Expedited processing of the J1 waiver application is not typical. However, it is available for J1 waiver cases with urgent or justifiable humanitarian needs, or cases that demonstrate clear and significant US government interest. Mostly, J1 waiver cases are expedited due to humanitarian needs. Obtaining a J1 waiver on time is crucial for those wanting to stay longer in the US, especially if subject to a two-year home residency rule. I know of a scenario where a friend had to travel back to India for a few months as she could not get a J1 waiver on time. Fortunately, she obtained the waiver after two months and returned to the USA. I'm also aware of people who successfully expedited their J1 waiver applications. While I know of a couple of ways to expedite the J1 waiver application, it's important to note that this is not a 100% guaranteed process. Ultimately, everything is at the discretion of the Department of State (DOS). 01. Expedite J1 Waiver By Email One option is to send an email to 212ewaiver@state.gov. However, no one can guarantee its effectiveness, as it depends on the specific circumstances of each case. Expedited options are typically reserved for humanitarian reasons, so the strength of your reason will determine its success. Related: Urgent humanitarian reasons for expedited request You need to send an email explaining your circumstances and attach supporting documents that prove the basis of your expedited reason. The Department of State usually responds within 10 days, but one can always send follow-up emails. Include the following details when structuring your email: Case number Your full name Date of birth The basis under which you are applying for a waiver A brief explanation of your inquiry [reasons] Supporting documents Here are some example reasons to expedite a J1 waiver application: One of the reasons could be a financial loss where you can explain how your family, house mortgage, kid's education, etc.. depends on your income, and if you don't get a waiver on time you will have to quit your job, sell the house, interrupt kids education. You can show your monthly mortgage statement or your kid's education some sort of proof. Another reason could be a job offer and you can share the offer letter explaining how important is this job offer for you and that you need a waiver to join a firm from so and so date. If you don't get a waiver on time you will lose this opportunity. One of my friends expedited his case as he had a job offer and he was able to get it. Sample Email to Expedite J1 Waiver Date: Full Name: Address: Contact Information: Case Number: Current Status in the US: Subject: Request for Expedited Processing of J1 Waiver - [Your Full Name] - Case Number: [Your Case Number] Dear Sir/Madam, I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Your Full Name], and I am writing to request expedited processing of my J1 waiver application due to some urgent circumstances. I am seeking expedited processing due to [Clearly explain the humanitarian or justifiable reason for expedited processing. Provide specific details about your situation]. Please find attached the following documents supporting my expedited request: [List the documents you are attaching] [Such as medical records, doctor's letter, or any relevant evidence] I am committed to providing any additional information or documentation required promptly. If there are any concerns or additional details needed, please do not hesitate to contact me. I appreciate your attention to this matter and understand that the decision is at the discretion of the Department of State. Thank you. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Your Contact Information] 02. Contacting a Member of Congress or Senator The second option to expedite the J1 waiver application is by contacting congressmen or a senator. This should be your last option and should be done only in case of an emergency. Also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman, each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states. First, you need to know who is the congressman in your zip code. You can find it here. After you know who is your congressman, you can try reaching out to them via email or phone. Email is the most effective way as it's convenient and easy to keep track of. If there is an emergency or if you prefer to speak over the phone, you can also contact them over the phone. You will find the contact number on the same page after searching for your congressman by zip code. Related: Contacting congressman for expedited request Usually, there is a dedicated staff member who takes care of immigration services and he will be able to help you by contacting DOS on your behalf and expediting your case based on your situation. They will ask you for the reason (which you need to summarize in the letter), perhaps you have to send the proof of reason as to why you need an expedition. Related: J1 waiver favorable recommendation next step Thank you! Please comment if you have any further questions, I will try to help to the best of my knowledge. Next: J1 to H1B Related Posts ✔ J1 to B2 visa ✔ J1 to Green Card ✔ Indian Passport Renewal ✔ How to apply for an OCI card Related Topics

Many people have been commenting on my J1 waiver blogs that they would like an example/template/sample for the Statement of Reason so they can get an idea of what to write in the J1 waiver statement of reason. If you missed my previous blogs, you can refer to the J1 waiver steps here. Introduction J1 Waiver: Stage 1 J1 Waiver: Stage 2 J1 Waiver: Stage 3 In this blog I am sharing what I wrote in the J1 waiver support letter (and a few other samples), please take a look and modify the sample DS-3035 letter based on your situation. You can explain on what basis you are applying for a J1 waiver, it could be a visa change, continuation of research work, marriage, job opportunity, etc. Table of Contents: J1 Waiver Statement of Reason DS 3035 Sample Statement of Reason Letter (Example 1) J1 Waiver Statement of Reason (Example 2) J1 Waiver Statement of Reason (Example 3) J1 Waiver Statement of Reason Marriage (Example 4) J1 Waiver Statement of Reason Divorce (Example 5) How to Write a Statement of Reason? Conclusion FAQs DS 3035 Sample/Example Statement of Reason Letter (Example 1) I am currently working as a post-doctoral research fellow at . I am currently on a J1 visa and my exchange visitor eligibility form (DS 2019) started on and ends on and includes a two-year home residency (section 212e) requirement. As an exchange scholar, I am involved in full-time research in . I am . My statement: I am investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms of HIV-induced neurodegenerative disease (neuroAIDS) in the presence of co-morbidity factors, such as drugs of abuse. I am also studying the effect of interferon-β and highly active anti-retroviral therapy on the biological function of neurons, glia, and macrophages. Related: How to apply for B1/B2 visa for parents? My research has promising results; hence I am confident my further work in this field will provide novel therapeutic avenues. My research work is progressing extremely well and has resulted in a recent (2020) publication in the prestigious ‘Journal of Neuroinflammation’. Furthermore, I have made several crucial discoveries through my research, which require additional time to be concluded and translated into possible new, and influential publications. The purpose of my request for a J1 waiver is to be able to continue to work at my current research laboratory at and to be able to complete all my pending projects. Since I am the lead person in my research projects, my employer and I think I must stay in the US and complete my projects by obtaining the J1 visa waiver. Therefore, I am requesting a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement to complete my research work based on the No Objection Certificate. My home country (India) and the state government (Govt. of Uttar Pradesh) have already issued me a No Obligation to Return to India certificate and support my requirement to stay in the US and complete my pending research. The Consulate General of India will be issuing the No Objection Statement directly to you soon. I shall be highly obliged if you could consider this Waiver application favorably and give me the J1 visa waiver at the earliest possible date. I am sharing a few more j1 waiver support letter samples below which would help you construct your statement of reason. Related: How to apply for J2 EAD? J1 Waiver Statement of Reason (Example 2) I hereby declare that I have not signed any agreement with any public/government organization, bank, university, college, or any other institution to return to India and have not taken advantage of any kind of monetary support in any form. I also confirm that I have neither been sponsored nor been employed by any university, college, or any Government of India / Government of any State institution in India. I also declare that I have not taken any undertaking from any institution or organization to support me in obtaining my passport as a condition to return to India. I also declare that there are no civil or criminal charges against me and I need not return to India in that connection too. I, therefore, am requesting a waiver to continue my research in the USA to gain more experience so that I can serve humanity as a better-trained scientist. Related: How long can I stay after my J1 visa expires? J1 Waiver Statement of Reason (Example 3) I am , working as a Postdoctoral Associate at the . My research is focused on . Development of these will aid . I would like to apply for a waiver of the home-country physical presence requirement of Section 212(e), as it relates to my current status under the exchange visitor program P-1- My waiver request is based on the Statement of No Objection from the home country (India) as I have received the clearances from the Government of India and it will be officially sent to DOS by the Indian Embassy. Both I and my employer feel that my stay here in the US should be extended for a few more years as the project that I am currently working on will be carried forward for a few more years. My presence in the USA is very important for the timely , followed by the technology transfer to industrial partners for societal benefit. The waiver is very important for me to enrich my professional experience in research areas that have a direct benefit to society. I believe my extended stay and continued research will benefit both American research and the industries and eventually my home country upon my return. Hence, I request you to grant me the waiver for 2 year home country residence requirement. Related: How to expedite GC processing? J1 Waiver Statement of Reason Marriage (Example 4) I am, , writing this letter to request a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement under section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for my J1 visa status. I am presently in the United States as a J1 non-immigrant exchange visitor and I am seeking a waiver of the two-year foreign residency requirement based on my marriage to a U.S. citizen. I entered the US on as a J1 non-immigrant exchange visitor to experience a research program at . I have greatly relished my time here and have learned a lot from my experience. However, I have since fallen in love and married a U.S. citizen, . Our marriage is a genuine, loving relationship and we wish to start a life together in the United States. My spouse and I are deeply committed to each other and our future together. is a U.S. citizen and has been employed as for at . Our marriage has brought us great happiness and stability and we cannot imagine being separated from each other. I respectfully request that the Waiver Review Division grant me a waiver of the two-year foreign residency requirement based on my marriage to a U.S. citizen. I have attached proof of our marriage, including our marriage certificate and documentation of my spouse's employment. I have also enclosed a statement from my spouse, who supports my request for a waiver. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Related: B1/B2 tourist visa sponsorship letter sample J1 Waiver Statement of Reason Divorce (Example 5) Reference: US Department of State, How to apply I am, , writing to request a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement of my J2 visa. The reason for my request is that my J1 spouse and I have divorced. Related: J1 visa to H1B Unfortunately, my J1 spouse and I have decided to end our marriage, and we have filed for divorce. As a result of our divorce, I am unable to fulfill the two-year home residency requirement of my J2 visa. I am requesting a waiver so that I may remain in the US and pursue other opportunities. I shall be highly obliged if you could consider this waiver application favorably and give me the J1 visa waiver at the earliest possible date. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon. How to Write a Statement of Reason? The statement of reason should be well-written, precise, and concise, and should address these key points on a high level, not all are required: The Intent of J1 Visa: Explain why you were issued a J1 visa in the first place and what was your goal for participating in the J1 program. The Basis for Seeking Waiver: Clearly express why you want a waiver of the 2-year home-country physical presence requirement. This could be due to remaining research work, marriage, job offer, visa transfer, or any exceptional cases that make it impossible for you to return to your home country for two years. Explanation of Hardship or Persecution: If you are seeking a waiver based on hardship or persecution, provide a detailed explanation of the situation and how it has affected you or your family. This could include financial, medical, or personal circumstances, for example. Links to the United States: Explain why returning to your home country for two years is not a possible solution for you and why a waiver is required. This could include job opportunities, family relations, or other convincing reasons for remaining in the United States. Future Plans: Discuss your plans and how the waiver will help you reach your goals. This could have plans for further education or a job, for example. Related post: How to find a postdoc position in the US? Conclusion It is necessary, to be legitimate, clear, and concise in your J1 visa waiver statement of reason. The statement should be well-written, and free of grammatical mistakes. It is also recommended to have the statement reviewed by someone who has successfully received a J1 waiver before submitting it to ensure that it satisfies all the needs and provides the best possible chance for a successful waiver application. Please feel free to ask your questions in the comment section below if you have any doubts. FAQs on J1 Waiver Statement of Reason Can a J1 waiver be denied? Yes, a J1 waiver can be denied for multiple reasons like incomplete/false information, insufficient evidence, or ineligibility, for example, if the J1 visa holder is not eligible for a waiver under certain criteria set by the government agency. It may vary from case to case. The following table will give you a rough idea of the refusal rate for J1 waivers in the last few years (if you can't see the table please open this link for a better mobile experience). Reference: US Department of State How long does it take to get a J1 waiver? J1 waiver process time can vary a lot depending upon the government agencies involved, how many agencies need to give clearance etc.. but typically it takes several months. Refer to the table below for J1 waiver processing time (if you can't see the table please visit this page for a better mobile experience). Is it easy to get a J1 waiver? No, it's a very long process, and depending on which country/state you are applying from and how many government agencies are involved, it may take longer time than expected. Can we expedite the J1 waiver? Yes, you can expedite a few steps. Read more. Will the J2 visa holder also be subject to the 2-year rule? Yes, if J1 is subjected to a 2-year rule then automatically J2 dependents are as well. Read more. Do we need to apply for J1 and J2 waivers separately? No, J2 will get the waiver automatically once the J1 visa holder gets the waiver. Should I hire a lawyer for the J1 waiver? It depends on you, it's going to cost you a lot of money and it's not worth the effort you are going to put in anyway whether you hire a lawyer or not. But you can read more about it here and decide for yourself. What do you write in a statement of the reason for a J1 waiver? In a Statement of Reason for a J1 waiver, clearly articulate the specific basis for your application. Whether it's a visa change, the continuation of research work, exceptional hardship, marriage, a job offer, or family ties in the U.S., provide an honest and detailed explanation of your circumstances. What are the reasons for the J1 waiver? The J1 waiver is applicable for five primary reasons: Exceptional Hardship to a U.S. Citizen Spouse or Child Request by U.S. Federal Government Agency No Objection Statement Request by State Public Health Department (Conrad State 30 Program) Persecution Next: Expedite J1 waiver Related Posts ✔ Go to Main Menu ✔ J1 Visa to B2 Visa ✔ J1 Visa to Green Card Related Topics

