Insights from my journey

Sunsets at Red Rocks

Now that I am in my 30s and having met thousands of people, lived in multiple cities and countries, and experienced various stages of life (and continuing to do so), I can't help but reflect on how few things in life are truly important (non-negotiable). I would love to share this with someone as confused as I was in my early 20s, to help guide them. 

1. Importance of workouts and physical fitness: This is THE most important thing in life. I think, everything else—money, power, fame, love, etc. (not in order)—comes after this. Unless you have good health and follow a sustainable fitness regime, not just to lose a few kilos now and then, but to incorporate it into your everyday lifestyle as a permanent habit, you can't enjoy other aspects of life fully. What you do in your early 20s and 30s will have a direct impact on your later life. I remember how my professor once told me that taking care of his health in his early years by playing tennis, hiking, flossing his teeth, and so on has allowed him to live a comfortable life in his 80s, unlike many of his peers. Also, drink water. 
2.  Freedom to explore your life in the early years: I've seen that parents who imposed strictness on their kids during their formative years often led those kids to explore freedom in not-so-good ways when they finally got the opportunity. It's like if you restrict yourself from doing something for a long time, you might do it in the worst possible way if given the chance. For example, I remember when I used to diet and avoid eating a piece of cake or cookie, I would often fail miserably and end up eating a whole box at 1 a.m., then cry and blame my friend who left their snack box at my home by mistake. So, do not restrict your kids too much. Some form of restriction should be there, though. 
3. Go out, travel, and meet/interact with people: This is another important aspect of life that nobody talks about enough. I have had the privilege of being a military brat, so traveling and moving were part of my life. But I can't emphasize enough its importance in the real world. I have lived on totally opposite sides of the hemispheres alone, but I did a pretty decent job of surviving it with pride. I think this came from my experience of changing schools every 2 years and living in different states of India with varying languages and cultural backgrounds. This really helped me adjust myself in different groups and enhanced my tolerance. It taught me that it is normal and that you have to get through it. 
4. Pursuing continuous learning and growth: Never stop learning. Whether through formal education, reading, or acquiring new skills, continuous learning keeps you intellectually engaged and opens up new opportunities when you expect it the least. 
5. Financial literacy and planning: Understanding money management and planning for the future is so essential. In my early years, I didn't pay much attention to saving or investing, but as I grew older, I realized the importance of financial stability and freedom that comes after. Learning about budgeting, investing, and saving has given me a sense of security and freedom to make life choices without financial stress. It has also taught me the essesnce of responsibility. As a youngest kid in the family, I was the last person to be considered responsible (becuase of my track records) but now I take pride in telling people that atleast few people in my life (my family, of course) have started taking me seriously and consider me responsible. 😊
6. Follow this when joining a new workplace: When you join a new workplace, be proactive. Arrive early and make it a habit, as your initial actions can set lasting patterns. Participate in activities and meetings, ask questions, and never shy away from voicing your opinions. Taking these steps will help you integrate quickly and make a positive impression. Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to new opportunities and learning experiences. Volunteer for challenging projects, propose innovative ideas, and don't be afraid to suggest changes that could improve processes. I believe what you do in the first six months sets a lasting impression about you as a person and colleague in people's minds. If you cut slack after six months, it won't change anything. However, if you are clumsy and boring at the start, no matter how hard you try to change people's perception of you after six months, it will never change.
7. Take risks: I am a huge supporter of taking risks (with some caveats of course)*. It's like stepping onto a new path without knowing exactly where it leads. It's exciting and a bit scary, but it's how we grow and achieve amazing things. Before making important risky decisions, my mantra in life is to first calm myself down by thinking, 'Hey, what's the worst thing that can happen?' I imagine the worst-case scenario and weigh it against the fact that I would still be alive and have my job/family. I believe that if you've already considered the worst-case scenario of your risk decision, you'll be at ease with accepting the outcome afterward. At least, that approach has worked out for me. (* you should always have a plan B and don't get too risky, you know. Always take calculated risks).

