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J-1 Hardship Waiver


J1 visa holders, and their dependents, who’re subject to INA §212(e) are required to return to their home country for two years, or must obtain a “J1 waiver” before they can change or adjust their status. If you do not want to return home for the two-year “home country residence requirement,” you can apply for a waiver of the requirement under any one of following five grounds 1) request by a designated State Department of Health; 2) Interested Government Agency (IGA); 3) persecution; 4) no objection statement; or 5) hardship.

If you are not on a J1 visa but need a hardship waiver, learn more about other
hardship waiver options here.

Hardship

J1 visa holders who can demonstrate that their departure for two years would cause “exceptional hardship” to their United States citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child (“qualifying relatives”) may obtain a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the J1 Hardship Waiver

woman-doc-three1.jpgThe benefits of the hardship waiver are that, if approved, the applicant can immediately apply for permanent residence or change of status rather than spending three (or five) years in H-1B status as may be required under the IGA wavier process. A physician would also not be limited to employment in underserved areas, but can take a position anywhere.

The disadvantages are that the outcome of the application, and the time to process it, is difficult to predict.

The hardship to the qualifying relatives in the event they were to go with the applicant to the home country, or in the event they were to remain in the United States, should be considered equally.

Requirements for a J1 Hardship Waiver

Typical hardships include medical hardship, psychological hardship, political and social conditions in the home country, and economic and career disruption which would impact the qualifying relative(s). Length of marriage, number of children, original nationality of the qualifying relative, and any past separation between the applicant and the qualifying relatives are also taken into consideration.

Mere separation and the attendant sadness that this involves is not enough to outweigh the public policy objectives of the J1 program.

Because the hardship waiver is not easy to obtain and is highly fact based and subject to discretionary considerations by adjudicating officers, waivers should not be submitted without careful preparation. An experienced immigration attorney can help you determine whether your waiver has a reasonable possibility of success.

To schedule a consultation with an Immigration Attorney, contact our office at 415-986-6186 or at info@j1visawaiver.net.

The National Advocates

Conrad 30 and IGA Waivers

  • J1 Visa Waiver Overview
  • J-1 Conrad 30 Waiver
  • J-1 Visa Waiver Procedure
  • J-1 Waiver FAQs
  • J1 Conrad 30 States information
  • J-1 Veteran’s Administration Waiver
  • J-1 Delta Regional Commission Waiver
  • J-1 (ARC) Appalachian Regional Commission Waiver

J1 Hardship Waiver

  • How to Prove Exceptional Hardship
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of J-1 Hardship Waiver
  • Conrad 30 vs. J1 Waiver
  • J1 Waivers for Learning Disability
  • J-1 Visa Waiver Procedure
  • J1 Visa Waiver Overview

No Objection Waiver

  • J1 Visa Waiver Overview
  • J-1 Visa Waiver Procedure
  • J-1 No objection letter

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Disclaimer

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Privacy Notice
©2015 The Ranchod Law Group – Disclaimer: The testimonials, case results and/or endorsements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
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