Londongirl

I have been lucky enough to be on a J1 visa in LA, working at an Events
Company. It is the first time they have dealt with sponsorship issues. I
have only been here just over 3 months and on Monday my company decided
that they may not keep me here as 'it isn't working out' for them, but
they haven't explained much about their reasons, they say they like me
and I am working hard etc.. They haven't made a full decision yet, but
basically I was mislead about what I would be doing. I am just being
used as a general dogsbody - though I have 5 years event management
experience and coming here was meant to be an exchange/training. It has
all been a bit odd and I am completely up in the air now. But in any
case I want to stay and experience the 18 months properly. If they
decide to get rid of me do I have to go back to the UK or can the J1 be
swapped to another willing company? I have a feeling this isn't possible
but can anyone give advice on what my options are? My J1 visa ends in
April 2005, so really I have just got into my 4th month of it and I
really want to stay!. Going back to no job, and having packed my stuff
up to be here for 18 months leaves me in a difficult situation back in
the UK! I am really desperate to get the best out of my experience here
and really upset about the whole situation. I have a meeting on tomorrow
to find out if they want to keep me or not. Any advice on what my
options on a J1 are?

Sylvia Ottemoeller

You are entirely in the hands of your J-1 sponsoring agency -- CIEE or AIPT
or whatever you used. You must find out from the agency exactly where you
stand. I have not heard of a J-1 transfer in the J-1 trainee category, but
it certainly occurs in other categories, like J-1 research scholar. So, it
might be possible for you to line up another traineeship, get your J-1
agency to look at the proposed arrangement and approve it, and have the
proper DS 2019 issued for the remainder of the 18-month duration that you
are allowed.

"londongirl" <member9753@british_expats.com> wrote in message
news:...

    > I have been lucky enough to be on a J1 visa in LA, working at an Events
    > Company. It is the first time they have dealt with sponsorship issues. I
    > have only been here just over 3 months and on Monday my company decided
    > that they may not keep me here as 'it isn't working out' for them, but
    > they haven't explained much about their reasons, they say they like me
    > and I am working hard etc.. They haven't made a full decision yet, but
    > basically I was mislead about what I would be doing. I am just being
    > used as a general dogsbody - though I have 5 years event management
    > experience and coming here was meant to be an exchange/training. It has
    > all been a bit odd and I am completely up in the air now. But in any
    > case I want to stay and experience the 18 months properly. If they
    > decide to get rid of me do I have to go back to the UK or can the J1 be
    > swapped to another willing company? I have a feeling this isn't possible
    > but can anyone give advice on what my options are? My J1 visa ends in
    > April 2005, so really I have just got into my 4th month of it and I
    > really want to stay!. Going back to no job, and having packed my stuff
    > up to be here for 18 months leaves me in a difficult situation back in
    > the UK! I am really desperate to get the best out of my experience here
    > and really upset about the whole situation. I have a meeting on tomorrow
    > to find out if they want to keep me or not. Any advice on what my
    > options on a J1 are?

Time5556

J-1 transfer in the J-1 trainee category

"Sylvia Ottemoeller" <> wrote in message news:<c3vudp$74h$>...
    > You are entirely in the hands of your J-1 sponsoring agency -- CIEE or AIPT
    > or whatever you used. You must find out from the agency exactly where you
    > stand. I have not heard of a J-1 transfer in the J-1 trainee category, but
    > it certainly occurs in other categories, like J-1 research scholar. So, it
    > might be possible for you to line up another traineeship, get your J-1
    > agency to look at the proposed arrangement and approve it, and have the
    > proper DS 2019 issued for the remainder of the 18-month duration that you
    > are allowed.

Supernav

with a J1, i assume you are in school. What are your skills, education
that you are doing? What do you mean by events company?

-= nav =-

Ukdc

I'm in a similar situation to yours, I'm working in events i'm British
and am working in events in DC. My employer (training site) is turning
out to be a pretty bad boss and breaking a few employment laws so I am
trying to get out of my job and transfer to another employer. I
arrived in middle of last year and want to complete my full 18 months
here as have a lease on an apartment and have a close circle of
friends now. My aim is to stay here for the duration but not with my
current employer, i'm in talks now with my sponsor to transfer. If you
get any good advice or info from anyone could you let me know and I
will do the same for you. Jus reply to my email at the top, Thanks.

Londongirl

Originally posted by Ukdc
    > I'm in a similar situation to
yours, I'm working in events i'm British
    > and am working in events in
DC. My employer (training site) is turning
    > out to be a pretty bad boss
and breaking a few employment laws so I am
    > trying to get out of my job
and transfer to another employer. I
    > arrived in middle of last year and
want to complete my full 18 months
    > here as have a lease on an
apartment and have a close circle of
    > friends now. My aim is to stay
here for the duration but not with my
    > current employer, i'm in talks
now with my sponsor to transfer. If you
    > get any good advice or info
from anyone could you let me know and I
    > will do the same for you. Jus
reply to my email at the top, Thanks.

I believe you can move
to another sponsor if the agency who organised your J-1 allows it. Mine
does but it will cost me $2000 and also have to be done within a certain
time frame which in my case is 30 days. My meeting with my current
employer here, was postponed from Friday until today - so I will know
what I need to do later today. It is complicated but I think what I have
now found out does give me some options. I also want to stay as I am
only 4 months into my 18 month visa. I have 6 years Event Management
experience and I am working on a J-1 with my employer for
exchange/training. I am not in school. So this is my main job and
income. My employer is not using my skills or experience and I am just
doing admin tasks which is not the point of being here. It has been a
very upsetting experience so far but I do want to stay as i also have
friends and a boyfriend here. I do need to work somewhere else though -
I guess i will begin this process of transferring after I find out if
they will keep me today.