Reflections of 2023

I don't know if all the grown ups do that but I love world news. I mean it is such an interesting time to be alive with so much happening daily around you. 

In the crazy year, I did some crazy things 😎

Who would have thought that in this day and age, we would witness countries resorting to military actions like bombings, leaving the world on edge? The Russia-Ukraine conflict stands as a stark reminder that despite our technological progress, old conflicts persist. Who would have imagined that people can abduct humans from a music fest.. It's the kind of thing you’d only expect in a movie, not in reality. Yet, these events show us the harsh realities we face, shaking our sense of security.

But it's not all grim news. We're in an era where artificial intelligence isn't just a sci-fi dream or a sequence from a Hollywood movie but a reality that is increasingly changing our day-to-day lives. Tools like chat-based AI models are transforming the way we work and interact. It's just fascinating how tech is continually evolving to assist us and I can not imagine what is in store for us in the next couple of decades.

Science has truly gone interstellar! India's successful landing of its rover on the moon's south pole and its subsequent recovery maneuvers are a testament to human ingenuity and ambition. Economic landscapes have shifted too. While countries like India skyrocketed to trillion-dollar economies, others (Guess who :P) faced financial struggles almost to the point of bankruptcy. The representation of diverse body types like the participation of a plus-sized contestant in the Miss World pageant, and gender (Hail Women reservation bill 2023!), marks a really cool positive stride towards normalizing beauty standards. Abrogation of 370 has put all the chaos to the end, hopefully. On the international stage, the inclusion of South African nations into BRICS signified a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Cheers to the surprises and the adventures that await us in 2024! Wish everyone a Happy New Year 2024!!! 

P.S. Almost 4 years ago, I co-wrote an article on the abrogation of article 370, and co-incidently supreme court gave its verdict today confirming an end to J&K's special status.

Power naps

Well, I never knew what napping is. Since I came into existence in this world, I never napped. I never slept after school when other kids used to sleep, or maybe were forced to sleep by their mothers.* I was always the hyperactive type who would rather do something during that time. I have always, always slept for 8 hours during the night. This is like my standard. I would just sleep once in the 24 hours and that would be during the night. I would wake up right when my circadian clock hits the eight-hour mark, and I can't stop appreciating this magical human body. Even now, whenever I'm working from home, I prefer not to use an alarm clock because I know if I sleep say by 11:00 p.m., I would be awake by 7:00 a.m. no matter what. This gives me a very pleasant start to the mornings as I believe waking up with an alarm clock puts stress on your body, albeit not visibly. Just my theory!

Okay, coming back to napping. I used to always wonder how do people nap? What IS it actually? Do you sleep for those 15-30 minutes? Or do you just close your eyes and relax? How do you feel before and after napping? Because whenever I have tried to close my eyes during the day, I have woken up feeling as if I have missed a train or something. So, I napped last week! Yeah, right. According to me, it was napping. Let me explain what I mean by that, and it would be good to hear what others feel. So, last week, I was working from home on Wednesday. It was some time in the afternoon, and I felt sudden tiredness in my body, wanting to just lie down for a bit. My bed was right next to me, so I went ahead and lied down. I automatically closed my eyes. I felt a sense of calm, and it was a good feeling. I lied down for a good 10-15 minutes. I know I didn't sleep because somewhere I was thinking something which I don't remember now, but for sure I wasn't asleep. I opened my eyes after 15 minutes, and I was fresh and active like before. I don't know if that will classify under the act of napping, but that's what my understanding is of the phenomenon. I would like to know from "professional" nappers, though, if napping actually involves deep sleep or just closing your eyes for a bit and its impact on your state of mind. 

*Okay there were some instances that I can count on my fingers when I did sleep in the afternoon say at 2 and woke up at 9 in the night with absolutely no clue of who I was :( Certainly that wouldn't be counted as napping.

