J1 visa question

[Vak23]

Hello,

I have a question:

I am from Armenia, but I was for last 6 months in Germany, working on research project there. Now I am going to USA for 1-year research training on J-1 visa. the sponsor will soon send DS-2019. However, I receive the fund for this training not from my US sponsor, but from my German research supervisot, who liked me alot and found me very promising. He also gave me the letter where he states that he is funding me and that he would like to have me back in his research lab after I finish the 1-year training in USA.

This sounds quite OK to me, but the consultant of my US sponsor said that since I was in Germany and then after training in USA I may go back again in Germany, this can indicate that I have no strong ties to my home country - Armenia. Is it true?

So I was working in Germany when I decided to make research year in USA. But I came back to Armenia to apply for a J1 visa here (I am citizen and permanent resident of Armenia). I also have a position here in Armenia - medical resident, since February 2006. So I am wondering how I should present to the US embassy at the interview - as a researcher in Germany or as a medical resident in Armenia?

If I present as a researcher from German Laboratory, they may ask me what strong ties I have with my Country. If I present as a medical resident and say that I just did short-term training in Germany, that could show stronger ties, but when you work in clinics, you receive 2 years home residence requirement, and when you are in research, you don't. And I don't want to have the 2 year requirement.

So what should I do? should I mention my clinical position in Armenia? (I have clinical position in Armenia, but research position in Germany as a visiting fellow on nonimmigrant visa). If the counsel asks me what am I going to do after training in USA, is it ok if I tell him that I am going back to Germany for 1-2 years? Or should people go back to home country after finishing training on J1? (that's the philosophy of J1 visa, isn't it)?

[Vak23]

Hello,

I have a question:

I am from Armenia, but I was for last 6 months in Germany, working on research project there. Now I am going to USA for 1-year research training on J-1 visa. the sponsor will soon send DS-2019. However, I receive the fund for this training not from my US sponsor, but from my German research supervisot, who liked me alot and found me very promising. He also gave me the letter where he states that he is funding me and that he would like to have me back in his research lab after I finish the 1-year training in USA.

This sounds quite OK to me, but the consultant of my US sponsor said that since I was in Germany and then after training in USA I may go back again in Germany, this can indicate that I have no strong ties to my home country - Armenia. Is it true?

So I was working in Germany when I decided to make research year in USA. But I came back to Armenia to apply for a J1 visa here (I am citizen and permanent resident of Armenia). I also have a position here in Armenia - medical resident, since February 2006. So I am wondering how I should present to the US embassy at the interview - as a researcher in Germany or as a medical resident in Armenia?

If I present as a researcher from German Laboratory, they may ask me what strong ties I have with my Country. If I present as a medical resident and say that I just did short-term training in Germany, that could show stronger ties, but when you work in clinics, you receive 2 years home residence requirement, and when you are in research, you don't. And I don't want to have the 2 year requirement.

So what should I do? should I mention my clinical position in Armenia? (I have clinical position in Armenia, but research position in Germany as a visiting fellow on nonimmigrant visa). If the counsel asks me what am I going to do after training in USA, is it ok if I tell him that I am going back to Germany for 1-2 years? Or should people go back to home country after finishing training on J1? (that's the philosophy of J1 visa, isn't it)?

[aneri]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Vak23: Or should people go back to home country after finishing training on J1? (that's the philosophy of J1 visa, isn't it)? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't know that much about J1 visas.. but the philosophy of home residence requirement is, as I understand, to return to the country that sent you (and sponsored) so you can share the knowledge acquired...
Have you talked to the US consulate in Armenia? Couldn't you get J1 visa in Germany?

[mike_2007]

here is all the questions and the answers for the j-1 visa vak23 http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.html

[Vak23]

mike_2007, thanks, I know that link abd read it before making the topic. I contacted the US embassy in Armenia when I was in Germany and they told me to make a visa application in Armenia.

2-year home residence applies to clinicians, but not to researchers, that why I was interested to show myself as a researcher. However, here in Armenia, I have a clinical position. If I don't mention my position in Armenia, I am afraid that they will think I have no ties to my home country - no Job here, funding from Germany, the Profesor in Germany wants me back, etc.. That could mean that I am not enough tied to my home country.

[Vak23]

I am applying for a J1 visa next week. Please, answer if you can:

The embassy requires "Any legal document that proves your personal commitment to return home at the end of your studies". - My home country is Armenia.

But I have letter of sponsorship from my research supervisor in Germany, who says that he is pleased to sponsor me for 1 yearin USA, but after that he would like to have me back in his laboratoty in Germany again.

so what should I do???