CASE: J-1 Waiver (No Objection Statement)
APPLICANT / BENEFICIARY: Filipina
LOCATION: Corona, California
Our client came to the United States from the Philippines in August 2010 on a C-1 visa (Crewman). She remained in the United States after her entry in August 2010. She married her U.S. citizen husband in February 2017. She retained our office on June 20, 2017 for the I-130 and I-601A waiver filing. We filed an I-130 petition for her in July 2017. This I-130 petition was approved in February 2018. With our office’s legal assistance, she also obtained her I-601A Provisional Waiver on March 17, 2020.
However, our client cannot file for adjustment of status application due to her ground of inadmissibility (crewman entry and overstay). She needs a waiver of inadmissibility to become a green card holder. Despite she has her I-601A waiver, she also needs to get a J-1 waiver for her previous J-1 program which took place prior to her C-1 visa entry.
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 June 11, 2019, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State. On September 16, 2019, our office sent our client’s materials 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 March 13, 2020, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement. Eventually, on April 3, 2020, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for the waiver. Now, our client can file for her immigrant visa filing with her waivers.