J-1 Visa & Residency Questions

[palciparum]

Hi
I am on J-1 visa and my wife on J-2. She came to USA or basically travelled outside India for first time in march 2004 after our marriage. Since then we haven't visited India. We plan to go back to India in September 2007 after I complete my med/peds residency.

Will it be a problem coming back on J-1 since we havent visited India for long time and she visited US for first time and stayed here for 3+ years before going back?

Also when I started my residency I had to wait till october 2003 as my program didnt allow me to work cos my Social security number took time to be issued(my bad luck) I started work in oct,2003. even though I was in US since june 2003 on J-1 ECFMG was notified. My contract was extended. Will it be a problem getting J-1 stamped again. Will it be a issue at visa interview?

I am trying for fellowship for 2008. I have 9 months in between from Oct 2007 to june 2008. Is there any J-1 approved fellowship even if non standard that I can do for 9 months so that I can continue on J-1?

If I cannt, then if I take 9 months break, will it be a problem coming back on J-1? any one has any experience. I read on one site saying its difficult to come back on J-1. Nothing more specified.

All replies appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation

PS Tahnks to everyone who has contributed here. I am lucky to find this website. Later I shall seek guidance for J-1 waiver.

 

[angio]

Hi,
I don't think you should have a problem getting another J-1. They usually say that you have to spend a year outside J-1 status before you can apply to back to back J-1s, but if your contract got extended because your offical start date was delayed and you have less than a year bewteen visas, they usually don't care too much. You can even return to the US as a tourist in the meantime, it doesn't matter, as long as you are not on a J-1 status. It looks like you will have used 4 out of the maxiumum 7 years for J-1. Could you perhaps find a fellowship program that is two years long, the first one being research, where they could let you start in October? That would probably be ideal. Just a thought.