OCI Card for Minor (US citizen): To apply for an Indian OCI card for minors or children born in the USA, you would need to go through the OCI document checklist. I will be discussing the OCI application for minor child checklist in detail. New OCI checklist for minors OCI application form for a minor child Photographs, OCI signature for minors, thumb impression (left or right) Consent letter for OCI application Parental authorization form Fee payment & courier By following this blog, you can ensure that you have all the necessary documents ready when you begin the OCI card India application process for your child, and it's filed accurately. You will learn how to fill OCI application for a minor child. In the end, I will also point out some common mistakes that you can avoid. Table of Contents: OCI Application for Minor Child New OCI checklist for minor US national by birth How to fill out OCI application form for minor Part A Part B VFS registration OCI Card Fee OCI document checklist and final submission OCI registration form Photographs and signature Parental authorization form Birth certificate Current passport Parents' Indian passport Consent letter for OCI application Marriage certificate Proof of address OCI fee payment and courier OCI card for minor - Common mistakes OCI card for minor - Processing time OCI card for minor - Validity OCI card India - Benefits New OCI Checklist for Minor (US National by Birth) To start the OCI application for a minor child, you must first download the OCI checklist. You can download the checklist directly from the VFS website. I have added the new links below. Try reloading the page if the VFS checklist page doesn't open. Never held an Indian passport: Download Previously Indian passport holder: Download Re-issue of OCI card: Download Note: I applied for OCI in October 2022. You can find the old checklist here. One of the key differences between the old and new checklists is the notarization of the OCI application, which was mandatory earlier; however, the current checklist does not mention that anymore. Before you begin the OCI application, you will need the following items: Minor's Information: Like name, date of birth, place of birth, visible mark, etc. Email ID: It's advisable to create an email ID for your newborn. Gmail allows you to have parental control created for minors under the age of 13. This email ID can also be used for various purposes in the future. US Passport: See my previous post on how to apply for a minor's passport if you haven't applied for a minor's passport yet. Mobile number: One of the parent's mobile numbers. Thumb impression: You need to have the left thumb impression for newborns instead of the signature. You can buy fingerprint ink from Amazon, I bought these and it worked well. How to Fill OCI Application for Minor The second step is to fill out the online OCI application/registration form. You can fill out the new OCI registration form online through the OCI website. OCI application has two parts, A and B, you will notice this when the pdf is generated after the final submission. Click on "Proceed" and accept the terms and conditions and you will get the following two options. Either you can fill out the New OCI Application Or you can retrieve the partially-filled previous Application with the "Temporary Application ID" (generated in the top right corner when you save the application, see the screenshot in the next section) OCI Application Form - Part A OCI application for a minor child will ask you for basic information like: Place of Submission Applicant's Information Applicant's Passport Details Applicant's Family Details. If you are applying from the United States then select the place of submission as USA. Next, you would need to online upload the following items: Photograph: 2 by 2 Inch photograph (guidelines for photo): You must post the same picture with the package that you upload online. Thumb Impression: The left thumb impression needs to be uploaded. Obtain their thumb impression on a white paper while they are in a deep sleep. Capture several impressions and then scan and select the best one. For minors OCI application, there is some relaxation for photos but try to capture an image that has both ears visible and eyes open. Note that the maximum size limit for photos and thumb impressions to upload is 500 KB each. Related: H1B Grace Period and Severance Pay You can also take a passport photo from your phone camera and edit the picture. On iPhone > Go to photo > Edit > Crop > Square (1:1 ratio) > Paste it on a Word document > Change the height and width of the image to 2 inches > Copy-paste same photo side by side > Print (at least you will get 9 photos). Read more. Next, you would need to upload all the relevant documents based on your case. I uploaded a scanned copy of the following documents. These document lists may vary for you, depending on the new checklist. Passport: Minor's US passport. Scan copies of Indian passports for both parents: If you no longer possess an Indian passport, copies of Indian passports belonging to your grandparents or great-grandparents will also suffice. If your passports are expiring soon, I would recommend renewing them. Refer to this for passport renewal. Address proof: Driver's license (both parents). The legal status of parents: Scan copies of Green Card (both parents), or it would be an I-129S approval notice for L1 visa holders, DS2019 for J1 visa holders, or I-797A for H1B visa holders. Relationship certificate: A scanned copy of the applicant's birth certificate. Parental authorization form: Original and notarized. OCI Application Form - Part B In part B, other details of applicants will be asked where you would need to answer yes/no, this applies to all the categories. Additionally, it will request information about the family member/relative's name, address, and relationship with the individual staying in India. After completing OCI application parts A and B, you'll need to submit the OCI application form. This will generate a PDF that you'll need to print and sign. I got the page 3 'Declaration' notarized when I applied for OCI. In the case of a minor, any one of the parents can sign the form (Declaration - Application for minor child). Register with VFS Global For OCI application fees, you need to first register with VFS Global here: VFS Global website for courier services. Select Overseas Citizenship of India from the given options. It will ask you to create a new OCI application where you have to fill out your respective details. I have also provided a sample snapshot below. Additionally, I used a debit card/ credit card for payment mode. Related: How to apply for a B2 visa for parents OCI Card Fee VFS service fee for an OCI card is $15.90, in addition, there is a consular fee of $275 and an ICWF fee of $3, plus taxes. Once you hit proceed, your OCI application fee details will be shown, refer to the below screenshot. These fees might vary in the future. After this, you will be asked to register yourself and make the final payment. After you make the payment, a fee confirmation letter pdf and a courier label will be generated. The courier label will have the Indian consulate address where you need to send your package. You need to download both PDFs and print them out. OCI Document Checklist & Final Submission This is the OCI document checklist for minors which I followed while applying for my son. This document checklist might vary a little based on your immigration status but overall it should not vary much. Please check the checklist pdf for the supporting document you would need. OCI Registration form Print the OCI registration pdf which was generated in the previous section. I got the form signed and notarized (declaration page). You might be able to get it notarized from your bank for free, I used USPS notary service where I had to pay $15 per notary. Photographs and signature You need to send 2 passport-size photographs. These photographs should be the same ones you uploaded in the OCI registration form part A. Parental Authorization Form Your sample parental authorization form can be downloaded here. The parental authorization form needs to be notarized and it needs the signatures of both parents. One parent may sign the Parental Authorization Form For a minor with divorced parents, if only one parent has legal custody (with no visitation or child support from the other parent), provide the court order for legal custody. If the court order is in a language other than English, include an English translation by an authorized translator. If one parent has passed away, provide a copy of the death certificate. For a single adoptive parent, include a copy of the adoption document. Birth Certificate You need to submit a copy of the birth certificate (issued by county) for minors and it should reflect the name of both the parents, date of birth, and nationality. Please do not submit the birth certificate issued by hospitals, those are not accepted by VFS. Related: FNU name Current Passport You need to provide a copy of the first 2 and last 2 pages of the applicant's US passport. This should be self-attested, in addition, I also got the applicant's left thumb impression on the copy of the passport pages. Note: On a U.S. passport for a child under 16, a parent should type the child's full name on the signature line. The parent