J-1 No Objection Statement Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement Approved for Filipina Client in Las Vegas Nevada

CASE: J-1 Waiver (No Objection Statement)

NATIONALITY: Philippines

LOCATION: Las Vegas, NV

Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in July 2017 to work as a teacher. According to her DS-2019, she was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. After her authorized stay period expired, she remained in the United States. 

In June 2019, she got married to her U.S. citizen husband and later on consulted with our firm for her 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.

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 July 19, 2019, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State.  On September 10, 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 December 12, 2019, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement.  Eventually, on December 23, 2019, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for the waiver. Now, our client can file for her adjustment status application along with her U.S. Citizen husband’s I-130 petition for her.