Waivers of Inadmissibility

So applicants can remove the grounds of inadmissibility that are preventing them from obtaining their legal residency. 

Applicant’s who have a legal resident or U.S. citizen parent or spouse and who have triggered or will trigger grounds of inadmissibility. In general, a child is not a qualifying relative for purposes of the I-601 waiver.

To successfully apply for a Waiver of Inadmissibility, the applicant should submit evidence to the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) of extreme hardship to which the applicant’s qualifying relatives would be subjected to in the event of deportation.

In order to qualify for an I-601A or an I-601 Waiver of Inadmissibility, an applicant must prove the extreme and unusual hardship to which their qualifying relative or family member would be exposed if the waiver were denied.  According to the USCIS, the waiver will be approved if the applicant provides strong evidence that the qualifying relative will experience either: extreme hardship in the U.S. (if the applicant is not allowed to enter or remain in the U.S.) or in the applicant’s home country (if the relative relocates with the applicant outside of the U.S.) It is best to prove extreme hardship in both potential situations. 

The qualifying relative for the Waiver of Inadmissibility does not have to be the same person who petitions for the applicant to immigrate to the U.S. For example, someone immigrating to the U.S. based on marriage to a U.S. citizen could apply for the waiver based on the extreme hardship his U.S. citizen father would face.

Wavers are done on different types of forms depending on what time of waiver is needed. Not everyone qualifies for or is required to submit an I-601A waiver. Oftentimes, the applicant is required to file a standard I-601 and does not qualify for an I-601A. Other times, the applicant might not need a waiver of inadmissibility and instead needs an I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal. It is essential to consult with an experienced immigration attorney to analyze each case and determine what kind of Waiver of Inadmissibly is needed.

For certain Waivers of Inadmissibility, it is required that the applicant leave the United States. 

Moreover, an approved waiver is not a guarantee for entry to the United States. Since an applicant is investigated in detail at their consulate interview, other issues of inadmissibility can present themselves, which could cause other grounds of inadmissibility. If this happens, the applicant can be denied and any previously filed Waiver of Inadmissibly is usually invalidated. At this point, if eligible, the applicant would be asked to submit a new I-601 for each ground of inadmissibility. After the subsequent waivers are approved, the applicant will need to schedule a new interview at the consulate where they will be investigated in detail (again) and the officer will determine whether the person is eligible to enter the United States.

No. Each applicant’s grounds of inadmissibility are different. Therefore, it is essential that you speak to an experienced immigration lawyer who understands immigration laws and is experienced with waivers of inadmissibility.

The most common grounds for inadmissibly (reasons for denying someone admission to the United States) are unlawful presence in the U.S., multiple entries and exits to the U.S., lying to U.S. immigration officials, contagious disease, drug use, human trafficking, having committed crimes, terrorism, violations of immigration laws, or being a bigamist or polygamist.