CASE: J-1 Waiver (No Objection Statement)

NATIONALITY: Philippines

LOCATION: Orlando, FL

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in August 2017 to work as a teacher. He was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. His prospective employer wanted to sponsor his H-1B and consulted with our firm for his J-1 visa waiver. If someone is subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, he or she cannot change status to H-1B in the United States until he or she fulfills the requirement or obtains a waiver.

Our office told our client that he can apply for a waiver under the No Objection Statement category based on the fact that he has a U.S. citizen child. 

On January 7, 2020, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State.  On April 13, 2020, our office sent our client’s NOS application to the Waiver Review Committee in Manila, Philippines.  Then, the Waiver Review Committee forwarded the materials and favorable recommendation to the Philippine Embassy in D.C. who eventually issued a No Objection Statement.

On August 25, 2020, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement.  Eventually, on September 14, 2020, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for the waiver.

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CASE: J-1 Waiver of the Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement, Extreme Hardship

 NATIONALITY: Filipina

 LOCATION: Hobbs, NM

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 visa to work as a teacher. She was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. Our client would like to file her adjustment of status application along with her U.S. Citizen husband’s I-130 petition; however, due to the two-year foreign residency requirement, she had to obtain a waiver first.

Unlike our other J-1 clients, our client could not pursue her waiver under the No Objection Statement or Interest Government Agency (IGA). She was married in the Philippines and even though she got her divorce in the United States, the Philippines do not recognize divorces, only annulments, and annulments take five years in the Philippines. An option though to get a waiver without needing a No Objection Statement is through a showing of Exceptional Hardship. That’s what our client pursued as her husband had several hardships. 

According to 8 C.F.R. Section 212.7(c)(5), “an alien who is subject to the foreign residence requirement and who believes that compliance therewith would impose exceptional hardship upon her spouse or child who is a citizen of the United States… may apply for a waiver on Form I-612.” 

Some of the factors in analyzing extreme hardship are as follows: age of the subject, family ties in the U.S. and abroad, length and residency in the U.S., health / medical conditions, conditions in the country of removal – economic and political, financial status – business and occupation, position in / ties to the community. Matter of Anderson, 16 I&N Dec. 596 (BIA 1978). 

After she retained our firm, we prepared and filed a waiver request through the exceptional hardship basis. On April 11, 2019, the J-1 Waiver (Form DS-3035) Application was filed to the Department of State.  Thereafter, our office prepared an affidavit for our client, an extensive brief in support of our client’s J-1 waiver application, and other supporting documents. Our client provided us with extensive medical documents and doctor’s reports for her U.S. citizen husband’s medical conditions.  On April 12, 2019, our office filed the I-612 application to the USCIS and asked for them to issue and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client’s husband would experience exceptional hardship if our client needs to go back to the Philippines for two years. 

On November 14, 2019, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) and requested our client to submit more hardship evidence. Our office prepared the response and filed an extensive Response to RFE to the USCIS on February 3, 2020. 

Eventually, the USCIS approved her I-612 waiver on August 31, 2020. Now that our client’s two-year foreign residency requirement is waived, she can file her adjustment of status application along with her husband’s I-130 petition in the United States. 

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CASE: H-1B Extension
PETITIONER:  Nursing Care Facility in Des Plaines, IL
BENEFICIARY: Filipino Health Educator

Our client is a nursing home which is located in Des Plaines, IL. They contacted our office in August 2020 to seek legal assistance for their foreign employee’s H-1B extension.  The beneficiary obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. The proffered position for the Beneficiary is a Health Educator which qualifies as a specialty occupation – a position where the minimum requirement is a Bachelor’s Degree in a specific specialty related to the position. We also note that we did an I-140 Petition for this client and it was approved.  

Upon retention, our office filed the H-1B visa petition with various supporting documents on August 28, 2020 via premium processing service. Eventually, our client’s H-1B application was approved on September 4, 2020.  His H-1B is good until August 31, 2023.

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CASE: J-1 Waiver (No Objection Statement)

NATIONALITY: Philippines

LOCATION: Sacramento, California

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in August 2017 to work as a teacher. Based on her DS-2019, she was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. Later, her prospective employer wanted to sponsor her H-1B visa and she consulted with our firm for her J-1 visa waiver prior to applying for the H-1B. If someone is subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, he or she cannot change status to H-1B in the United States until he or she fulfills the requirement or obtains a waiver.

