From: pkagrawa@iastate.edu (Pawan K Agrawal)
Subject: Summary: 2-yr home country requirement
Message-ID: <CFFAJG.3xB@news.iastate.edu>
Sender: news@news.iastate.edu (USENET News System)
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1993 22:30:52 GMT
Lines: 74

Hello,

Following is the summary of several replies I received in response to my
posting on "2-year home country requirement for J-1 visa holders". I thank
all those who responded. Although, this procedure details the steps for
Indian passport holders, it might be helpful for citizens of other countries
as well. I am posting this summary so that the lady who asked me to mail it
to her, as well as other interested individuals can be benefitted. 

		     (SORRY  "J",  your e-mail address 
		won't accept my mail. I hope this would help)

Thanks

Pawan

****************** Steps for 2-yr home country req. waiver ****************

	For those of you seeking a waiver,  following are the steps which 
you need to follow in order to get the waiver. Although INS is strict about
the 2-year requirement, you can get it waived if you work for a US govt.
org. like NASA. If not, you should get a waiver. The process, although quite
long ( ~6 months), is well defined and straight forward. 

1.	Begin the process well in advance of the expiration of your visa. Six
	months to a year ahead would be a good idea.

2. 	Contact your regional (Indian) consulate for the application forms for
	obtaining the "no obligation to return (to India)" (NORI) statements.

3.	Fill out the forms in quadruplicate (instructions provided), have them
	notarized and send them back to the consulate.

4.	The consulate will return the forms with its endorsement and a letter
	stating that you need to get clearance from 3 agencies (in India) 
	(addresses provided). These agencies are:

	1. Your local passport office
	2. Home minister of your state government
	3. Dept. of Education, Ministry of Human Resources, New Delhi

	Note: If you are a practicing medicine you need to get an additional
	      clearance (Ministry of Health, I believe)

5.	Send the forms to India and preferably have your family personally get
	these clearances. You may need to get clearances from the 
	police and tax authorities.

6.	Each of those agencies will send back a NORI statement to you and 
	simulataneously to the (Indian) consulates in US. 

7.	Send the NORI statements to your regional consulate. They will forward
	a letter to the (Indian) Embassy.

8.	The (Indian) Embassy will send a NORI statement to the United States
	Information Agency (USIA).

9. 	The USIA will send you a form to fill. Return this form to them.

10.	The USIA will make a recommendation and send it to the Immigration and
	Naturalization Service (INS).

11.	INS will issue the final waiver.

The process after getting the NORI statements (from India) takes about 3 
months. The process of getting the NORI statements (from India) could 
take anywhere from three weeks to a few months,
(Maybe it would be better to get these clearances done yourself 
if you go on vacation).

Another way of speeding it up would be to go to the (Indian) consulate 
personally instead of dealing with them by mail.

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