa to do PhD in animal science program. My concern is do I need to apply for J1 waiver before joining a job or a post doc here in USA? If yes, how should I go about it?
The 212(e) can attach to even a short program. Step one, ask DOS for an advisory opinion whether you are subject to the Home Residency Requirement. The detailes are here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1288.html
Certain exchange visitors (J-1) are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement which requires you to return to your home country for at least two years at the end of your exchange visitor program. This is also known as the foreign residence requirement under U.S. law, Immigration and Nationality Act, section 212(e).
I recently abandoned the US for Canada. I had been living in the US illegally for 15 years (since the age of 11). I got an opportunity to conduct biological research at the University of Alberta, AB, and Canada. I'm fully funded to live in Canada by the institution. Anyway, I would like to return to the US in 2013 for my 10 year high school reunion. I would like to know how likely I would be to get a tourist visa given my recent history. I have no intentions of staying in the US, just visiting. Am I automatically banned?
Look into a 212(d)(3) waiver, which should allow you an entry. Ask CBP at the border how much time they need to process the waiver (usually a few weeks).
Can I obtain an F-1 if I have a two-year home residency requirement on my earlier J-?
Yes. F visa is NOT forbidden. But you will not be able to get an H-1, L-1 or green card unless you address the HRR through compliance or waiver.
Filing location for concurrently-filed I-140/I-485 petitions
USCIS notes from the stakeholder meeting on religious workers, providing an outline of changes resulting from the Religious Worker Final Rule that was published on 11/26/08.
Please check the attachment.
I can't begin to tell you how excited I am! Today we are finalizing the details so we can move Pastor Immer and his family into their home! It is the dream of a lifetime for him and his family! I can't begin to thank you enough for your quality work with us during this process. Fran and Anna have been absolutely wonderful! Patient with the many requests and many phone calls. Kind in the treatment of me in the process! :). Extremely thorough and obviously exceptionally professional and knowledgeable! We are thrilled and recommend your offices to others!
I applied for my waiver in Aug 09 from the US and sent completed DS 3035 to the Waiver Review Div. in St. Louis, MO and Indian Embassy in DC. I returned to India in Sept 09.I have not had any updates since then. I would like to know (1) If I have missed any steps and if that is the reason why my waiver status remains unchanged (2) If I HAVE TO and can still apply for the NORI and obtain my waiver since I already have my case number and barcode (3) If I apply for the NORI from India, where do I send the Statement and Affidavit for attestation? (4)Are there any additional steps for waiver from India?
Contact the Waiver Review branch in USDOS first. Figure out what is going on with your pending case. You cannot apply for more than one type of waiver at the same time.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, Sept 16, 2021
FAQ: Consequences of extending parents’ B-1/B-2 (visitors/tourist) status more than once||Consequences of green card holders staying outside the USA for an extended time. Reentry permit protection ||Applied for EB-3 downgrade and change of employer after 180 days while I-140 is pending
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team including Ms Baker, Mr Khanna amd Ms Waddell for their excellent and prompt efforts in helping me transfer out of a J1 waiver job. The team was excellent to work with and treated me with respect and was very professional. The approval came in within 2 weeks without any RFE's.
The chances of approval were poor due to lack of consent from the primary state, but the team achieved nothing less than a miracle. Cheers!!! and Congratulations!!!! God Bless you!.
USCIS advises its customers that Public Law 111-9, signed by President Obama on March 20, 2009, extends the non-minister special immigrant religious worker program through Sept. 29, 2009. The program had expired on March 6, 2009.
USCIS announced that individuals with a pending Form I-360 religious worker petition with USCIS, may be eligible for benefits under Ruiz-Diaz v. United States, No. C07-1881RSL (W.D. Wash. June 11, 2009). To see the USCIS notice and the court issued notice in Ruiz-Diaz v. US, No. C07-1881RSL, see attachment.
FAQs: Religious Worker Visa, premises still under construction || Students aging out of H-4 || Lawsuit against status denial for CPT users || AC21 portability Supplement J || L-1 and entrepreneurial H-1B || 60 days grace period of H-1B getting over - F-1 option || Need to amend H-1B for remote work from home || Part time H-1B || Doing business on OPT
OTHER: IR5 Green Card traveling separately || H-1B Quota exemption || Reentry Permit obligations || H-1B change of status || CSPA for child of EB-1A petitioner || 212(e) waivers for J-1 holders || I-140 withdrawal || H-4 EAD processing times ||
The petitioner is a newly established religious organization {has IRS 501( c )(3) and state registration}. However, its principal place of business (this would be the beneficiary’s work location as well) is still under construction (so far, they have made good progress in the construction of the building). The petitioner does not conduct any religious programs yet. No other primary office location. Can the petitioner file an R1 for a minister for future employment? Would there be issues with the site visit if the facility is not completed by then? Do you have any advice on how to proceed with this case?
Note: This is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
I found working with Mr. Khanna and his team to be a pleasant experience. I changed my status from F1 to a Religious worker visa. I was very anxious during this process but I was at peace knowing that the people who were helping me through this process were able and competent professionals. Mr. Khanna was every personable and was eager to clarify all my questions. Also, Mr. Khanna contacted my employer on several occasions in order to explain the legalities involved in filing for the Religious worker visa, for this was the first time my employer had hired a foreign national. I would also like to express my thanks and appreciation to Ms. Anna Baker, who was my primary contact at the Law Offices of Rajiv Khanna.
The information Mr. Khanna provided was very helpful. I was scheduled for a phone conference appointment for no cost since I am a student. He is definitely a great person who really makes an effort to sort out others issues. I wanted to make sure that the statement of reason for application of the waiver for the two-year home country physical presence requirement of the J-1 visa, was a strong reason, so he asked me more question about my J-1 program to figure out a better reason for the application which turned out being a better one than the one I was thinking about.