should also sign their name next to the printed name of their child, and note their relation to their child (for example: mother, father, or guardian). Parents' Indian Passport In the case of minors, parents also need to provide a copy of their Indian passport i.e. first 2 and last 2 pages. The passport should be valid at least for 6 months from the date of submission of the application at the VFS consular application center. We self-attested these copies. Proof of Legal Status of Parents in the USA Please provide a self-attested copy of one of the following documents: Green card, US visa, I-797 Notice, or Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Related: How to apply for H4 EAD Consent Letter for OCI Application In the case of minors, parents also need to submit a consent letter that clearly states that the Indian consulate is authorized to make an edit and correct the mistakes made in the OCI government form. You can download the consent letter for the OCI application from here. Affidavit in Lieu of Originals This requirement for the OCI minor's application has been added recently. You must submit a notarized affidavit affirming that the documents accompanying the OCI application are true copies of the original documents, especially when only copies are being provided. Use this link for the format. Undertaking by the OCI Applicant This requirement for the OCI minor's application has been added recently. When I submitted my application, it was not part of the process. You can download the format from here. Related: J1 Visa to Green Card Marriage Certificate of Parents A copy of the marriage certificate is required, and you need to self-attest it. If parents are divorced, a self-attested copy of the divorce decree is required. If one of the parents has passed away, a self-attested copy of the death certificate is required. OCI Address Proof for Minor You are required to submit a self-attested copy of proof of address for one of the parents. Acceptable documents include a not expired Driver's license, State ID, Utility bill, Lease agreement, Income tax return, or Mortgage document. I have submitted a self-attested copy of my driver's license as proof. Check the OCI checklist PDF for the complete list. Related: USCIS Premium Processing Proof of Native Address People who are not U.S. citizens but are living in the USA with a valid long-term visa should provide a self-attested proof of address from their home country. If there is no address proof available, a notarized statement must be given, providing details of their home country address. OCI Fee Payment & Couriers Include the printout of the fee payment confirmation letter and courier label with your OCI application. Additionally, paste the printout of the courier label on your package. OCI for Minor Common Mistakes It's mandatory to complete the VFS online registration process before sending out the physical application. The physical application should be completed and sent within 70 days once the online application is submitted. If you are applying for a new OCI then the envelope should mention "NEW OCI - MINOR (US NATIONAL BY BIRTH)". Do not staple the documents. Include the fee payment and courier printout in the envelope. The photograph should be the same i.e. what you upload online and what you send in the physical form. It's always a good idea to self-attest all the copies of the documents you are sending. Use left thumb impression for minors whether it's a girl or boy. OCI for Minor Processing Time I am sharing my timeline for the OCI card. It took approximately 6 months for me to receive the OCI card. I applied on November 3rd, 2022, and received the OCI card in my mailbox on May 11th, 2023. VFS Global website states it usually processes in 6 weeks but it was not true in my case. Though I had no issues with my application the processing time was six months. I followed up a couple of times for my application and it was always in progress and finally, I received it after 6 months. Related: How to expedite green card processing? OCI for Minor Validity There is no expiry date on the OCI card, but it needs to be reissued once the individual reaches the age of 20. Initially, I thought it was valid for a lifetime, but that's not the case for minor applicants under 20 years of age. According to the CGI-SF release in April 2021: A person who has registered as an OCI cardholder before attaining the age of 20 years will have to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after his/her completing 20 years of age, to capture his/ her facial features attaining adulthood. If a person has obtained registration as an OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be no requirement for the re-issue of an OCI card. To update the data regarding new passports obtained by the OCI cardholder, it has been decided that he/she shall upload a copy of the new passport containing his/her photo and also the latest photo on the online OCI portal, each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within 3 months of receipt of the new passport. However, in the case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholders as spouses of foreign origin of a citizen of India or an OCI cardholder, the person concerned will be required to upload on the system, a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also the latest photo along with a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting each time a new passport is issued. These documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder spouse within three months of receipt of his/ her new passport. When you receive the OCI card you will notice the date of issue, as you have on your Indian passport, but there will be no expiry date. OCI Card India Benefits When I started applying for an OCI card, I was wondering what benefits we get with an OCI card. Instead, I can get an Indian visa in a few days which costs around 40 dollars, and it's fast. On the other hand, an OCI card has a validity of 10 years and costs around 300+ dollars. So why not just get the visa? Well, I soon realized the benefits of an OCI card and applied for it. These are some major benefits: The right to work and study: OCI card holders can work and study in India without the need for any additional visas. Access to certain financial services: One of the significant benefits is that you can purchase property, open bank accounts, and take loans like other Indian Citizens. This is a big benefit as once you become a US citizen you have to lose Indian citizenship and this would be a significant setback if you want to buy any property in the future. Lifelong multiple entry visa: OCI cardholders are entitled to numerous entry, which allows them to visit India as many times as they want without the need for a visa as long as the OCI card is valid which is 10 years. Same privileges as Indian citizens: OCI cardholders enjoy the same privileges as Indian citizens, except for voting and some political rights, similar to permanent resident rights in the US. Related: B2 visa extension beyond 180 days for parents FAQs on OCI Card for Minor Which documents are to be notarized for OCI minor? The following documents need to be notarized for the OCI card application for minors: Parental authorization form OCI application form (I notarized declaration, page 3) Affidavit in lieu of originals Proof of native address (if applicable) Which thumb impression is required for an OCI card for a minor? For an OCI application for a minor child, a left thumb impression is needed, regardless of the applicant's gender, whether it's a girl or a boy. Do we need to send the original passport for the OCI minor? No, you don't need to send the original passport for the minor's OCI. You need to send the copies. For OCI, which thumb impression for a baby boy? You need to take the left thumb impression for OCI application (minors who can not sign) whether it's a boy or girl. How to take OCI minor signature? You can take a left thumb impression for OCI minor at the place of signature. Does the OCI card need to be updated with the new passport? No, you don't need to renew your OCI card but you need to upload a copy of the new passport (online) and a recent photo (not older than 30 days) each time a new passport is issued. This is needed up to 20 years of age and once after 50 years of age. What is the required proof of native address for non-US nationals living in the USA? Non-U.S. residents living in the USA on a visa can use their Aadhar card, Indian Driver's License, or Passport to prove their address from their home country. If they don't have these documents, they can provide a notarized statement with their address details. Next: B2 Visa for Parent Related Posts ✔ Go to the Main menu ✔ Green card priority date for India ✔ Indian passport renewal in the US Related Topics

