I was in the US for an internship in a university from May to August 2014, not being paid, on a J1 short-term scholar visa. From August 2014 to October 2015 I returned to France to finish my Ph.D.
I'm now on a J1 research scholar visa since November 2015 and I receive a salary from the university in which I work. It seems that I'm no longer eligible to the 2 years tax treaty with France because they consider the arrival date of my first J1, even if I was not paid and if I came back to France in the meantime.
Can I contest this decision?