Following ivochka questions, I am also a J1 subject to the 2 years rule. I have still around 10 more months left of my program (with the possibility of extending it for 12 more months. I am also a grad student in NY state. I am a venezuelan citizen.
First I was in doubt if as j1 I could apply at Buffalo, but after reading ivochka questions, now I think I can. My doubt now is that I am not sure if it is best to apply here or back in Venezuela. I check out the processing times posted in the web for FSW:
30% 50% 70% 80%
Buffalo 16 19 22 25
Caracas 14 16 20 22
So it seems that the Caracas' Office is a little bit faster that Buffalo. Despite of that, I still think here could be easier, giving that at least during the first 8 months of the processing I will be in the USA for sure. Another thing that I read is that at the buffalo consulate we can follow something called the "regular" process, rather than the simplified one. Do you have any idea of which are the differences between both process?
Thanks