In this blog, you will download the latest version of anypoint studio and install it. Before downloading anypoint studio, some prerequisites need to be made. JDK Download Before you download JDK, understand the difference between JRE, JDK & JVM. This is necessary as you might see several versions of Java already running on your machine. JRE is Java Runtime Environment that fulfills the basic requirements which are needed to run any Java application on your machine. It contains a JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and other required classes needed to support JRE and run any application. Now, JDK (Java Development Kit) is a full fledge software development kit used to develop any Java application. JDK includes JRE and thus a virtual machine (JVM) as well which is needed to develop, execute and test any Java application. JDK > JRE > JVM > Objects & Classes & other needed files. Now, check if Java is already installed on your machine. For windows or Mac, run this command on the command prompt/ terminal java -version You will get output like this java version "9.0.1" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 9.0.1+11) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 9.0.1+11, mixed mode) or, something like this java version "1.8.0_341" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_341-b25) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.341-b25, mixed mode) What's the difference between the above two examples? Example first shows that you have installed JDK 9 in past and the second example shows you have installed JRE in past. Now I think you are clear on what's the difference here. Most probably you will already have JRE running on your machine as it's needed to run several other Java applications (not for development but for execution) and that does not mean you don't need JDK. For anypoint studio installation you need JDK. Download & Install JDK Download the latest version of JDK - https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/ Once you install JDK, let's say stable version which is JDK 17 at this point in time. Run the java -version command again to validate the installation. You might see the old/existing version here. If you already had Java installed on your machine JRE or JDK earlier, you have to go to your program files and check if JDK got installed (OSDisk (C:) > Program Files > Java and you might see multiple JDK/JRE files there, which is expected and okay). Configuring User Environment Variable for JDK Once JDK is installed, you need to add a path variable to environment user variables so that we can tell Anypoint Studio which Java executable to use. Search 🔎 "environment variables" on your windows machine which will open system properties > advanced > environment variables. Click on Environment Variables > New (User variable, not System variable). Define New User Variable with Variable name: JAVA_HOME & Variable value: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17.0.4 and press OK. Copy the path from your local machine (OSDisk (C:) > Program Files > Java), do not just copy and paste the above path. That's just an example. If you plan to install newer version of JDK, you can simply update the JAVA_HOME variable. Create a new path variable Search 🔎 "environment variables" on your windows machine which will open system properties > advanced > environment variables. See the variables defined under User variables. If there is no "path" variable then create a New > Variable name: path & Variable value: %JAVA_HOME%\bin If there is an existing "path" variable (most probably you will have this) > Select "path" variable > Edit > New > and enter value as %JAVA_HOME%\bin Reboot your system and run the path command on your command prompt and that should give you JDK 17 (or whichever version you installed) Example output C:\Users\Dataneb>path PATH=c:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17.0.4\bin; Download Anypoint Studio In order to download Anypoint Studio, go to https://www.mulesoft.com/lp/dl/studio, or if you want to download any previous versions go to https://www.mulesoft.com/lp/dl/studio/previous. Fill out the form and download it. Step 1 Sample downloaded file name: AnypointStudio-7.13.0-win64.zip Create a new folder under OSDisk(C:) > Mulesoft Extract the downloaded file. Right-click on downloaded file > Click extract all > Browse > Select the folder C:/Mulesoft > Extract Final path OSDisk(C:) > Mulesoft > AnypointStudio > configuration/ features/ license / etc.. Step 2 In order to tell AnypointStudio which JDK to use, you need to update the AnypointStudio.ini file. Navigate to path OSDisk(C:) > Mulesoft > AnypointStudio and edit AnypointStudio.ini file in notepad. Uncomment the following 2 lines to configure a specific JDK path, and save and close the file. Example -vm C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17.0.4\bin\javaw.exe Note the difference between java.exe and javaw.exe, both are java executables on windows platform. Java.exe is the console app while Javaw.exe is console-less. Step 3 Run AnypointStudio.exe

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 (Package 1) DOS J1 waiver mailing address Postal service Courier service DOS J1 Waiver (Package 2) Mailing address What's next? J1 waiver process time FAQs on J1 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. Related: Can I convert from a J1 visa to Green Card 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 Related: How to apply for B1/B2 visa for parents 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 Statement of reason 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. 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 Related Posts ✔ Go to Main Menu ✔ How to file I-140 for J1 visa holders ✔ How to apply for J2 EAD? Related Topics

J1 Waiver India Process - As we begin Stage 2 of the J1 visa waiver application process, I assume you've already read my previous blog on J1 visa waiver (Stage 1) and received the cover letter specifying the Indian offices where you need to obtain the clearance certificates. Related: J1 waiver lawyer I am Hina Singh, a post-doctoral research scientist and I have completed the J1 visa waiver process. I am sharing my experience to assist others in obtaining a J1 visa waiver more easily. I had to refer to multiple blogs and videos, which was time-consuming. Therefore, I have divided the entire J1 visa waiver process into four sections. Introduction J1 Waiver: Stage 1 J1 Waiver: Stage 2 J1 Waiver: Stage 3 Table of Contents: J1 Waiver India Process J1 Visa Waiver - Stage 2 NORI Certificate from Passport Office MHRD NORI NORI Stage 2 Documents RPO Addresses Home Department Addresses FAQs on NORI J1 Visa Waiver - Stage 2 The cover letter you obtained in Stage 1 would state that the NORI certificate will be issued after you obtain clearance from the following authorities. Regional passport office (RPO): This refers to the office where your initial passport was issued. The Ministry of Human Resource and Development, New Delhi (MHRD): This is an online process, please follow this link to upload all the required documents and complete the process. Department of Home State in India: The state where you belong (refer to the address indicated on your passport). NORI Certificate from Passport Office These days, some consulates do not require RPO clearance and your cover letter should mention this. In my case, it was not required. Please ensure that this is the case with your consulate. I have also compiled a list of all Indian consulates and their details, which can be helpful. You can refer to this link. MHRD NORI The MHRD NORI process is straightforward. Just follow this link and create your login ID, upload all the necessary documents, and the NORI site will guide you through. Related: How to update address during J1 waiver After you submit everything, it will take approximately 3-6 weeks to receive the clearance certificate. The certificate will be sent to you via email, so please make sure to provide the correct email address. Please remember that they process applications in batches, typically with 1-20 people in each batch, so it may take some time. You can always check your NORI application status by logging in to the same website. NORI Stage 2 Documents The Department of Home State refers to your current residence in India. In my case, it was Uttar Pradesh, and this step can be quite tedious. The document list might vary depending on the Home Department of the State, but in general, it should remain the same. So, please ensure you have all your supporting documents ready. Cover letter (i.e., a brief letter explaining why I am sending these documents; you can find it here) Attested statement and affidavit (bio-data and affidavit) Self-attested copies of passport and visa Self-attested copies of certificates (Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc., and High School) DS-2019 Resume Related: Can I convert from a J1 visa to a green card You can either mail your documents to