dexter
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 1
|
Hi Everyone,
I will be grateful for your help with the following situation.
I am a researcher in the biomedical field and I am currently in the US with a J1 visa. My wife is an IMG. Can she start a residency program with her J2 visa, or does she have to change it to J1? Or H1B? Can she change it to H1B at all?
If she can start residency with J2, what will hapen after my 5 years expire? Can she get a waiver as a J2? And if yes, will I be able to stay under her waiver?
Thanks a lot.
|
| yelenatx
Forum Senior
Topics: 0
Posts: 148
|
Yes, she can start residency on J-2
If you current J-1 visa has 2-year HHR then she can't change her J-2 to H1B. If your J-1 has no 2-year HHR, then she can change to H1B.
If she starts residency with J-2 and your J-1 visa expires she would have to drop residency and leave the country or apply for own J-1.
If she is on J-2 she cannot get waiver on her own. You are the one who needs to get waiver and she will get waiver automatically at the same time with you if she is on J-1. If she gets her own J-1 she would need to get a separate waiver.
|
| nefeli
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
|
I hope the member yelenatx is still visitiing this forum because I am in very difficult situation and I could really use some advice.
You said that you can get J2 and start residency and when J1 expires apply for you own J1. Are you sure about that? Do you know someone that has done this? My husband is on J1 and I want to come as J2 but I read somewhere else that you cannot change your J2 for J1.
Please reply to me if you have some answers because I just read this information and I am very very upset because I don't want us to be apart for 2 years until I start residency. And another thing that I read is that if you are on J2 you can get work permission only for 4 years. Do you know anything about that?
Every information is really welcome from anyone. Please if someone knows anything about this we are in desperate need for help.
|
| yelenatx
Forum Senior
Topics: 0
Posts: 148
|
you can't change your J-2 for H1-B or green card unless you get a waiver or spend 2 years in your home country, otherwise, you can appy for status change as long as you qualify
I knew somebody who went to residency on J-2. After her husband's J-1 expired she had to leave the country because she didn't bother to apply for her own J-1 in advance. It took her a month or two to arrange her own J-1 so she could come back and finish her residency.
if you are on J-2 you shouls be able to get work permission as long as primary J-1 is valid, you would have to renew your work permit every year
|
| nefeli
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
|
Thank you very much for your reply. I have contacted some lawyers since I posted my questions and they told me the same thing. As long as I can get my own J1 or H1 ( after my husband's get a waiver) I guess I could go for J2 now.
Thanks again
|
| crossingmyfingers
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 41
|
Can you help me please? I have a similar problem. I'm not yet married, and may only get married after my partner gets his J1. Will I still be eligible for the J2 if we get married AFTER he gets his J1? and if so, how long do you think will the processing take? days? months? or-god-forbid, years? Thanks so much.
|
| nefeli
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 5
|
Of course you can apply for J2 after your husband gets his J1. My husband has his J1 for 2 yrs and we got married a month ago.ECFMG says they need about 30 days to process a J2 application but it's a very simple process. If you need work authorization after you get your visa they say it takes 90 days but I read somewhere that it is not good to apply for that immediately after you get your J2 because J1 is supposed to have enough funds to support you both. I am not very sure about this information though. If anyone knows more ,please share it with us.
|
| crossingmyfingers
Forum Junior
Topics: 10
Posts: 41
|
Ok thanks! That's great news. And congratulations! 
|
| maverick
Surgery Resident
Topics: 146
Posts: 553
|
interesting information
___________________
" There comes a time when for every addition of knowldege you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore,not to have useless facts elbowing out the uselful ones." - Arthur Conan Doyle
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | |
