james lewis

Hi all,
Newcomer to these forums...

I'm an Australian who's currently applying for a J1 Visa. It states in the application that my J1 salary should be at least 3 times the cost of housing + utilities in the local area (I'll be working & living in New York City)

So given average monthly rental for apt's in NYC can be US$2300+ and I've stated about US$1400 + $120 utilities per month (given I'll be sharing or living in a small studio), my salary for NY should be about US$45,000?

Is there any limit for J1 salaries?

Thanks in advance...

james lewis

Hello again,
Anyone have any idea?...

Jozef

"james lewis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] m...
>
>> Hi all,
>> Newcomer to these forums...
>>
>> I'm an Australian who's currently applying for a J1 Visa. It states in
>> the application that my J1 salary should be at least 3 times the cost
>> of housing + utilities in the local area (I'll be working & living in
>> New York City)
>>
>> So given average monthly rental for apt's in NYC can be US$2300+ and
>> I've stated about US$1400 + $120 utilities per month (given I'll be
>> sharing or living in a small studio), my salary for NY should be about
>> US$45,000?
>>
>> Is there any limit for J1 salaries?
>>
>> Thanks in advance...
>
> Hello again,
> Anyone have any idea?...

As far as I know, there's no a limit on J-1 salaries.

Jozef

Capt. Tuttle

Jozef wrote:
> "james lewis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected] m...
>
>>>Hi all,
>>>Newcomer to these forums...
>>>
>>>I'm an Australian who's currently applying for a J1 Visa. It states in
>>>the application that my J1 salary should be at least 3 times the cost
>>>of housing + utilities in the local area (I'll be working & living in
>>>New York City)
>>>
>>>So given average monthly rental for apt's in NYC can be US$2300+ and
>>>I've stated about US$1400 + $120 utilities per month (given I'll be
>>>sharing or living in a small studio), my salary for NY should be about
>>>US$45,000?
>>>
>>>Is there any limit for J1 salaries?
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance...
>>
>>Hello again,
>>Anyone have any idea?...
>
>
> As far as I know, there's no a limit on J-1 salaries.
>
> Jozef
>
>

I have no idea how it is now, but over 30 years ago my brother, who
should know, told me it took $50,000 a year just to get by in NYC.
I'm surprised someone didn't answer with a more up to date figure.

Bill_S

Are you asking about an upper limit or a lower limit?

In any event, $45,000 is very low for New York City. You can survive like that, but you will have little or nothing left at the end of the month. It might be an interesting adventure for you for a couple of years, but you'll just be scraping along. And if this J1 position doesn't provide health insurance, I'd be very wary.

james lewis

Thanks to all for the replies so far...

Bill, yes I'm asking for the upper limit.

I know $45,000 isn't much for New York but I'll just be able to get by. I lived there last year for a few months so I have a fair idea of what to expect.

The reason I'm asking about my salary on J1 is that in the fine print on the application it says the people who issue the J1 visa can get suspicious if you get a very high salary. And I've read on the internet that some J1 trainees get very little in salary, sometimes only a few hundred dollars per week so I'm just hoping that $45-50K won't arouse suspicion.

Anymore replies would be greatly appreciated.

Is there anyone on the board who is or has been on a J1 Visa?....

Capt. Tuttle

james lewis wrote:
>>Are you asking about an upper limit or a lower limit?
>>
>>In any event, $45,000 is very low for New York City. You can survive
>>like that, but you will have little or nothing left at the end of the
>>month. It might be an interesting adventure for you for a couple of
>>years, but you'll just be scraping along. And if this J1 position
>>doesn't provide health insurance, I'd be very wary.
>
>
> Thanks to all for the replies so far...
>
> Bill, yes I'm asking for the upper limit.
>
> I know $45,000 isn't much for New York but I'll just be able to get by.
> I lived there last year for a few months so I have a fair idea of what
> to expect.
>
> The reason I'm asking about my salary on J1 is that in the fine print on
> the application it says the people who issue the J1 visa can get
> suspicious if you get a very high salary. And I've read on the internet
> that some J1 trainees get very little in salary, sometimes only a few
> hundred dollars per week so I'm just hoping that $45-50K won't arouse
> suspicion.
>
> Anymore replies would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Is there anyone on the board who is or has been on a J1 Visa?....
>

My wife's son was in the U.S. on a J-1 visa for a short time.
He left after he learned that he was not going to receive any training,
his wife would not be able to join him, and the "agency" he was using
was not the people who issued the DS-2019. It was, in most respects, a
scam.
My advice is to be very suspicious of any and everything you see, hear,
or read about a J-1 visa.
In my opinion they have become a simple legal way to hire cheap labor.

james lewis

Definitely not the case with me, I know the company well enough & the training will be great....

Just still trying to get some answers or opinions on the salary...