The J-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa available to aliens falling under the “exchange visitor” designation, in which individuals travel to the United States through a program approved by the Department of State in order to train in or display a certain skill. J-1 Visas can be granted for individuals filling the roles of teacher, physician, student, trainee, intern, and professor, among others. In certain situations, the visitor is required to return to his or her home country for two years after the J-1 status has been completed. However, there are circumstances in which this can be waived, one of which is the Interested Government Agency (IGA) waiver.

The immigration attorneys at Berd & Klauss, PLLC provide legal services throughout all of New York City. They have extensive experience handling IGA waivers and are well-versed in the steps necessary for application:

• Determination of Government Agency: The first thing you need to do is figure out which government agency will sponsor the request. You do not need to be working for the sponsoring agency.
• Complete the Review Application: This form, also called a data sheet, contains both basic and specific questions regarding program funding. Upon completion, this form needs to be sent to the U.S. Department of State’s Labor Review Division along with a non-refundable fee of $230 and all DSP/IAP-66 forms.
• Request Sponsorship: In order to do this, your employer (current or prospective) must submit a detailed statement explaining how a waiver would benefit the IGA’s interests, as well as the nation’s public interests.
• Receive Determination: If the waiver application is approved, the State Department will send a letter of recommendation to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for final determination.

Getting an IGA waiver can be a complicated process, but an experienced immigration attorney can help to expedite the process. For more information immigration law, visit Berd & Klauss, PLLC online.