I-601 Hardship Waivers

While many foreigners seek entry into the United States each year, many are turned away. Fortunately, for those experiencing extreme hardship, a visa denial is not necessarily the end of the line, thanks to the I-601 hardship waiver program. Understanding how the program works is the first step in deciding whether it’s right for your situation.

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What is an I-601 hardship waiver?

Form I-601, otherwise known as Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, is administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This waiver allows non-citizens the ability to seek admission to the United States as an immigrant or adjust their status to permanent resident, even if inadmissible to the United States for particular reasons if they can demonstrate extreme hardship to a qualifying relative. For this program, “extreme hardship” is defined as life difficulty that is significantly greater than would be experienced if the person were not allowed entry into the country. Common extreme hardship factors include:

Family separation;
Economic detriment;
Difficulties of readjusting to life in the new country;
The quality and availability of educational opportunities abroad;
Inferior quality of medical services and facilities; and
Ability to pursue a chosen employment abroad.

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides a long list of broad grounds that make people ineligible for admission to the United States, from criminal activity and national security concerns to lack of labor certification and prior removals. However, being found ineligible in accordance with that list doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is out of options.

Who can apply for an I-601 hardship waiver?

The I-601 process is available only to people who have been found ineligible for certain visa classifications for particular reasons. Generally, individuals seeking the following visa classifications may apply for a I-601 waiver:

Immigrant, K, or V visa applicants located outside the U.S. who have already completed a visa interview at a consulate and were found during the interview to be inadmissible
Some applicants trying to adjust their visa status to lawful permanent residence
Temporary Protected Status applicants
Visa and Adjustment of Status applicants who are also petitioners under the Violence Against Women (VAWA) Act
Applicants for Adjustment of Status based on their T, non-immigrant visa
Applicants for Adjustment of Status as Special Immigrant Juveniles with approved Form 1-360

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How to Apply for a 601 Waiver

The I-601 process is available for people applying from outside the United States or in some cases, inside the United States. For those only inadmissible to the United States for unlawful presence, there is a similar but distinct process for acquiring a I-601A provisional waiver inside the United States, which uses Form I-601A.

Once you have been determined by a consular officer abroad to be ineligible for one of the aforementioned visa classifications, , you may be eligible to request admission into the United States via a I-601 hardship waiver. Alternatively, you may require an I-601 waiver in the United States while seeking adjustment of status. The regulations for eligibility are complex and can be difficult to understand; however, an experienced immigration attorney can review the specific facts of your case and determine eligibility for an I-601 waiver based on your specific situation.

If you were previously deported from the United States, you may also need to file a Form 1-212 with your hardship waiver form. You’ll also need to provide extensive supporting documentation. While that may vary depending on the specifics of your situation, some commonly accepted forms of documentation include

Evidence that shows why you qualify for a waiver based on the grounds of inadmissibility applicable in your case
Evidence of how a denial of admission based on your inadmissibility would result in extreme hardship for you and any qualifying relatives along with evidence of the familiar relationship
Evidence to support a waiver of criminal grounds of inaccessibility communicable diseases of public health significance; physical or mental disorder and associated behavior; immigration fraud or misrepresentation; membership in a totalitarian party; or connection between battery or extreme cruelty for VAWA petitioners

A $930 filing fee must also be paid at the time of filing for both the I-601 and I-212. The fee is nonrefundable, regardless of whether your waiver is approved or denied. Applications should be submitted to the appropriate USCIS lockbox facility.

Once USCIS has reviewed your waiver application, it will let both you and the consulate know its decision. But be prepared to wait. Not only are the program regulations complex, but the application process is also convoluted and lengthy. The good news is that if your waiver is approved, most waivers are valid indefinitely, though only for the actions listed in the application. If you are denied, you may appeal the decision using Form I-290B.

Need help applying for an I-601 hardship waiver?

Everything about the I-601 waiver program is complicated, from the qualifying regulations to the process for seeking a waiver and especially because, for most people, a hardship waiver represents the possibility of gaining entry into the United States, it’s important to get everything right when applying.

That’s where Farmer Law comes in. With a seasoned team of attorneys who have experience in all facets of immigration law, you can rest assured that your waiver application has the best chance of approval. Contact Farmer Law today to begin the I-601 or I-601A waiver process.

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I-601 Hardship Waivers

Get in touch with us

Get in touch with us

What is an I-601 hardship waiver?

Who can apply for an I-601 hardship waiver?

How to Apply for a 601 Waiver

Need help applying for an I-601 hardship waiver?

What Our Clients Are Saying

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