Speak for yourself

Click bait image :P

I have observed this so many times, but I decided to write about it now. Yesterday, my friend and I went to a nearby Indian restaurant in downtown Denver, owned by Nepalese people. We frequent this place so often that they have become like friends to us, and we usually have nice chit chats.

During one of these conversations, we discussed how many people, especially from South Asian countries, are leaving their countries to settle abroad like the US, Australia, and Canada. The Nepalese guy expressed his concern that in Nepal, people don't value studying and earning while staying in their own country, and moving abroad seems like an easier option to them. He also had concerns about the pace of modernization in his homeland. Fair enough.

Now my friend, who is a Punjabi, joins the conversation and agreed with most of his points and said it's the same trend in India. Everyone is going abroad due to lack of opportunities and fair governance. Everything was okay till this point. However, things took a negative turn when my friend started generalizing and criticizing the culture back home. My friend claimed that setting up a business in India is almost impossible due to corruption, and the goons and mafia demand a share from every venture. I interrupted and asked for specific examples rather than a sweeping generalization about all of India. They admitted that it happens more frequently in Punjab. I urged them to be more precise in their statements and not label the entire country based on isolated or personal experiences. They often scolds Indian system and complains about the current governance (which may be a personal experience altogether). 

Interestingly, my friend is also an aspirant for getting a Green Card (GC) and settling abroad. Even marrying a US citizen just to expedite the process doesn't sound odd to them. For context, the regular GC processing times for most of the Indians is pretty long as of today. Whenever I mention to my friend that I plan to go back to India sooner or later, they are shocked because they know that if I apply for a Green Card, the process will be relatively faster for me compared to them. It's not something they hear often, and it surprises them. I pointed out the irony of their stance - while they criticize Punjab and instead of going back and contribute to the betterment, they are instead trying so hard to leave India forever (but continue complain forever). They believe the bad conditions are "imposed by the government," but I encouraged them to consider going back and contributing to the betterment of their own country (which I don't think was perceived really well :D). 

But this is not one isolated example, few days back, at NREL, my friend, who is an Indian shared a similar story. She sat in some event where people were sharing their stories. One Indian guy (who was actually an immigrant from Sri Lanka and brought up in India) went nonstop bickering about the many biases he felt in India starting from castes, to color, to poverty (he even mentioned never having experienced an AC before), to what not. He also said that Indians come to the US only for money!!!  When my friend told me about this encounter, she looked upset, embarrassed and questioned how someone could generalize and attribute such experiences to every Indian. The gore’s were asking if this is the first time you experienced an AC, to that he said yes. So, while I am not declining these problems that he may have faced, it is also wrong to say that this is the norm. This is what happens “in India” and to everyone because I’m pretty sure all the 100 odds members mostly whites would have felt that what he is sharing is the truth and that every Indian goes through the same. 

And the list goes on! Since I have lived in so many states in India and studied in so many schools and colleges, thanks to my father’s military profession, I have got a taste of so many cultures and languages and the people. I have seen that people tend to generalize their experiences and throw them on others. 

Coming back to my friend from the dinner last night, I faced and said that please whenever you share such an experience, do add that “it is your opinion or per your experience” Please speak for yourself and do not generalize. I guess I offended my friend :D But I am also sure the next time they share a similar story to a non-Indian, they will always remember me. 

Gone nuts?

Doda that saw the land of
opportunities - US circa Feb 2023

After checking off all the major boxes in life, you may think you've got it all sorted. But, wait a minute!! 

Well, in case anyone is wondering, what has gotten into my brain this time...I am talking about the showstopper, the mighty, the grumbly, the cutest WALNUT DODA!! The king of Indian sweets.

I visited India this February, and let me tell you, there's nothing quite like being with family, enjoying home-cooked food, and having everything taken care of while you lounge in bed, not worrying baout doing the laundry or dishes. But amidst all the good things, let's talk about the star of today's blog—Walnut Doda. Yass! 