Our office told our client that she can apply for a waiver under the No Objection Statement category based on the fact that she has a U.S. citizen child. Upon retention, our office filed a waiver application to the Department of State, and also prepared the No Objection Statement request from the EVP in the Philippines.

On January 7, 2020, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State.  On April 13, 2020, our office sent our client’s No Objection Statement request to the Waiver Review Committee in Manila, Philippines.  Then, the Waiver Review Committee granted the NOS and forwarded the materials to the Philippine Embassy in D.C. who eventually issued a No Objection Statement.

On August 11, 2020, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement.  Eventually, on August 25, 2020, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for the waiver.

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CASE: H-1B Visa Petition

PETITIONER: School District in Eagle Butte, SD

BENEFICIARY: Filipino Junior High Math Teacher

ISSUES: Cap-Exempt, Nonprofit Organization Affiliated with an Institution of Higher Education

Our client is a public school district affiliated with several institutions of higher education. They contacted our office in March 2020 to seek legal assistance from our office for their foreign employee. The beneficiary is a Junior High Math Teacher from the Philippines who has been working for this employer for the last 5 years under a J-1 status. Though he was subject to the INA 212(e), two-year foreign residency requirement, he already obtained a J-1 waiver from the USCIS. 

The proffered position for the Beneficiary is a Junior High Math Teacher. We showed that this is a “specialty occupation” because the minimum requirement for this position is a Bachelor’s Degree in Education or its equivalent.

In the first week of April, the numerical cap of H-1B visas for fiscal year 2021 was already reached. However, our client is qualified for cap-exempt petitions since it is a non-profit organization affiliated with an Institution of Higher Education as defined in 8 C.F.R. 214.2(h)(19)(iii)(B). 

Once retained, our office filed the H-1B visa petition with various supporting documents on August 7, 2020 via premium processing. Eventually, our client’s H-1B application was approved on August 19, 2020 without any RFE.  He can now work for his employer for three years on an H-1B status.

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Case: I-130/I-485
Applicant/Beneficiary – British
Location: Parma, OH

Our client entered the United States in April 2019 from the United Kingdom under the visa waiver program. As a Visa Waiver Entrant, she was only authorized to remain in the United States only for 90 days.  She has a  U.S. citizen husband whom she married in August 2018. After she last entered the United States in April 2019, she had not left. 

In June 2019, they contacted our office to consult about the adjustment of status process. After the consultation, they retained our office on June 6, 2019.  One main issue in her green card application through marriage was the fact that she came to the United States under the visa waiver program.   As our office wrote in our previous success story with a similar issue,  under the visa waiver program, citizens of certain countries can enter the U.S. for 90 days without a visa with the condition that the visitor waives his or her right to contest removal (other than on the basis of asylum).  The “no-contest” provision of the Visa Waiver Program is fundamental; if someone could enter under the VWP and then contest removability, it would defeat the whole purpose of the Program which is to make it easy for certain nationals to come to the United States to visit and then leave without all the red-tape involved in visa issuance.

Our office filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on July 20, 2019.  Our office requested the CIS to exercise favorable discretion in granting adjustment of status. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and the work permit all came on time. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients at our office. On July 27, 2020, our client was interviewed at the Cleveland, Ohio USCIS Field Office.  Attorney Sung Hee (Glen)Yu, Esq. accompanied our clients. Eventually, the USCIS approved her adjustment of status application on August 13, 2020.  She is now a green card holder. 

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CASE: J-1 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement, No Objection Statement 

NATIONALITY: Indonesian                                                                                                     

LOCATION: Jacksonville, FL

Our client is from Indonesia who came to the U.S. on a J-1 Visa in April 2007.  He. for work training, and his J-1 program subjected him to the two-year foreign residency requirement.  After his J-1 program was completed, he remained in the United States. 

In March 2019, our client married his U.S. Citizen wife.  He is eligible to get a green card through his marriage to a U.S. citizen; however, before we can file his I-130/I-485 application simultaneously, he has to get a waiver of theis two-year foreign residency requirement. He consulted with our office retained us on December 20, 2019. 

Upon retention, our office prepared the waiver request through a No Objection Statement (NOS) from the Indonesian Embassy in the United States.  We contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. to pursue the waiver. The Embassy requested nine different documents including a statement of reason for the waiver, the applicant’s resume, a copy of his valid Indonesian passport, and a copy of the Form DS-3035 application.  

