Pending J1

V

victim101

New Member
Hello! I badly needed your advice about my case. I arrive here in on B1 visa valid until july 25, 2005. I applied for a change of status to J1 last may 4, 2005 in California service center because i was accepted in a family medicine program as a new resident physician. Around August 8, 2005, I received a letter from the USCIS in california that they cannot locate my papers so I end up resending all the copies of my application to them. Until now, I am still waiting for that visa to arrive. However, my program is letting me go and to restart me next year. I would like to ask your assistance if what will be the best option for me to keep my status legal. Because I am only allowed to stay here because of that pending J1 application beyond july 25, 2005. It is advisable to stay here but how? Or is better to go home but it should be put into consideration that I am from the Philippines and applying for a visa back home is very difficult. I need your advice, thanks!
 
If going home is an option just make sure you take step 3, go home and come back with H1-B visa. J is too much pain in the neck. I am not sure what would happen if your J got approved before you withdraw it. Have you already started residency or just waiting?
 
Thanks I612. I am already done with step 3. In fact, I was already matched in a program but because the conversion of my visa is taking so long, the program is letting me go. What do you think will I do? Please help! If I go, the chances of coming back is pretty nil. I mean you know how that consul overseas work. they are the most inhumane people on earth. I just hope that when they get to the doors of heaven, the angels will also be mean to them just like what they did to millions of people around the world. I would really appreciate if you can suggest anything. Thanks!
 
As you can learn from my posts I am not good at this. I would haeve normally told you to change status to F1 and study something, lets say MPH or a Kaplan course for now. But if your B has expired in July then I am not sure if the COS to F will be approved. Talk to an immigration atty. Better yet if you have a Kaplan ctr nearby go there, might get lucky and their foreign student advisor is there and they will guide you. Remeber though you'll have to register for a course and pay tuition and be a full time student without a work permit. Also send emails to all residency programs. You might get lucky and some place have an open spot. Lots of people quit.
 
I cannot apply for another post because i am bound to the program because of the agreement that I made with the NRMP. Im also done with step 3 so i dont know what to enroll in kaplan. but thanks I612 and I really appreciate your response and more power to you.
 
In fact, I was already matched in a program but because the conversion of my visa is taking so long, the program is letting me go.

The above statement means that you are not bound by NRMP. All those apply to prior to your program cancelling your position. Every year this happens to many residents; they are not able to start on-time b/c of visa issues. The program is not liable, because you can not work, but they can not sue you over that too. Now if they will take you next year, and I mean prematch, kudos to them; but you still can find something now and then they will have to fil their next year's position. Thrust me I have never seen a program going after a resident for stuff like this. As far as Kaplan courses, you can always study for GRE, will be useful in case you want to do an MPH and many of my friends have done it. It is going to be hard financially but it is an option.
 
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