the secretariat of your home department or visit there in person. If you have family relatives or parents available, you can ask them to submit your documents on your behalf. It may take some time because you need to locate the person responsible for the NORI department, as the secretariat office has multiple departments. I recommend visiting the office in person or asking someone to go on your behalf. Once your documents are accepted by the secretariat, the administration will forward them for police verification and District Magistrate (DM) office clearance. A police inquiry will be conducted to verify your address and documents. They may visit your home address, contact the phone number you provided in your bio-data/affidavit, or ask your parents to visit the police station. In my case, my dad received the call and went to the police station. Related: How to expedite your J1 waiver Your parents will need to submit an affidavit on your behalf, confirming that you have no outstanding loans or criminal activities and that they have no objections to your stay in the US. They should also provide other necessary documents, such as ID proof, as guided by the police. The specific requirements may vary depending on the state. A separate file will be sent to your respective District Magistrate (DM) for their signature, which they should then send back to the secretariat office. Please follow up with both the police office and the DM office. It took me 3-4 months to complete this clearance process end-to-end, and it was slower due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Related: How to apply for J2 EAD Once the secretariat receives no objection from DM and Police then they will e-mail you your clearance certificate and simultaneously post it to the Indian government, New Delhi. The Indian government will send one physical copy of the certificate to your physical address in the US and another copy to the Indian consulate office in the US. Receiving a physical copy might take 1-2 months, so be patient. If you don't receive the physical copy, contact your consulate in the USA via email to inquire if the emailed copy will suffice. A friend of mine faced the same issue (never receiving a physical copy), and CGI-SF confirmed that an email scan copy would also be accepted. Please follow up at this step regularly; otherwise, the process may become significantly slower, or your case might be forgotten. If possible, obtain a contact number from the NORI office to stay updated. In my case, a gentleman at the secretariat office kindly provided his number and guided me through the process. Sample NORI Certificate (Home State) Please message me in the comment section if you have any queries. I will try to answer your question. Regional Passport Offices Addresses (India) I tried to find addresses for Passport Offices from different states by looking at other websites because many people asked for them. I haven't used these addresses myself so they might be wrong. Please let me know in the comments if you find any mistakes, and I'll fix them. Thanks for helping others in advance. Note: For the RPO links provided below, Click the reference link > Go to Contact Us > Passport > Regional Passport Officer and you will find all the information (including RPO contact details like phone and email addresses). Regional Passport Office in Andhra Pradesh Regional Passport Officer Near P.F. Office, Beside Rythu Bazar, Marripalem VUDA Lay out, NAD Post, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh-530009 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in Haryana Regional Passport Officer SCO 28-32, Sector 34-A Chandigarh-160022 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in Maharashtra Videsh Bhavan, Bandra Kurla Complex, Plot No C-45,G Block, Bandra (East), Mumbai-400051 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in Madhya Pradesh Regional Passport Office, Ministry of External Affairs. Arera Hills, Bhopal (M.P.)-462011 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in Rajasthan J-14, Jhalana Institutional Area, Jhalana Doongri, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302051 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in West Bengal 4 Brabourne Road, 1st floor, Kolkata, West Bengal-700001 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in Karnataka 8th Block, 80 Feet Road, Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560095 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in Kerala Eranhipalam Post, Kozhikode, Kerala-673006 Reference: Link Regional Passport Office in Gujarat Regional Passport Office Opp: L.D. Engg College Hostel University Road, Gulbai Tekra Ahmedabad, Gujarat India - 380 006 Reference: Link Note: If you don't find your city above, please visit this link and select your city > Contact Us > Passport > Regional Passport Officer, for example: Home Department Addresses (India) Same for Home Department addresses, I haven't used these addresses myself, so they might be wrong. Please double-check before sending your documents. If you find any mistakes, please let me know in the comments, and I'll fix them. Thanks for helping others in advance. Home Department in Delhi Secretary, Home Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, 5th Level, 'C' Wing, Delhi Secretariat, I.P. Estate, New Delhi- 110002 Home Department in Andhra Pradesh The Deputy Secretary Government of Andhra Pradesh Home Department III Floor, Secretariat, Hyderabad - 500022 Reference: Link Home Department Office in Haryana The Secretary to Government Home Department Haryana Civil Secretariat Chandigarh - 160001, Haryana, India Reference: Link Home Department in Maharashtra Principal Secretary - (Special) Home Department 9th Floor, New Administrative Building Opp. Mantralaya Mumbai - 400032, Maharashtra, India Reference: Link Home Department in Tamil Nadu The Secretary Home (Citz II) Department Government of Tamil Nadu Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai - 600009, Tamilnadu, India Reference: Link Home Department in Madhya Pradesh The Principal Secretary to Government Department of Home Govt of Madhya Pradesh Vallabh Bhawan Bhopal - 462004, Madhya Pradesh, India Reference: Link Home Department in Jharkhand Secretary to the Government Department of Home Project Bhavan, Ranchi, Jharkhand Reference: Link Home Department in Rajasthan The Principal Secretary to Government Department of Home Govt. of Rajasthan Secretariat Jaipur - 302005, Rajasthan, India Home Department in West Bengal The Principal Secretary Home Department, Foreigners Branch, Government of West Bengal Writers Building Kolkata 700 001, West Bengal, INDIA Home Department in Uttar Pradesh Under Secretary Home (Visa) Section-4 7th Floor, Room No. 703 C-Block, Lok Bhawan Lucknow, UP - 226001 FAQs: J1 Waiver India Process What is the NORI certificate? A No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) Certificate is required by a person who has been in the USA on a J-1 visa and has applied to the Embassy/Consulate General of India (CGI) to waive the condition of two years' physical presence in India after the visa period ends. Before issuing the waiver, the Embassy/CGI requests the J-1 visa holder to obtain NORI from the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Which RPO (Regional Passport Office) should I reach out to for a J1 waiver? According to CGI-SF, you need to reach out to the Regional Passport Office/ Passport Issuing authority from where the applicant has been issued the Passport. Next: J1 Waiver India (Stage 3) Related Posts ✔ Go to Main Menu ✔ J1 visa to H1B ✔ J1 visa to green card Related Topics