On January 2, 2020, the J-1 Waiver (Form DS-3035) Application was filed to the Department of State.  We also sent a request to the Indonesian Embassy to issue a No Objection Statement and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client is eligible to file a marriage based adjustment of status. 

The Indonesian Embassy issued a No Objection Statement for our client, and sent this letter to the State Department’s Waiver Review Division.  On July 24, 2020, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement. The CIS has receipted the fee and issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver of two-year foreign residency program on August 7, 2020.  Now, our client can file his adjustment of status application along with the I-130 petition.

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CASE: J-1 Waiver (No Objection Statement)

NATIONALITY: Philippines

LOCATION: Wharton, TX

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in August 2015 to work as a teacher. Based on his DS-2019, he was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. His employer wanted to sponsor his green card and he consulted with our firm for his J-1 visa waiver prior to applying for adjustment of status. If someone is subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, he or she cannot get a green card in the United States until he or she fulfills the requirement or obtains a waiver.

We told him that he can apply for a waiver under the No Objection Statement category based on the fact that he has humanitarian reasons for doing so, based on the numerous hardships that his family (who were on J2) will experience if they return to the Philippines. Upon retention, our office promptly prepared a waiver request through a No Objection Statement (NOS) from the Philippine Embassy in the United States and eventually the EVP in the Philippines.

On November 14, 2018, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State.  We prepared the humanitarian arguments and sent the packet, with evidence,  to the EVP  Waiver Review Committee in Manila, Philippines. They eventually issued a No Objection Statement. On July 17, 2020, the Waiver Review Division of the Department of State issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement.  Eventually, on August 6, 2020, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for the waiver.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement / Over 21-year-old dependent child

NATIONALITY: Russian

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY

Our client is a citizen of Russia who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in February 1998.  He came with his father who came on a J-1 Visa for his research program in the United States. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, meaning they had to go back to their home country for two-years before they can apply for permanent residency or some non-immigrant visa such as the H, L, and O visas.

He turned 21 in November 2010. This year, his employer wanted to file an I-140 petition for him. The I-140 was possible, but the eventual I-485 adjustment of status (green card) was not possible due to the two year foreign residency requirement.

Although J-2 dependents cannot independently apply for a waiver, in cases where a J-2 child reaches 21, the Waiver Review Division may consider requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2 dependent.  The Department of State’s policy allows for that process in instances where the J-2 dependent obtains a divorce form the J-1 principal, the J-1 principal dies, or in cases where the J-2 dependent turns 21, which is our client’s case. In fact, our client turned 21 in November 2010.

Our firm was retained to do her J-2 waiver, and on March 3, 2020, the J-2 Waiver application (Form DS-3035 and supporting documents) was filed to the Department of State. We also sent a request to the DOS to be an interested government agency and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client reached the age of 21 and was not a dependent of a J-1 visa holder anymore.  Eventually, on June 29, 2020, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver.  On July 29, 2020, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver request.

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CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement / Over 21-year-old dependent child

NATIONALITY: Chinese

LOCATION: Yonkers, NY

Our client was a citizen of China who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in November 2015.  He came with his mother who came on a J-1 Visa for her research program in the United States. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, meaning they had to go back to their home country for two-years before they can apply for permanent residency or some non-immigrant visa such as the H, L, and O visas.

He turned 21 in May 2016. This year, his employer wanted to file an I-129 petition for his H-1B visa. However, because of his two-year foreign residency requirement, our client cannot change his status in the United States without the waiver. 

Although J-2 dependents cannot independently apply for a waiver, in cases where a J-2 child reaches 21, the Waiver Review Division may consider requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2 dependent.  The Department of State’s policy allows for that process in instances where the J-2 dependent obtains a divorce form the J-1 principal, the J-1 principal dies, or in cases where the J-2 dependent turns 21, which is our client’s case. In fact, our client turned 21 in May 2016.

Our firm was retained to do her J-2 waiver, and on March 9, 2020, the J-2 Waiver application (Form DS-3035 and supporting documents) was filed to the Department of State. We also sent a request to the DOS to be an interested government agency and recommend this waiver based on the fact that our client reached the age of 21 and was not a dependent of a J-1 visa holder anymore.  Eventually, on June 29, 2020, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver.  On July 29, 2020, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for our client’s waiver request.

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