mhamidou

Hi,

I wish to have some info from you guys who may have been in a same
situation as mine.
My current situation can be summed up in these five points:

1) I hold a J1 visa that expires in Jul 08 (DS-2019)
2) However, my passport stamp visa expires in Jul 07.
3) I am subject to the 2-year HRR
4) I applied for a waiver from the 2-year HRR in Jan 07 (at both my
home country embassy and state dept)
5) I need to travel overseas this summer, Jul/Aug, and stop by my
home
country and renew my J1 stamp visa for another year, since my
DS-2019
is valid.

My questions are:

I know that one can travel while the J1 waiver process is pending or
even if the waiver is issued. I would rather like to
know if one can renew the passport J1 Stamp Visa while the waiver
application is pending? or even if the waiver is issued ?

I remember that I heard once from someone that it is very difficult
to renew it, during the waiver process. It was a few years ago I
didn't bother to ask about the detail. But, now I would like to know
if: 1) it is possible to renew the stamp visa, 2) how difficult it
is,
3) or if it is possible, but I could have problems when I arrive at
the US borders, even with a renewed valid stamp.

I also heard that it depends and it's kind of random?

If you have experienced this or if you have any clue please
reply to this post ...

Thanks a lot,

A

ian-mstm

I have a clue. Waivers for the 2 year HRR are almost *never* approved. Once you've applied for a waiver, your J-1 will likely not be renewed... so you might want to renew the visa first. Oh... you already applied for the waiver. Oh well...

Ian