As we initiate the J1 visa waiver application process (India), I'm assuming that you've already read my introductory blog on the J1 visa waiver. By now, you should be clear about whether you are subject to the "2-year home residency requirement" or not. Furthermore, you should have an understanding of when to start the J1 visa waiver application process and where to apply for the J1 visa waiver. I spent a significant amount of time referring to various J1 visa waiver blogs and videos to understand the process of obtaining a J1 visa waiver. As a result, I've broken down the entire process into the following sections. Introduction J1 Waiver: Stage 1 J1 Waiver: Stage 2 J1 Waiver: Stage 3 Table of Contents: J1 waiver step-by-step process J1 Waiver Application - Stage 1 Miscellaneous form NORI form J1 Waiver Money Order J1 Visa Waiver Mail Address J1 Waiver Processing Time Documents Required for J1 Visa Waiver Cover Letter which I received from CGI-SF FAQs J1 Waiver - Stage 1 Here are the steps for Stage 1 of the J1 visa waiver application. The duration to complete J1 visa waiver application stage 1 generally ranges from 3 to 5 weeks, depending on your location and consulate. Related: How to expedite J1 waiver? For stage 1, you'll require two forms: the miscellaneous service request form and the NORI form. You can locate the link to the miscellaneous form in the list of all the consulate details here. Once you open the miscellaneous form link, you'll find the NORI form on the same page. Miscellaneous form Download the miscellaneous service form from your respective Consulate General of India website. I have attached the miscellaneous form that I used for the San Francisco consulate. Since this form might change in the future, I recommend downloading it from the list of consulate details I provided previously. You'll need one copy of the miscellaneous service form, which should be filled out by hand. Please attach a recent passport-size photograph to it. NORI form Download the NORI form from your respective Consulate General of India website. Once you have downloaded the NORI (No Objection Return to India) form from your respective CGI website, you will notice It contains two sections: Biodata and Affidavit. You need four copies of the NORI form and it should be filled out by hand. You can download the NORI (San Francisco) form using this link, which I have also provided below. Additionally, please ensure that you use the most up-to-date forms, as they are subject to change in the future. Once you have completed filling out the NORI (bio-data & affidavit) form by hand, it should be notarized. You have the option to get the form notarized either at your bank or at a UPS store. I recommend checking with your bank, as they might provide this service for free. Related: How to apply for J2 EAD? Alternatively, if you choose to go to a UPS store, please be aware that there is a fee of $25 per document. It's worth noting that I wasn't aware of this at the time and ended up paying a significant amount to the UPS store. Next, proceed to make two additional photocopies of the notarized NORI form. This will result in a total of six notarized NORI forms, comprising four original copies and two photocopies. Related: B1/B2 visa for parents J1 Waiver Money Order A non-refundable fee of 66$ is required for the J1 visa waiver application Stage 1, and the fee should be paid through a money order or cashier's check drawn in favor of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco (in my case). Some CGIs accept cash as well, but that was not the case with CGI-SF. Additionally, there will be ICWF charges of $2 applied for using miscellaneous services. So, you can either prepare a money order or cashier's check for $68, or you can make it separate with $66 for the visa fee and $2 for the ICWF charges. In my case, I prepared two cashier's checks worth 66$ and 2$ both payable to drawn in favor of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco. The fee might change depending on the CGI location, so please double-check before proceeding. J1 Waiver Mail Address Next, you will require all the supporting documents (as listed in the following section), in addition to the previous forms. At this point, you will have two available options. Option 1. You can mail all the documents to your respective consulate general of India along with your original passport. The mailing address is available on CGI websites. You can find details of CGI details here. Option 2. If you prefer, you can also visit the CGI office in person. In my case, I went to CGI-SF because I was planning to travel to India, and sending my original passport by mail was not feasible. It's worth noting that you do not need an appointment for a visit to CGI-SF. Before your in-person visit, please make sure to verify with your consulate whether they provide walk-in services. J1 Waiver Processing Time In both options (1 & 2) mentioned above, you are required to include a return envelope with your address on it. The process involves a waiting period of approximately 5-6 weeks for the Indian consular officer to sign the documents. Subsequently, the signed documents will be sent to you using the return envelope you provided. Related: How to update the address (J1 waiver) However, please note that this process can vary depending on the location. For instance, a friend of mine visited CGI-NY, where the Indian consular officer signed both the bio-data and an affidavit on the same day, allowing her to leave with all the necessary documents. I had a similar expectation for CGI-SF, but it took approximately 5 weeks for them to complete the process. Documents Required for J1 Visa Waiver Current Indian passport in original and photocopy of the first five pages and last two pages. If your passport is expiring soon, it's better to renew it first. I have seen several people asking about renewing their passports during the J1 waiver stages 2 and 3. Don't put yourself in that situation; renew your passport first. You can get a new passport in 4-6 weeks in the US while getting the waiver is a very time-consuming process. See how to renew your passport here. Proof of your US visa status: Copy of any one of the following documents. Scanned copy of your visa, I-94, and all of your DS-2019 Scanned copy of the Green Card Scanned copy of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Scanned copy of approval notices I-797, I-140, or I-20 (If approval copies of these notices are pending, also attach a handwritten note detailing the efforts being taken to regularize status). Proof of current US residence address: Copy of any one of the following. U.S drivers license PG&E, utility, or landline telephone bill displaying the applicant’s address House lease agreement State identification card Note that bank, credit card, or mobile phone statements are not accepted as residence proof. Related: Should you hire a lawyer for J1 visa waiver? To access the most current forms and the list of supporting documents, please visit the website of your respective CGI. Please note that the forms and guidelines may change over time. Cover Letter which I received from CGI-SF Alongside the signed documents, you will also receive a cover letter from the Indian Consulate officer. This letter will specify the offices in India from which you need to obtain clearance certificates. In case you do not receive a cover letter, please consider sending an email to your respective consulate to inquire about it. Related: Change of status to B2 Congratulations 🎉 J1 waiver stage 1 is completed. If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a message in the comment section. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. FAQs on J1 Waiver What is the money order address for the J1 waiver? For my case, I arranged a money order or cashier's check payable to the Consulate General of India, San Francisco. The appropriate approach depends on the specific consulate you're dealing with; it's advisable to consult their respective website for accurate information. Do I need to notarize the miscellaneous form as well? No, you don't need to notarize the miscellaneous form. Only the NORI form needs to be notarized. Do I need to notarize the passport, visa, or any other supporting document for J1 waiver stage 1? For most consulates, notarization of supporting documents is required. I suggest you visit this blog (click on the 'Miscellaneous form NORI link' for your CGI) and search for notary requirements under Stage 1 details; for most consulates, it is mentioned as required. Next: J1 Visa Waiver (Stage 2) Related Posts ✔ Go to the Main Menu ✔ J1 visa to H1B ✔ Can I convert from a J1 visa to a green card? ✔ J1 Visa to EB1 Green Card Related Topics

How Families Can Keep Their Home Ready For Showings Getting your house ready to go up on the market is always a big job. Add kids to the picture, however, and that job gets much bigger. You want to make a great presentation, which means keeping up with chaos that can go hand-in-hand with kids. Here’s a look at how families can keep their home looking great until the right buyers come along: Have A Plan It’s important to get everyone in the house on the same page when it comes to staging your home. This includes any children old enough to take on some tidying tasks. For the time your house is up for sale, upgrade everyone’s chore charts to reflect a few items off your staging checklist. This way you’re constantly keeping your home ready for buyers. This is super useful, since it allows you to host agents and house hunters at the drop of a hat. For practical purposes, keep the checklist handy and make sure everyone knows where it is. You can even share your list electronically with other adults in the household and kids who are old enough to use phones or tablets. If your agent lets you know they’re swinging by soon, anyone old enough can ensure that surfaces are wiped, shades are open, and personal items are safely stashed away. Use The Best Tools Keeping your house tidy all the time is a big task, but it can be made substantially easier with the right tools. For example, a good set of microfiber cloths can make quickly wiping up surfaces a breeze. A stick vacuum is another