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Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 10:04:52 -0800
X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 5.0.7 March 21, 2001
The two-year rule applies if you had government based funding, like a Nat.
-Fonds stipend. It does not apply if you were always paid by your host
institution or by other sources not related to the 'official' Switzerland.
Therefore some Swiss are subject to the 2-year rule while others are not.
Anyway, applying for a waiver is paperwork but not much more. It takes
time, though. Getting the waiver (the recommendation from the State
department) takes anywhere between 4 to 12 weeks. getting the H-1b again
takes 8 to 12 weeks. So overall you are looking at somewhere between 12 to
24 weeks for the whole process. Giving accurate time lines is difficult
since most of the process lays in the hands of government employees. The
Swiss embassy is usually fats and reliable, but the State department is
not. Not to mention the INS, which has to process the H-1b application. In
my case it took them only 8 weeks but I probably hit a rather 'slow' time
(or the lawyer was exceptionally good). But I heard from colleagues that it
can get very close, like you're J-1 is running out and just two days before
that happens you get approval of the H-1b.
To be on the safe side start the process well ahead of time.
Michael
Michael P Rudolf, PhD.
Tel: 858-431-8481
e-mail: mrudolf_at_idecpharm.com
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Received on Tue Feb 12 2002 - 05:22:45 PST