Gurgaon, Sec 23 -
The Mecca of Doda's

First things first, let's talk about the walnuts in this glorious mess. They're like mischievous little imps that have found their home in the Kingdom of Doda, adding an unexpected crunch to every bite. These walnuts have seen things, my friends! As you take your first mouthwatering bite, prepare yourself for a symphony of flavors that will leave your taste buds wondering if they've stumbled upon a SpaceX spacecraft. The melting sweetness of the Doda will hit you like a killer standup comedy show, with a twist of nuttiness that' might make you question your sanity. 😇

It's truly a flavor rollercoaster, and you won't care about low-carb diets or anything else like this in this physical world with impossible realms of reality. 👀

Google image of Walnut Doda

Next time, you are in Gurgaon, splurge in the madness of walnut Doda (its only available during the winter months, but plain doda is worth trying too). It's an extra-terrestrial experience (If I ever had one, this would be it), at least for me. You can thank me later.  Ok, Bye!

Winning a J1 waiver on Fulbright!

Published on medium.com - Winning a J1 visa waiver on Fulbright

In this blog, I will describe my experience applying for a waiver of the J1 visa. Since you're here, I'm assuming you're seeking the waiver because you previously held a J1 visa or now have one while participating in a "student exchange program" in the United States. I'll give some helpful links, timeframes, and pointers to help you succeed in this difficult endeavor. 

Here we go:

Waiver Application Process (stepwise in a nutshell)

Step 0: Affidavit and Biodata attestation

Step 1: Getting a 'No Objection' clearance from your home country (also called as NORI - No obligation to return to India)*

Step 2: Mail your petition (DS3035) forms and supporting documents to Department of State (DOS) Waiver division (St. Louis, MO)

Step 3: Your embassy in United States (in Washington, D.C) sends their 'No Objection Statement' to DOS (in Washington, D.C) directly.

Step 4: Online update in DS 3035 portal that all your documents have been received. 

Step 5: DOS favorable recommendation update online.

Step 6: FINAL approval from the USCIS.

*Info: I am an Indian national, and my waiver ground was "No objection," thus my procedure would be as follows. In addition, I was in a third nation at the time of this procedure (i.e. neither in the US nor in India). Also, I had received federal funding (Fulbright fellowship).

Step 0: Biodata and Affidavit attestation 

Start date : Nov 05, 2019

1. Prepare Biodata and Affidavit forms, sign it and get it notarized from a local notary officer at your place.
• Please note, Indian embassy has a sample Biodata and Affidavit form on their website. You can use that and re-write it in a WORD document should you need more space to fill in details.
• Please make sure the affidavits are notarized first before you seek attestation.
2. Send the notarized Biodata and Affidavit for attestation (along with supporting documents) to your nearest Indian embassy. You need to prepare 4 copies of each.
• Due to Covid-19, WALK-IN services are currently suspended. Please send requisite document by mail along with all supporting documents listed below
• Notarized copies of passport, legal status, address proof, J1-visa stamps, educational certificates (for verification of Bio-data).
• Miscellaneous form  
• Attestation fee in the form of Cashier's check/Money order
• Return shipping envelope. 
• Please do not send original Passport. 

#Tip 1: "Cashier's Check/Money Order should be drawn in favor of CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA, [STATE NAME]" No blank check/money order will be accepted by the consulate. ICWF charges for miscellaneous services are $2.00 per application. 

You have now got the attested biodata and affidavit from the Indian embassy and are ready to submit your application package to three departments in India: 

1. MHRD
2. Passport office
3. Home State Department

Step 1: Getting a 'No Objection' clearance from your home country

This step actually consists of 4 sub tasks

Task 1.1: Getting NORI from MHRD

• Create profile at www.nori.ac.in 
• Upload documents online
• Affidavit (notarized and attested by embassy)
• Bio-data (notarized and attested by embassy)
• Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree and Doctorate degree (if applicable)
• J-1 visa with a simple clarification letter explaining why you are seeking a waiver (merged into the same pdf)
• Passport First and Last Page
• Cover letter

#Tip 2: This is the simplest and quickest stage in the entire procedure. You may follow your case online once it has been submitted. The status will display "In Process" until a decision is made, and you'll be able to get your first NORI in about a month.

