J1 Visa Waiver Application Process - Stage 3 (Department of State J1 Waiver)
Updated: Feb 18
After receiving the clearance from all three (or two) offices as mentioned in J1 visa waiver Stage 2, the applicant needs to complete an online application form DS3035 with the Department of State (also referred to as DOS for J1 waiver).
Table of Contents: J1 Visa Waiver
What is a DOS J1 Waiver?
DOS J1 waiver is the final step (stage 3) to waive the two-year foreign residency requirement. Please refer to this link and the Department of State website will guide you through the information needed. Note that the physical DS3035 form is no longer accepted by DOS, the DS3035 form has to be completed online through the DOS website.
After you finish the online application form DS3035 on the DOS website, a case number will be generated at the end along with a PDF package (the PDF will consist of two sets). The next step is for the applicant to create two separate packages for this, NORI Stage 3.
Related: J1 to H1B change of status
DOS J1 Waiver (Package 1)
One set is generated with the DS3035 package and includes the J1 visa waiver supporting documents (mentioned below).
Statement of Reason is a page generated with the DS3035 package. You can click the link to view the DS-3035 statement of reason template that I submitted.
Passport copies of exchange visitors (first and last pages).
Visa and latest I-94 copy.
Copies of all DS2019 issued.
Two self-addressed stamped envelopes.
The cashier's check of $120 (will be mentioned on the DS3035 PDF package).
Current address proof like a copy of the driver's license, State ID, etc.
Cover letter: It's optional. Applicant can briefly write a cover letter mentioning the case number, the purpose of sending, and a list of documents included.
DOS J1 Waiver Mailing Address
Create this package and send Package 1 to the following DOS J1 Waiver address:
Postal Service
Department of State J-1 Waiver
P.O. Box 979037
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000
Courier Service
Department of State J-1 Waiver
P.O. Box 979037
1005 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101-1200
Note: According to one of the comments, these addresses have been updated. Please cross-check before sending. Postal Service: Department of State J-1 Waiver P.O. Box 979037 3180 Rider Trail S., Earth City, MO 63045. Courier Service: Department of State J-1 Waiver 3180 Rider Trail S Earth City, MO. 63045
DOS J1 Waiver (Package 2)
Package 2 for the J1 waiver includes the third copy barcode page and the following documents:
Copies of all NOCs.
Cashier's check or money order for a total of $25 + $2 (for using the miscellaneous service). You can make it as a single payment or a separate payment.
One self-addressed envelope for receiving the notice confirming that your clearance has been sent to the embassy.
Copies of passport front and back page, I-94, visa, driving license (proof of my current address), and the cover letter received during stage 1. It was not mentioned for CGI-SF but I have included it with my package.
Biodata & affidavit from Stage 1: Although I don't believe it is mandatory, I have not included it in the package. Applicants who wish to include it can do so.
Cover letter: It's optional. Applicant can briefly write a cover letter mentioning the case number, the purpose of sending, and a list of documents included.
Mailing Address
Send the package to your respective consulate general of India, in my case it was CGI-SF. You can find the list of consulate, address, and contact information here.
Consulate General Of India 540 Arguello Blvd,
San Francisco, CA 94118
Don't forget to write the case number on both packages.
Related: Change of status from J1 to B2
Also, ensure to check your respective consulate pages for Stage 3 documents since it varies between all the consulates. You will find the NORI link associated with each consulate in the same previous link where I have shared the list of Indian consulates.
What's Next?
The applicant will receive a copy of the recommendation for the waiver addressed to the Indian embassy in Washington (only if you have provided a self-addressed stamped envelope), along with a copy of the third barcode page.
The Indian Embassy in Washington will forward your No Objection Statement to the Waiver Review Division.
Based on my experience, you will also receive a copy of the No Objection Statement (NOS) from CGI Washington, D.C.
After this, you can check your status on the DOS website using your case number. Your case number will become active and it will show up online. However, it might take 1 month or more for a case number to become active after the DOS has received the documents.
The status will typically display 'Pending' until the review process begins upon receipt of the following documents (see below). It will gradually show online which documents they have received, so please be patient.
No Objection from the Indian Embassy
Fee
DS3035 Form
Copies of DS2019
Passport data pages
It may take 2-6 months and the status will then change to "favorable recommendation" unless there is any denial to grant you a waiver.
Once a recommendation has been made, your case will be electronically forwarded to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center (VSC) where your J-1 waiver eligibility will be determined.
Probably in 14-20 days, you will receive an I-797 notice of action from USCIS, which will also contain your receipt number and you can check your case status online using that receipt number.
Mostly after this within a week or two your case will be approved and form I-612 (waiver) will be sent out to the applicant by USCIS. It might take up to 2 weeks to receive the I-612 waiver.
Related: How to expedite a J1 Waiver
Congratulations! 🎉 You have completed your J1 waiver process. Hurdle crossed :) I hope this J1 waiver blog will be helpful for people going through this process.
I encourage you to ask any questions you may have by posting your query in the comments section of the Introduction, Stage 1, or Stage 2. Please note that comments on this post are now closed due to the high volume of comments received.