tool you’ll want at your disposal. Since these are more versatile and lighter than traditional vacuums, they make spot cleaning fast and easy. Go through all of your cleaning supplies and try to identify which are most useful for a quick, efficient clean up, and assemble a cleaning caddy so you can grab everything at once when you’re on the run. Remove Personal Items One of the most important things your family can do when it comes to staging your home is taking down décor that makes it look too lived in. Per Creative Home Stagers, this includes family photos, bold color schemes, and especially stylistic wall art or furniture. These personal touches may make you feel at home, but they’ll make potential buyers feel like they’re in someone else’s home. On one hand, this is true, but on the other, it can be a problem. Even if sellers aren’t thinking of it consciously, they’re trying to picture themselves in the space. Pictures of your family holiday party or child’s first steps will make it harder for them to imagine their life in the house. Plan Fun Outings – And A Backup – For Open Houses Although it may be tempting to try and scope out interested buyers, sellers should never be at an open house. In addition to being an even starker reminder that the home belongs to someone else, The Balance points out that your presence will put uncomfortable pressure on the buyers and make it harder for them to pay attention to the property. Instead, plan a fun outing with your family during the scheduled open houses. Head to a park, playground, or museum to pass a little time. If you have younger children, it might also be wise to find a friend or family member who will be willing to host you if your plans go south. You don’t want to show up to an open house at all, much less with a screaming toddler. Keeping a house market-ready with kids can be a challenge, but don’t be intimidated. Prep your home and family, and make arrangements for showings and open house events. With a plan under your belt, there’s nothing stopping you from keeping your house buyer-ready until that magic day it’s sold! Photo Credit: Pexels

Every pregnancy is different, and that is true even in the same person. Your first pregnancy might have been plagued with morning sickness, high blood pressure and lower back pain, while in your second pregnancy you hardly felt a thing. That can make pregnancy preparation tricky — not knowing what to expect can be hard on your mood and your finances. Many pregnant women enjoy feeling their new child growing and developing, but in those times of discomfort, it’s important to have a plan to manage physical and mental stress. Here are a few budget-friendly tips to help you with sound and solid pregnancy prep. 1. Before and after clothes When you think about buying maternity clothes do you just cringe at the cost, knowing you’ll only have to wear this size for a short period of time? There are actually ways to cut costs when it comes to pregnancy wear. First, consider buying a belly band so you can transform the pants you currently wear into pregnancy and postpartum pants. Second, look into comfortable nursing pajamas (you can find a pair for $33.99) that you can fit into now and after the baby comes. The more cozy and flowy they are, the more comfortable you’ll be during some of those long, late night nursing marathons. 2. Amazon’s “Subscribe and Save” You should have bought stock in antacids with the kind of heartburn you are experiencing. Now it’s 3 am and you can’t sleep and you are out of Tums. You can save time and money by subscribing to items you use a lot. Not only will these be automatically delivered to your home so you never have to experience late night heartburn unaided again, but the cost per item is often reduced when you subscribe. You can do this with other items, like foods you have been craving, shea butter to help reduce stretch marks or hemorrhoid cream for sore bottoms. 3. Putting together a nursery Putting together a warm and comfortable nursery is important for mother and baby. Since you and your newborn will spend a lot of time there, you want it to be as nurturing as possible. And while you might be tempted to go overboard with the decor, it’s important to focus only on the basics so you can stay within budget. Also, while you might be tempted to do everything yourself, don’t tackle any projects that you feel are out of your wheelhouse. Fortunately, in Minneapolis, you can hire a handyman for an assortment of small jobs for an average of $403 per project, depending on the size of the project. And although that might sound like a lot of money, you’ll rest assured knowing that the tasks were completed by a professional. 4. Children’s consignment stores While primarily an ideal spot to find good deals on gently used clothes, toys, furniture and bedding, you can also find steep discounts on used maternity and postpartum accessories. You can find breast pumps and parts, breastfeeding pillows and other nursing items. And the e-commerce boom has also helped increase access to quality used pre- and postpartum clothes. You can even rent high end used maternity and nursing clothes. Browse online and have them delivered right to your door. 5. Explore Coupons and Groupons The big box retailers love a pregnant woman — families are very profitable to stores that sell food, clothing, home goods and furniture. They will be looking to entice you into the store by offering coupons and discounts on maternity and baby items. Take advantage of these discounts! And don’t just look there; websites that offers discounts, like Groupon, also often have a section with items to help you plan and prepare for a baby. And don’t forget about stores like Sam’s Club and Costco. After you pay their membership fee, you get access to bulk and wholesale items with steep discounts. In fact, consider adding a membership to one of those stores to your baby registry. 6. Facebook groups for new moms Social media is a place where we can build community. Of course, anyone watching the news knows social media has a dark side, but there are also opportunities to find and make real connections. Look for mom groups out there in your area. There are often breastfeeding groups, buy-sale-trade groups, baby-wearing groups and other mom-themed groups in many cities. More importantly than being able to purchase used items, you are able to ask questions, get advice and provide — and receive— support. Pregnancy is going to be a time of discovery, even for those on their second child or beyond. Give yourself space to breathe easier by setting a budget and staying within that budget. And don’t forget to lean on your community as much as you can for support.

Prerequisite: Follow these steps to install Apache Spark on windows machine. Now-a-days Python is used by many applications. So it is quite possible that Python is already available on your machine. To check, just run this command on your command prompt. C:\Users\rajar> python --version 'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. If Python is present on your computer, command will output the Python version like this. Python x.x.x Check if Java is properly installed, just run java -version and you should be able to see Java version running on your computer. Download & Install Python Go to Python download page and download the latest version (don't download Python 2). Download 64 bit or 32 bit installer depending upon your system configuration. Double click on the downloaded executable file. Don't forget to check the box - Add Python 3.7 to PATH , then click Install now. Thats all, it will take couple of minutes to complete the installation. Now test it, run previous command again and you should be able to see Python version this time. C:\Users\rajar> python --version Python 3.7.4 Run pyspark Now, run the command pyspark and you should be able to see the Spark version. If you have any question please mention in comments section below and I will help you out with installation process. Thank you. Next: Just enough Scala for Spark Navigation menu ​ 1. Apache Spark and Scala Installation 1.1 Spark installation on Windows​ 1.2 Spark installation on Mac 2. Getting Familiar with Scala IDE 2.1 Hello World with Scala IDE​ 3. Spark data structure basics 3.1 Spark RDD Transformations and Actions example 4. Spark Shell 4.1 Starting Spark shell with SparkContext example​ 5. Reading data files in Spark 5.1 SparkContext Parallelize and read textFile method 5.2 Loading JSON file using Spark Scala 5.3 Loading TEXT file using Spark Scala 5.4 How to convert RDD to dataframe? 6. Writing data files in Spark ​6.1 How to write single CSV file in Spark 7. Spark streaming 7.1 Word count example Scala 7.2 Analyzing Twitter texts 8. Sample Big Data Architecture with Apache Spark 9. What's Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Predictive Analytics, Data Science? 10. Spark Interview Questions and Answers