J1 Lawful status

I am currently on the J1. Previously I was on the F1 and had a change of status to the J1 and this is my first year. Currently, I only have the approval notice and not the visa itself. I made travel plans to go to my home country (India) and get it stamped on my passport, but I have been strongly advised not to leave the US. I was told that since I have been here for a few years (3-4 years now), my visa to return could be denied. I work at a federal news agency and the program is directly sponsored by the US government. Please. help me understand if there actually is a risk involved in leaving the country and if I could potentially never come back.

Why would a visa be denied? Who has advised you?

Immigration attorney hired by my workplace.

So, did you ask them the reason?

Ask yourself and the said attorney:

Does that mean that you can never travel outside US now?

Why is it so?

If you ever travel outside US, you will need a visa stamp to come back.

Unless there is a strong reason for denial (and you know that reason), you should be able to travel.

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