Task 1.2: Getting NORI from Regional Passport Office

Similar to step 1.1, following documents should be submitted:

• Affidavit (notarized and attested by embassy)
• Bio-data (notarized and attested by embassy)
• Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree and Doctorate degree (if applicable)
• J-1 visa page with a simple clarification letter 
• Passport First and Last Page
• Current immigration status and associated documents
• Cover letter

Please send the application package, which includes all the above-mentioned documents, to your Regional Passport officer by mail or in-person. This phase might take anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks. A police officer may visit your home mentioned in the Affidavit for verification. Following this step, you will get the NORI through email. They also send emails directly to the Indian Consulate in your state.

#Tip 3:  Submitting the documents in person weighs more than submitting via mail. However, it's completely fine to send by mail as well. My advice is to have someone from your family follow-up with them on a regular basis. This significantly increases your chances of obtaining NORI sooner than usual.   

Task 1.3: Getting NORI from Home State Department

This is most often the rate-limiting step, or the slowest step. Make sure you continue to follow it with them.

Again, send the following document to the Home State Department - NORI division:

• Affidavit (notarized and attested by embassy)
• Bio-data (notarized and attested by embassy)
• Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree and Doctorate degree (if applicable)
• J-1 visa page with a simple clarification letter 
• Passport First and Last Page
• Current immigration status and associated documents
• Cover letter

In this step, once you send the documents, it is first attested by a Deputy Secretary and you're provided with a reference number. Then, the Home Department sends out a letter to the following offices:

1. Controller of Examination of your University (not your college)
2. SB-CID (Special Branch CID) for NORI verification clearance

The most interesting part is the visit from Special Branch-CID. The individual will come to the home address you listed in your affidavit/Biodata to confirm that it is indeed the address of your parents. He will request several identification documents, such as ration cards and utility bills. Make sure you offer them Tea and snacks :) 

He may also ask for an undertaking from your parents that they don't have any problem you living in US as long as you will not abandon them. 

Once this is done, keep in touch with them since that person is required to send his report to his boss, who is the one who signs your letter and forwards it to his clerk for return to the Home Department. 

The NORI letter will be mailed to you, or you can request that it be emailed to you.

#Tip 4: Following up with the officials at every step is a great idea and will save you a lot of time.

Task 1.4: Finally, getting a No Objection Statement from Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Once, you have all the 3 copies of NORI, send this out to your nearest Indian embassy (who prepared Biodata and Affidavit for you) to obtain one consolidated NOC. 

Following supporting documents must be send to them:

1. Filled miscellaneous form 
2. Money order of $20 in favor of "Consulate General of India, [State name]"  and $2 towards "Consulate General of India (ICWF)"
3. Three NORI clearances from MHRD, RPO and Home department of state in India you belong to – self attested
4. Passport copy – self attested
5. Copies of all DS-2019 – self attested
6. Copy of J1 visa – self attested
7. Case number and barcode page from Department of State (USA)

#Tip 5: While you're waiting for all of the NORIs, make sure you have two sets of $25-35 US postal stamps on hand. I bought it on eBay.com. You may also ask a friend or family member who resides in the United States to mail it to you. The next step will explain why you need this. Note: Because this may take some time, it is best to complete it before moving on to step 2. 

Step 2: Mailing your petition (DS-3035) forms and supporting documents to Department of State (DOS) Waiver division (St. Louis)

You have to send the following documents to Department of State and  I will list down the steps below:

1. Fill out DS 3035 form online at https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov/
2. Submit it and an application package will be generated. This form will only be considered submitted truly when its physical copy is sent to the DoS address mentioned below:
   

Department of State J-1 waiver

P.O. Box 979037

1005 Convention Plaza

St. Louis, MO 63101 - 1200

This application package has a page "Statement of Reason" where you need to explain in 200 words or less why are you seeking a waiver.

