From mimsy!cs.umd.edu!news.umbc.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.ans.net!newsgate.watson.ibm.com!hawnews.watson.ibm.com!puffin!rigoutso Tue Mar  8 13:48:56 EST 1994





Hello everyone.
I recently subscribed to alt.visa.us and it is the first time that I saw the 
FAQ files.  I have a couple of comments  regarding the J-1 waiver relared
statements.  In particular, regarding the governement agency sponsored waivers.

It is *not* true that you have to work for the sponsoring agency.  Of course,
if  you do work for them it helps.  More specifically, the following can happen:
one works for a certain company doing research or other work that will lead
into the development of a product or of a technology that will give the US a
market edge  or a technological edge.  Clearly, any such claim will have to be 
backed up by company statements, descriptions, recommendation letters etc. 
Then, an alternative route is through the Department of Commerce.  The latter
will examine the case and decide whether they want to apply for a waiver on your
behalf with USIA. Actually, that was my case; I am currently in the period
where USIA has recommended the waiver to INS but the latter have not yet
decided. In case you are wondering about the type of my research, I do work 
on computational/molecular biology and pattern matching.  Two more alternatives
that I know of are waiver applications sponsored by the Department of Health
(for those that are in health science fields), and by the Department of
Defense.  

The period between the day you file with the Department of Commerce and the day
USIA makes a decision is in the order of 4 months.  To this one should add an
overhead of 3 months or so during which period one is preparing the application
package: supporting documents, recommendation letters, etc.

My case was handled by a lawyer in New York City that was recommended to me
by an acquaintance.  As it turned out this lawyer has an excellent track record
on department-of-commerce- and department-of-health-sponsored waivers.  Very
professional work, and excellent interaction at the personal level.  And what
is also important, his fees are *very*  reasonable.  I would highly recommend
his office to anyone that might be interested in pursuing this waiver
alternative. Feel free to contact me directly (see below) if you want his data.

I hope the above helps some netters.  

Isidore Rigoutsos





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Isidore Rigoutsos, PhD 		     | Internet: rigoutso@watson.ibm.com
IBM TJ Watson Research Center	     | BITNET:rigoutso@yktvmh.bitnet
PO Box 704                           | Phone: (914) 784 7968
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA.     | FAX:   (914) 784 7455
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Disclaimer:  Any and all opinions expressed here are mine and are not 
	     necessarily shared by IBM.


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