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Phone: (615) 327-0315 (615) 327-0315
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J1 Visa Waiver
My own Experience Home Page Getting waiver from India
If any of the links are not working, copy & paste the links in Looking for
the web browser; also read all the forms carefully and check
for the updated fees. If you find anything useful, difficulties Immigration
and experiences, forward it to me.... and it will be useful for Lawyer?
every one visiting this page (rafi@aruppukottai.net -
08/08/08)
If your J1 visa reads “Bearer is subject to section 212(E). Two years rule does apply,” then you
are supposed to get a waiver from your home country.
You can also check this link for "Exchange visitor skills test"
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/participation/waivers.htm (There is a pdf
file with 70 pages in this link..... take your time..... relax.. and read)
When to start: I am not sure about the exact period when to start, but after 6 months is fine
(If you decide to stay more than your visa period)
Stage I
The first step is to obtain a “No Objection Statement from home country”
The form can be downloaded from this link (Indian Embassy link)
http://www.indianembassy.org/consular/nori.pdf
Take four copies of the form (Each form has three pages.The first page is the instruction
page. Keep it safe and read carefully. You will need this later) Fill out the forms, get notarized,
and send to the Indian Embassy along with the following items:
1. Cover Letter
2. Original Passport
3. Fees for attestation
4. Fees to return the passport
Miscellaneous form from this link http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/consular/misc1.pdf with
5.
your passport size photo.
Check your region in the home page of Indian Embassy and apply to that particular embassy.
You can refer to the link http://indianembassy.org/embassy/cgi.htm
Stage II
Once you have received the attested forms (You will receive only three forms. One is for
Indian Embassy record), send them to the following addresses:
NOTE: Check each form to see that it has been signed and has the Indian Embassy Seal.
Otherwise, it will not be considered in India. (One of my friends had the problem)
1.Central Government: (This address is common for all except Medical Degree)
Address for Medical degree
Address to Send Things to send
The Ministry of Human Resource &
1. Cover Letter
Development
Department of Secondary & Higher
2. Attested copy received from Indian Embassy
Education
Government of India 2. Passport copy
ES.5 Section, A-2/W-4 Curzon Road 4. All copies of degree certificates (B. Sc., M. Sc.,
Barracks Ph. D)
Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi - 110 001, India
2. State Government: (Only For Tamilnadu) Click here for other States
Address to Send Things to send
The Secretary 1. Cover Letter
Home (Citz II) Department 2. Attested copy received from Indian Embassy
Government of Tamilnadu 2. Passport copy
4. All copies of degree certificates (B. Sc., M. Sc., Ph.
Secretariat, Fort St. George
D)
5. The postal address of all the institutions attended
Chennai - 600 009
and
Tamilnadu, India the register number related to all the degrees
3. Passport Office: (Only For Tamilnadu) The Passport office where the
passport was issued
Address to send
Address to Send (Trichy) Things to send
(Madras)
The Passport officer The Passport Officer 1. Cover Letter
2. Attested copy received from Indian
Regional Passport Office Regional Passport Office
Embassy
Municipal Water Tank
II Floor, Shastri Bhavan 3. Passport copy
Building
I Floor, WB Road 26, Haddows Road
Thiruchirapalli - 620 008 Chennai - 600 006, India
Tamilnadu, India
NOTE: You can send copies of all your degree and diploma certificates. However, it is very
important to send copies of B. Sc., M. Sc., and Ph.D..
The response for the above three departments are (If everything functioned well – No
strike/No postal delay etc…)
1. Central Government: 35 to 45 days
2. State Government: 3 - 4 Months
3. Passport office: 3 - 4 months
NOTE: Most of the time the passport office from India sends the letter directly to the
Indian Embassy where you applied. If you have not received anything (around 4 months) from
the passport office (India), call Indian Embassy and find out.
