Hi, I am currently in the US on an H4 visa. I shall be completing my PhD in my native
country and would be eligible for a J1 visa (as a post doctoral fellow). My question is do
I have to obtain a J1 visa while in my own country or can I get back to the US and start
processing it here. Any help/advice in this regard would be really appreciated.

-A

Hi,
> I am currently in the US on an H4 visa. I shall be completing my PhD in my native
> country and would be eligible for a J1 visa (as a post doctoral fellow). My question is
> do I have to obtain a J1 visa while in my own country or can I get back to the US and
> start processing it here. Any help/advice in this regard would be really appreciated.

It works both ways. The sponsoring organization prepares form IAP-66 for you. Then, if you
are in your home country, you apply for a J-1 visa at a US Consulate in your country. If
you are in the US, you apply for AOS from your current status to J-1.

Hope, this helps.

___________
Andrey Zuban

Andrey Zuban wrote:

> > I am currently in the US on an H4 visa. I shall be completing my PhD in my native
> > country and would be eligible for a J1 visa (as a post doctoral fellow). My question
> > is do I have to obtain a J1 visa while in my own country or can I get back to the US
> > and start processing it here.

> It works both ways. The sponsoring organization prepares form IAP-66 for you. Then, if
> you are in your home country, you apply for a J-1 visa at a US Consulate in your
> country. If you are in the US, you apply for AOS

Not AOS, but "change of status." AOS, "adjustment of status," refers ONLY to changes to or
from permanent resident status.

> from your current status to J-1.

Two more points:

In some parts of the U.S., the I-539 application for change of status has a usual
processing time of over one year. The I-539 would have to be *approved* before the person
would hold J-1 status and could go on the payroll of the J-1 sponsor. For this reason, the
only practical way to get J-1 status would be to leave the U.S., apply for a J-1 visa
stamp, and re-enter in J-1 status. This could possibly be done at a U.S. consular post in
Canada or Mexico.

Stay away from the J1 if you're planning on staying in th US. After your J1's over, you
have to go back to your country for 2 years. That would be a problem... With your PhD you
should easily get a better visa, like an H1b - which is a good way to immigration.

Hilbert

> Hi, I am currently in the US on an H4 visa. I shall be completing my PhD in my native
> country and would be eligible for a J1 visa (as a post doctoral fellow). My question is
> do I have to obtain a J1 visa while in my own country or can I get back to the US and
> start processing it here. Any help/advice in this regard would be really appreciated.
>
> -A
>

Stay away from the J1 if you're planning on staying in th US. After your
>J1's over, you have to go back to your country for 2 years. That would be a problem...
(snip)

This is not true of all J-1's - not everyone is subject to the two-year Home Residence
Requirement under 212(e). It's something to watch out for, though, of course. It's to do
with where your funding's from, etc.

-- Mark