#Tip 6: This is a place where you must be completely honest and genuine about your reason for seeking the waiver. You should explain how working in this nation will benefit both the United States and yourself. For instance: I was going to work in a National Laboratory, and I wrote that the type of research I will be performing will enhance US R&D and the economy, as well as provide jobs and employment opportunities for its citizens.  

You need to send following documents along with ds-3035 application package:

1. DS 3035 application package
2. Statement of Reason
3. DS-2019 (all copies)
4. Two self addressed STAMPED legal-size envelopes.
5. Processing fee of USD 120. If you are outside the United States, you may pay the fee with a bank international money order or a foreign draft from an institution in the United States. It must be in U.S. currency and payable to the U.S. Department of State. I went to a local bank and they issued a draft from their US subsidiary. On the back of the draft, write down your waiver case number, your full name, your date of birth, place of birth and social security number (if applicable).

Assemble these documents and send to DoS address mentioned above.

#Tip 7: Make sure your case number and country/region of last residence is written on any documentation submitted, as well as on the outside envelope of ALL future correspondence with the Waiver Review office.

The DoS takes an average of 4 weeks to update this online and you can check the status here https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov/

Info: The current pandemic has slowed regular processing times, and some have reported waiting up to 8 weeks for papers to upload and display online.

Step 3: Your embassy in United States (in Washington, D.C) sends their 'No Objection Statement' to DOS

Now that you have clearances from all 3 Government departments in India, go to your nearest Indian High Commission for the next steps. Here’s how it works:

1. You submit the clearances you obtained from the 3 departments in Step 1 along with some supporting documents like passport copies, J-1 visa copy, DS-2019 etc.
2. The Indian High Commission in your country issues a No-objection letter to you
3. They forward the same to the Indian High Commission in Washington D.C. with other supporting documents* that you provided by Registered Post. It can take a few weeks or days to reach them (depending upon what service you chose to send it).
4. The High Commission in Washington D.C. forwards the No Objection Letter received with an additional cover letter addressed to the DoS waiver division citing your petition number.

#TIP 8: *Make sure you send the BARCODE page obtained from your DS-3035 package to the Indian high commission in D.C. 

Info: 

• DoS recognizes No Objection letter only if it arrives from the embassy of your home country in the US.
• Make sure your application packet is received by DoS and is updated online (Step 2 completed) before the No objection letter from the embassy reaches them.

Step 4: Online update in DS 3035 portal that all your documents have been received. 

Once DoS receives all the documents in your application packet (sent to the St. Louis address) and the No Objection statement from your embassy, the online update timeline can vary anywhere between 1 to 60 days (documented timelines, sometimes it can take longer if your case is not straight forward or you need multiple waivers).

#Tip 9: Although there is no tracking for when your documents were received by US DOS, you can track when your bank's cheque was cashed. This gives you an idea that your documents have been received and are being processed.

#Tip 10: Meanwhile if you have any questions, you can send your query to 212ewaiver@state.gov

#Tip 11: All J waiver inquiries should refer to only one case per e-mail and must include the following:

• Case number
• Last name
• First name
• Date of birth
• Basis under which you are applying for a waiver, and
• A brief explanation of your inquiry

Important info:

Because I was a Fulbright student and had received federal funds, I got a "Request for Information" from the Department of State through letter after 4 months of processing. I was requested to respond 2 questions by FAX:

1. No. of days spent in my home country (After J1 visa)
2. Reason of seeking a waiver

I responded quickly (the same day), but they take an absurdly lengthy time to update every step in their system. As a result, it took them two weeks to update their response to my FAX. Within a few weeks of this stage, they put out a request for "SPONSOR VIEWS" - the most difficult step of the entire journey.