Stage III
In the mean time, send a form “J1 Visa waiver form to US department of State” You can
download the form from the web site http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/ Send the
completed form along with the following: The application form link
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/80024.pdf
1. Cover letter
2. Fee for $215
3. Statement of reason (why you want to stay longer)
4. All copies of DS-2019 (Previously IAP-66)
5. Copy of the current passport (Check the application form link)
6. Self addressed letter stamped – TWO
This fee is to open a case number only. You are supposed to send some more documents after
receiving the case number in the next stage
Stage IV
Once you have received all the three letters from India, send the following item to Indian
Embassy where you applied
1. Photo copy of all the three letters
2. Original passport
3. Miscellaneous form with passport size photo
4. Fees for the NORI certificate (Check 1st page of Instruction sheet STAGE I )
5. Fees to return your original passport
6. Photocopy of the case number received from US Department of State
You will receive a copy of “No Objection Statement” from the Indian embassy.
The original should be send to the US Department of State. The Indian Embassy automatically
sends the original to the US Department of State
Stage V
You will receive the case number and instruction sheet “what to do next” within 2 weeks.
If you miss to send anything above in Stage III you are supposed to send all the informations
as in Stage III.
Once you sent the items to the US Department of state, the only thing left to do is to check
the status online and “WAIT”
You can check the status through the following link with your case # http://169.253.2.79/
Stage “WAIT”
You will receive a copy of the recommendation letter from US Department of State to Bureau
of Citizenship and Immigration Service (BCIS)
From BCIS, you will receive a notice stating your fee is waived, the application number, and the
processing time etc.
You can also check the status of your application from BCIS with a toll free number printed on
the notice.
After that, you will receive a final notice from BCIS that the case has been approved. This is
the final stage.
Useful Links:
1. Indian Embassy: http://www.indianembassy.org
2. US Department of State Home page:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_info_waivers.html
3. Waiver Review application form:
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/80024.pdf
4. Department of Education, New Delhi:
http://www.education.nic.in./htmlweb/contactus.htm
5. J1 Visa waiver online: https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov
More INFO:
1. It is very important to send the Miscellaneous form to the Indian Embassy every time
you contact them (Experience)
2. From the Central Government, you will receive a letter within one to two months of time
3. From the State Government, they will send letters to all the institutions for reference
along with a local police enquiry to your permanent address in the passport
4. From the Passport office, local police enquiry to your permanent address in the
passport
5. No Objection certificate issued from the Indian Embassy; Washington is the one and
only “NORI” Certificate. The letters from India proves that there is no due or any
problem with you. They are not the NORI Certificate even though it says NORI
Certificate
6. Cover letter is not necessary, but it is recommended
7. If you follow everything correctly, the average time for the full process is around one
Year
8. If you do anything wrong, the time will be longer, since everything depends upon the
postal mail
Example of a Case number detail: If you give the case number… it will pull out all the
information about the case number
Department of State Decision: Favorable Recommendation
Item Action Date
Recommendation Sent Aug 23, 2003
No Objection Statement Received Jun 11, 2003
Form DS-2019 Received Mar 05, 2003
Statement Of Reason Received Mar 05, 2003
Fee Received Feb 23, 2003
Form DS-3035 Received Feb 23, 2003
Instruction Sheet Sent Feb 23, 2003
I love to have comments about this page. If you have any recommendations or updates, let me
know. If you think this information is really useful and your friends need the info, forward this
link to them http://j1.aruppukottai.net ......................... Good Luck!
Mohamed M Rafi (rafi@aruppukottai.net)
Purpose Cost (US $)
1. NORI Attestation from Indian Embassy (Postage for sending and return $30) 66.00 + 30.00
2. Passport size photo 20.00
3. Postage for sending three places to India 10.00
4. US Department of state (Plus ordinary postage $7.00) 215.00 + 7.00
5. NORI Certificate from Indian Embassy (Postage send and return) 11.00 + 30.00
6. Postage Department of State 10.00
Average Total 399.00
