u/EcuSwiftiemgmp

Has anyone here tried reaching out to their congressional representatives or senators regarding recent J-1 NOS waiver denials?

My lawyer and a representative’s office both suggested that more people affected by these denials consider respectfully asking for clarification through their congress representives, especially since many recent denials seem to involve very little explanation beyond “program and policy considerations.”

It would help everyone to know whether there have been any internal policy changes, and I think representatives or senators could appropriately help by asking DOS for more details or clarification on these denials, since that is part of their oversight role.

It feels like a lot of applicants, attorneys, and even sponsors are struggling to understand the current adjudication trends, particularly for Skills List/NOS cases.

Curious if anyone has tried this or received any useful feedback

i am considering reapplying for the NOS. i have heard contradicting opinions from people and lawyers on the success of this.

I would just like some views and advice on how to proceed. I applied in December with a very weak SOR. I have to admit i was not aware of the recent wave of denials.

Since then, i have gotten married to a US citizen, he works on a field that the USA is definitely not interested in loosing (aerospace) AND now i have support from my job that they will sponsor me an H1B.

i am subject due to the skill list, no government funding or medical training.

So my question is, has anyone reapplied with new evidence and succeed? What do you suggest i include as evidence? what other opinions or tips do people have??

I am open to everything, i would like to give myself the best chance!

hi all,

i got my nos waiver denied yesterday. i am heartbroken. i am a research scholar, working on medical research. i obtained the letter from my embassy and submitted additional information through my congresswoman. i am wondering if you guys have any advice on reapplying or doing an advisory opinion? my exact field code is not on the skill list for any country, my boss is willing to sponsor a h1b and my husband is a us citizen.

i dont think the EH route is realistic for us, he is a college professor, healthy, with a stable job, we dont have any kids and we are not planning on having any anytime soon. i recently was matched into a position to start medical residency, i was supposed to start in july but with all of the immigration struggle, they have postponed my start date for a year, so i have 13 months approximetly to figure out the waiver stuff and get my green card or work permit!

my job is a research scholar, no patient contact or medical training at all (although i am an MD), my code is 51.1401, no government sponsorship (payed through university sponsor account directly) and i am from ecuador.

any advice would be welcome! i am talking with my lawyer about my options! has anyone reapplied to either the NOS or the advisory opinion and gotten a different results?

Thank you all in advance!

Hi everyone, quick question about J-1 212(e) and the Skills List.

CIP code 51.1401 (Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies) does not appear anywhere on either the 2009 or 2024 Exchange Visitor Skills List. The codes under group 51 go from 51.12 directly to 51.15 and 51.14 is never listed.

I am not trying to find a loophole or outsmart the system, I am genuinely confused about how a code that is not on the list can trigger the two-year requirement. or why does my visa have says i am subject when my code is not listed!

Has anyone successfully argued they were not subject to 212(e) because their specific CIP code was not explicitly listed on the Skills List, even if their broader subject group was? Any experience or attorney referrals welcome.

Thank you.

Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone has been through something similar.

I'm an IMG currently in the US on a J-1 Research Scholar visa. I matched this cycle!

I am subject to the J-1 two-year home residence requirement (212e). I got married to a US citizen earlier this year and was planning on adjusting my status to permanent resident before my start date. Because I am on a Research Scholar J-1, I applied for a No Objection Statement (NOS) waiver through the Department of State back in December 2025. All my documents were received by the Waiver Review Division in January 2026, and I have been waiting since then with no update and no decision.

Because of my pending waiver, getting a new J-1 for residency is not an option for me.

Has anyone been through something similar? Particularly around NOS waiver delays affecting a residency start date? How did you handle it with your program? Did the waiver eventually come through? Any advice or shared experience would mean a lot right now.

Thank you.