Sponsor views - means they have sent out my application to request recommendation from the program's sponsor. It's ECA (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs). ECA is the nodal agency responsible for fostering cordial, peaceful ties between Americans and people from other nations via intellectual, cultural, athletic, and professional exchanges, as well as public-private collaborations. So their entire goal is to allow the exchange student to return to their home country and distribute the training and learning he or she gained in the United States. I was terrified at this stage because I anticipated it not to offer me a favorable recommendation because I was requesting a waiver from their 2-year home presence requirement. I had to wait for another 5 months, which was a stressful time. I was not very positive at this stage, but all I could think about was why they were taking so long. Just get it done and set me free from this entire WAITING game. But, see the next step!!

Step 5: DOS favorable recommendation update online.

There was not a single day in the whole 13 months that I did not access the waiver website to check on the progress of my case.

However, on the holy day of December 15, I was delighted to learn that the DoS had given me a favorable recommendation. I was exhilarated.

You will receive a letter from DoS in the mail in one of your self-addressed stamped envelopes indicating that DoS has given you a favorable recommendation and that everything from their end has been completed. In the second self-addressed stamped envelope, they also send their recommendation to USCIS and issue you an i-797 C Notice of Action. This i-797 letter includes a Case number, which you can use to follow the status of your case.

My timeline

It is now up to USCIS to grant you FINAL permission.

Step 6: FINAL approval from the USCIS

It's not finished yet. While the Department of State is responsible for reviewing and approving your waiver petition, the final decision is still in the hands of USCIS. In most situations, USCIS will accept the advice of the DoS and give you the waiver. However, in some exceptional circumstances, such as hardship or persecution, USCIS will hold the case and request a non-USCIS advisory opinion, which can take several months. You can check the status at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

After approximately 2 weeks since DOS's favorable recommendation, USCIS gave me a favorable recommendation with an i-612 approval letter, which I got within the next two weeks. Yay!!!

End date : Jan 06, 2019

So, the final step is to wait for the i-612 approval letter before proceeding to apply for an H1B visa. However, I no longer needed that because I had already obtained an O1 - A visa (which does not require a J1 waiver) and was in the United States by the time my J1 waiver was issued. Still, if you intend to change your status to that of an immigrant type in the future, you will require the waiver.

That's all. It was a 14 months journey! someone has rightly said, "Patience is a virtue"

Shoot me any questions you might have in the comments sections. You may also want to join this Facebook group "J1 visa waiver" where we share and discuss various questions from applicants currently going through the same process. 

Some Useful links:

• https://www.cgisf.gov.in/page/nori-no-obligation-to-return-to-india/
• http://www.nori.ac.in/
• For Affidavit and Biodata forms
• For Miscellaneous Form
• DS-3035 
• USCIS case status
• Buy US Postal stamps on ebay
• Buy Legal size envelope on Amazon

Long time, no see?

Beautiful Colorado!

      Been a long time. I remember back in college, anytime I was given a deadline, I would have this sudden urge to write something down, and that's how I ended up having over 100 blog entries. It's not the same anymore. Does this imply that I am no longer bound by deadlines? That can't possibly be true. It's simply that I've stopped writing on a regular basis, which isn't good. This is one of my happy place, and I was just going over some of my previous entries. What I wrote made me giggle. It was also a wonderful flashback of memories. I'm not great at remembering things until I'm reminded of them, so writing blogs is probably a good way for me to jot down events/stories from my life. You know, I've been writing here since 2008! Oh my goodness! :) 

That's me! 

     Anyway, I'm doing great and am at a place where I've always wanted to be :) I'm doing some amazing research while taking in the grandeur of Colorado's rugged mountains. I gained weight (as usual) :P. I had a knee (sports) injury in 2019, but I've recovered (almost). I'm more excited on weekdays and Mondays in general than on Saturdays :D I still adore food, music, and everything else life has to offer..! :)

Absolutely gorgeous Tulips I clicked in NYC

P.S: My favorite cartoon Show "South Park" was based out of Colorado. What else do you need :D