CASE: J-2 Waiver of Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement Post-Divorce
NATIONALITY: Indian
LOCATION: India
Our client is a citizen of India who came to the U.S. on a J-2 Visa in September 2012. She came with her husband who held a J-1 Visa as a researcher. Both were subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement.
Unfortunately, while they are residing in the United States, her marriage did not work out well. Eventually, she got divorced from her ex-husband in December 2016. Our client had an approved I-140 petition for her, but could not file adjustment of status application or immigrant visa petition unless she fulfills two year foreign residency requirement or obtains a waiver.
In March of this year, our client contacted our office. She retained our firm to do her J-2 waiver. On April 3, 2017, the J-2 Waiver (DS-3035) 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 was divorced from the J-1 visa holder. Eventually, on April 24, 2017, the DOS recommended to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that our client be granted a waiver. Finally, the USCIS issued I-612 waiver approval notice on May 26, 2017.