Anyone applied for a J1 visa?
Discussion
Writing this to see if anyone on Pistonheads has any advice on this matter, I am due to be moving from the UK to the USA (California) for 12-months on an internship. Having researched, I am aware that I require a J1 visa to enter the United States. However after that, this is where I require your help.
Although I travel frequently, I have never lived abroad (i.e. resided and worked) and the visa process is so very confusing. I contacted an immigration lawyer to see if I could get some help but they wanted £300 ($462) for an hour consultation and being a university student, I simply don’t have the funds.
I will be working for a private company in San Diego for my internship and I wish to submit to them later this week an idiotproof document outlining exactly what:
-They need to provide me
-I need to provide them
-What I need to provide the consulate when I attend the interview
If someone with knowledge of this could inform me as to what exactly I require, that would be excellent, the more simplistic the better! It is the first time the company is taking on an intern from abroad so this is all new to them and I keep getting redirected to the embassy website after calling both the US embassy in London and Paris.
Thank you so much in advance!
Although I travel frequently, I have never lived abroad (i.e. resided and worked) and the visa process is so very confusing. I contacted an immigration lawyer to see if I could get some help but they wanted £300 ($462) for an hour consultation and being a university student, I simply don’t have the funds.
I will be working for a private company in San Diego for my internship and I wish to submit to them later this week an idiotproof document outlining exactly what:
-They need to provide me
-I need to provide them
-What I need to provide the consulate when I attend the interview
If someone with knowledge of this could inform me as to what exactly I require, that would be excellent, the more simplistic the better! It is the first time the company is taking on an intern from abroad so this is all new to them and I keep getting redirected to the embassy website after calling both the US embassy in London and Paris.
Thank you so much in advance!
OP - Congratulations on finding a company to sponsor you through the J1 process.
However, is this company a registered sponsor for the J-1 programme? If not, you may encounter a number of problems.
I have done a lot of work on various kinds of visa's etc. although never been through the J-1 yet - happy to lend a hand.
Drop me a PM - I am pretty tied up at the moment, but happy to help should you require any assistance.
Chris
However, is this company a registered sponsor for the J-1 programme? If not, you may encounter a number of problems.
I have done a lot of work on various kinds of visa's etc. although never been through the J-1 yet - happy to lend a hand.
Drop me a PM - I am pretty tied up at the moment, but happy to help should you require any assistance.
Chris
Edited by toohuge on Thursday 10th September 02:34
The sponsoring organization prepares and funds the visa petition - the beneficiary (you) react to the requirements of the sponsor's immigration attorney.
It would appear (given that you seem to be the person driving this) that this could be an unfamiliar process to the sponsor, which is a worry, to be honest.
They should (and need to be seen as) driving this, not you. If you are having to advise them on what they need to do, you are likely to run into some big problems with USCIS and the US Consulate in the UK. Fundamentally, they need to provide you with a DS-2019, detailing the program they wish to enroll you in. That document needs to have a unique SEVIS ID number that the sponsor obtains in their program application.
Although it's smart to retain your own legal representation (because they act on your behalf - rather than the sponsors) - they can't initiate the petition - it has to come from the sponsoring company. If they are not certain what this process involves, they need to retain a professional who is.
It would appear (given that you seem to be the person driving this) that this could be an unfamiliar process to the sponsor, which is a worry, to be honest.
They should (and need to be seen as) driving this, not you. If you are having to advise them on what they need to do, you are likely to run into some big problems with USCIS and the US Consulate in the UK. Fundamentally, they need to provide you with a DS-2019, detailing the program they wish to enroll you in. That document needs to have a unique SEVIS ID number that the sponsor obtains in their program application.
Although it's smart to retain your own legal representation (because they act on your behalf - rather than the sponsors) - they can't initiate the petition - it has to come from the sponsoring company. If they are not certain what this process involves, they need to retain a professional who is.
Edited by Matt Harper on Thursday 10th September 15:36
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