Dr. William:

I am in J-1 visa program within my 4th year, with the 2-year home country service requirement. My wife is a US citizen and we have a 1-year son. I want to apply for exceptional hardship J1 waiver, because it is very difficult for me to get No-objection waiver letter from my government, and it is also difficult for me to get IGA waiver from a US government agency, because there is some financial support involved in my J1 program and project. What should I know before I apply for the exceptional hardship J1 waiver?

---

Answer: 

To apply for exceptional hardship J1 waiver, you need to prove that if returning to your home country would impose “exceptional hardship” on you, your spouse who must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident, or your child.

You may be eligible for a hardship waiver, if you can provide evidence in following situations: your immediate family would be forced to separate as a result of the home residency requirement; you have to return to a war-torn country, or your  family member may suffer from a disease for which treatment is not available in the home country.