Tasneem

I know this cause I am on J1 now and have been on J twice before (luckily I was not getting governmental funding). The international offices of big schools know all these rules its called the "J1 2 year home residency rule" with "212e" code.

Anyways the professor I am working with at Berkeley did offer me to stay as postdoc, I was hoping to get NSERC and go to MIT but I will just accept my Berkeley offer and leave someone else to worry about NSERC and J1 restrictions by declining my award

I don't think this option exists cause I am sure my friend did everything he could and the Stanford international office staff really know their stuff. He hopes to get his waiver soon but they say it can take several months and its been 5 months from him up to now. He just wants to get an H1 visa but this rules prevents you from getting H1, TN and greencard.

I have eight first author journal two of which are with a well known professor in Berkeley.

Hi again every one, Well I have two friends with NSERC PDF, one recently finished his Post Doc at Stanford and is having issues in getting a J1 residency waiver. He has an offer from PennState and he cant start his job because his waiver is taking too long (its been 5 months now). This is what scares me cause who ever I know with NSERC PDF received this requirement and the UCBerkeley international office also stated this rules applies to me if I accept the award since NSERC is a governmental agency. I am so confused and dont know what to do I am right now in Berkeley as a visiting student and but my letter was sent to my address in Toronto. I dont intend to not return to Canada but the job market in Canada is never good specially for a postdoc so if I cant find a job in Canada I have no choice but to seek employment in the US.

Hi Everyone, I am a new member of this forum, I got my NSERC PDF award letter on Friday. I heard from many people that J1 visa for NSERC PDF mandates a 2 year home residency requirement, meaning that if I use my NSERC PDF award in the US they will force me to return to Canada after my program for two full years. So this means I can not apply for faculty positions in the US or any kind of job until I have returned to Canada and lived there for two full years!!!!!!!!!!! I dont think this is fair since faculty and job positions in Canada are limited and this is going to really suck after I finish my postdoc ((