2017 J-1 waiver based on hardship processing time

[LeslieKnope]

Hello, 

See below my J1 waiver based on hardship application timeline. The length was almost exactly a year.

Background of our case:

2009 :J-1 visa obtained with US funds for a 2 month program

2010: Came to the US for grad school with a F-1 visa

2014 - 2017: Used OPT and OPT STEM extension to work

2016: South American and American Citizen marry

Late 2016: With the help of a team of experienced lawyers in J1 waivers we applied to the hardship waiver based on: medical and psychological hardship, career disruption, economic disruption, and severe political and social conditions in the home country

Couple has no kids

I know how hard and painful this process is. But believe it or not one day it will be over! I can't believe I no longer have to check the j1waiver website everyday. I promise myself that once our case was finalized and I would share our case with other J1 waiver fellows. 

Wish you the best, stay positive, stay busy!

Office	Item	Action	Date
USCIS	Form I-612	Received	October 19 2016
DOS	Fee	Received	November 02 2016
DOS	Form DS-3035	Received	November 02 2016
DOS	Form DS-2019	Received	November 02 2016
DOS	Passport Data Page	Received	November 02 2016
DOS	Form G-28	Received	November 02 2016
DOS	Statement of Reason	Received	November 02 2016
USCIS	Non-USCIS advisory opinion for Form I-612	Requested	March 31 2017
DOS	Form I-612	Received	April 04 2017
DOS	Form I-613	Received	April 04 2017
DOS	Request for Sponsor Views	Sent	April 05 2017
DOS	Sponsor Views	Received	September 11 2017
DOS	Recommendation	Sent	October 10 2017
USCIS	Approval		October 17 2017

[Power]

Applied for hardship waiver. My case is with DOS. 

I612/613 received on 10/17

today I saw a update which says i612/613 date changed to 11/6 and letter of need received . What is letter of need. So far I have not seen this in any hardship waiver timeline. Please help thanks 

[Waiver-18]

@LeslieKnope

Hi there, Congrats. 

I have applied for J1 Hardship waiver in 2016. After the RFE and long process time DOS received the I-612 and I-613 on 28th Feb, 2018. DOS requested for Sponsor Views and it’s been 4 months since they asked for Sponsor views. My scholarship was for 5 months and the funding was from State Department. 

It’s been sometime since DOS requested for sponsor views. Should i wait for their response or how should I contact my sponsors to look up the request from DOS? 

I’d appreciate your reply. Thanks