J1 Waiver Timeline / Processing Time
J1 waiver processing time can vary from 8 to 15 months for India, depending on the number of clearances you need and the state you are in. I have shared my timeline in an earlier blog.
These are a few timelines shared by people in the comments. I am organizing it below so that others can easily read it. Thank you everyone for your contribution toward sharing the timeline.
@jj22 August 2021- Stage 1. September-November, 2021- Stage 2. December 20, 2021 - Stage 3 Documents delivered to DOS Jan 5, 2022 - NOS sent by Indian Embassy March 15, 2022 - Case status updated on DOS website (NOS still pending) <April-June- 2022: I pushed the Indian Embassy via email to resend my NOS twice!> June 15, 2022 - NOS updated. (Backdated to March 15, 2022) August 15, 2022 - DOS reached out to me for clarifications about my govt. sponsored J1. August-Sept, 2022- Sponsor View requested and received by DOS. September 25, 2022 - FR received and the case sent to USCIS. October 4, 2022- Received via mail confirmation of receipt form I-797 from USCIS October 14, 2022- Received Final document of Approval form I- 612 from USCIS |
23rd May documents delivered at DOS office 23rd May documents delivered at CGI ATL 24th May - CGI ATL issued a Waiver certificate 1st June - I received the copy of the Waiver certificate that was issued by CGI 3rd June - CGI mailed the waiver certificate to the Indian embassy in Washington 8th June - Waiver certificate from CGI delivered to Indian embassy at Washington 13th June - The Indian embassy issued clearance certificate 14th June - The Embassy emailed the No Objection to DOS 15th June - The Embassy emailed a copy of No Objection to me 1st July - DOS updated my file online (backdated to 30th June) - documents received (except the NOS) 28th July - DOS updated the NOS and backdated to 29th June 14th Sep - FR issued by DOS (I didn't receive any mail from DOS) 26th Sep - USCIS Receipt received (I-797) Currently waiting for USCIS to process the final document (I-612). |
I am sharing my timeline in the hopes that it will give you all an idea of what the current DOS processing speed: December 26, 2021 - Send Documents to DOS via USPS Jan 1, 2022 - Documents delivered Jan 5, 2022 - NOC sent by Indian Embassy March 25, 2022 - Case status updated on DOS website (NOC pending) My DS-2019 expiry was July 31, 2022. However, I still had 2 more years left on J1. Because of the delays in J1 waiver processing, I applied for a DS-2019 extension via my University's international office. They asked me to contact DOS first. June 28, 2022 - Contacted DOS about extending DS-2019. They asked me to send a scan of the new one once I have it in hand. July 28, 2022 - Sent scan of new DS-2019 which got added to my case file the next day. Typically the University will take ~10 days to issue a new DS-2019, but in my case, it was more because I changed institutes. July 29, 2022 - NOC got updated and backdated to March 24, 2022. August 10, 2022 - FR received and case sent to USCIS.
FYI If your DS-2019 is about to end with your waiver pending and you have used less than 5 years of your J1 time, then contact your University's ISSS immediately and extend your DS-2019. This extension can be done as long as your case is pending at DOS. If DOS issues its recommendation and the case gets sent to USCIS you will not be able to extend your DS-2019 anymore. |
@Manjula Here is my timeline, I hope people can find it useful. Nov 18, 2021, sent the application to DOS Nov 22, 2021 application reached DOS (FedEx stamp) Dec 29, 2021, the Embassy sent NOS to DOS March 14, 2022, DOS updated online that documents are received (not NOS) April 1, 2022 NOS still missing, DOS answered an email stating NOS will appear soon May 4, 2022, NOS updated on the portal backdated March 13th (after several emails) May 6, 2022, DOS favorable recommendation (backdated May 04, 2022) June 17, 2022 Receipt from USCIS (received in the mail June 20) On June 21, 2022, USCIS sent the case to another office On June 27, 2022, USCIS approved the case On July 2nd, 2022 received the approval letter |
It took me 6 months to get a FR and I am yet to receive the USCIS approval. My timeline: 17 Nov, 2021: Application sent March 22, 2022: Case appeared online for the 1st time April 21, 2022: NOC updated, backdated to March 22, 2022 May 12, 2022: FR reflects online and the file sent Hope this helps! |
Thank you very much for your help. I received the waiver. It took almost a year. Timeline; March 2021 sent the application to the Indian Embassy D.C. May 2021 sent documents to India requesting NOC August 15th, 2021 Sent application to DOS October 19th, 2021 DOS updated online that documents are received February 20th, 2022 DOS favorable recommendation March 3rd, 2022 Receipt from USCIS March 9th, 2022 case approved March 14th, 2022 received the approval letter |
FAQs on J1 Waiver
How to contact the Department of State for a J1 waiver after stage 3?
You can contact them via email at 212ewaiver@state.gov. I used this email address for my J1 waiver process and received a response within 10 days.
How to check the J1 waiver status?
You can check the J1 waiver status at https://j1visawaiverstatus.state.gov/
Next: J1 Waiver Next Step
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