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What should you do to get your I-212 Waiver?

Sections 212(a)(9)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Immigration and National Act state that foreign nationals who have been ordered removed may not be readmitted to the U.S. until they have stayed abroad for 5, 10 or 20 years. Having an aggravated felony conviction further subjects you to a permanent bar.

Sections 212(a)(9)(C)(i) and (ii) of the Immigration and National Act state that foreign nationals who illegally enter or attempt to illegally enter the U.S. after certain prior immigration violations are permanently barred.

When any of these inadmissibility bars apply to you, you need an I-212 waiver or Consent to Reapply (CTR) to be readmitted to the U.S. or to obtain a visa as an immigrant or nonimmigrant.

What Must I Submit When Requesting an I-212 Waiver?

A completed and signed Form I-212,  Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States after Deportation or Removal, must be submitted – except in few situations, such as when filing for a nonimmigrant visa at certain U.S. consulates.

Although the I-212 waiver and Consent to Reapply are two terms that are used interchangeably, a request for a CTR does not always involve the filing of an official Form I-212 and application fee.

The Form I-212 instructions include a list of supporting documents you should submit with your waiver request.

There is no specific statutory standards to be met. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and ALL relevant factors are considered. The approval of the I-212 application is at the agency’s discretion, which means the adjudicator will weigh the favorable and unfavorable factors in making a decision.

To obtain the I-212 waiver, you must establish the favorable factors outweigh the unfavorable factors.

Favorable factors include:

  • Close family ties in the U.S.
  • Unusual hardship to your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relatives, yourself, or your employer in the U.S.
  • Your family responsibilities or intent to hold family responsibilities.
  • Length of lawful presence in the U.S. and the status you held during that presence.
  • Your respect for law and order.
  • Your good moral character, such as lack of criminal history.
  • Reformation and rehabilitation that make it unlikely the problem will occur again (e.g. repeated criminal activity that resulted in your deportation).
  • Eligibility for a waiver of other inadmissibility grounds.
  • The need for your services in the U.S.
  • Absence of significant undesirable or negative factors.
  • Likelihood that you will become a permanent resident in the near future.
  • Considerable passage of time since you were deported.

Unfavorable factors include:

  • Lack of close family ties or hardships.
  • Serious or repeated violations of immigration laws or willful disregard of other laws.
  • Bad moral character, including criminal history.
  • Likelihood that you will seek U.S. welfare or become a public charge.
  • Poor physical or mental condition (unless there is a need for treatment in the U.S., which would be a favorable factor).
  • Unauthorized employment in the U.S.
  • Your admission would be contrary to the welfare, safety, or security of the U.S.
  • Recent deportation.

Personal declarations from you or legal arguments from your lawyer are not enough. You must provide objective and credible evidence, including:

  • Affidavits from third parties attesting to unusual hardships, your good moral character, and other positive factors.
  • Evidence of family ties in the U.S., such as birth certificates and marriage certificates.
  • Medical reports, psychological evaluations, and other records showing unusual hardships to you, your relatives, or others if you are not admitted to the U.S.
  • Evidence of the financial, emotional and psychological impact of family separation.
  • Police clearance reports showing you lack a criminal history.
  • Evidence of rehabilitation and reformation, if you have prior criminal convictions.
  • Employment records and other evidence of your professional qualifications and work experience.
  • Articles and reports on the conditions of the country where you and your family would live if you were not admitted to the U.S.

Generally, your I-212 is more likely to be granted if you are the beneficiary of an approved family or employment-based petition or you are otherwise eligible for a visa,  you have only one removal order, you lack a criminal record, you did not commit serious and repeated immigration violations, and you demonstrate unusual hardships to your family or employer in the U.S. if you are not admitted.

Does Hiring an Immigration Attorney Make a Difference? 

You may file the Form I-212 application on your own. But hiring an experienced, skilled and diligent lawyer provides several advantages, such as:

1.  Avoiding unnecessary expenses and delays. The  immigration lawyer can help you determine whether you need an I-212 waiver in the first place. You might not actually need an I-212 waiver for various reasons, including:

  • The 5, 10 or 20 year bar under INA section 212(a)(9)(A) has expired.
  • You were allowed to withdraw your application for admission at the U.S. port of entry or border and you departed the U.S. within the time specified.
  • You were stopped and refused admission at the U.S. port of entry or border, but no expedited removal order was issued.
  • You were refused admission as an applicant under the Visa Waiver Program.
  • You were paroled into the United States after you accrued more than one year of unlawful presence in the U.S. and left, such that you are not inadmissible under INA section 212(a)(9)(C). [NOTE: You might, however, still be inadmissible under the 3-year/10-year unlawful presence bar and require a separate Form I-601 waiver.]
  • You were paroled into the United States after you were ordered removed from the U.S, such that you are not inadmissible under INA section 212(a)(9)(C). [NOTE: You might, however, still be inadmissible under the 5, 10, or 20-year bar under INA section 212(a)(9)(A) and require a Form I-212 for that bar.]
  • You received voluntary departure from an immigration court and you departed the U.S. during the voluntary departure period.
  • You are applying for I-485 adjustment of status as a U nonimmigrant.

The immigration lawyer also helps ensure that your I-212 waiver application is filled out completely and filed properly with the right immigration agency.  Without a lawyer’s guidance, it can be easy to overlook critical questions and difficult to determine  where you should submit your I-212 application. The lawyer can prevent unnecessary delays, including rejection notices.

2. Determining whether you are inadmissible on other grounds and whether these grounds can be waived or not.  The immigration lawyer will review the immigration court records (including Notice to Appear in Removal Proceedings and court order) or Customs & Border Protection records (including Notice of Expedited Removal) to determine the reasons for your removal and the duration of the bar.

A lawyer can verify  whether you need an I-601 waiver (for immigrant visa) or an I-192 waiver/INA section 212(d)(3)(A)(ii) waiver (for nonimmigrant visa) as well. While the I-212 covers grounds of inadmissibility under INA sections 212(a)(9)(A) or (C), the I-601 waiver or 212(d)(3)(A) waiver is necessary for other grounds, such as immigration fraud and misrepresentation, the 3-year/10-year bar due to previous unlawful presence in the U.S., health conditions, and criminal convictions.

While eligibility requirements for the 212(d)(3)(A) are relatively flexible, they are strict for the I-601 waiver.  Unlike 212(d)(3)(A) waiver applicants, I-601 waiver applicants must have a qualifying relative (e.g. U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent) who will suffer extreme hardship if they are not admitted to the U.S.

In addition, a lawyer can advise you on whether you are inadmissible for reasons that cannot be waived at all. These include a determination that you made a false claims to U.S. citizenship, a ruling that you filed a frivolous asylum application, a drug conviction after age 18 (except if it was for simple possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana for personal use), and a finding that you entered into a sham marriage to a U.S. citizen for immigration purposes.

3. Increasing the likelihood that your waiver application will be decided favorably (and in some cases, expeditiously). 

An attentive lawyer will strive to understand the full details of your case, including your family responsibilities; the hardships you, your family and/or employer would suffer if you are not admitted to the U.S.; your professional qualifications; and the conditions in your home country.

A skilled and experienced lawyer will advise you on the documentary evidence and written testimonials you must submit to support your waiver request. He or she will also present a legal brief describing how the positive factors outweigh the negative factors and why you deserve the waiver as a matter of discretion, under the law.

A diligent lawyer will also do any necessary follow-ups to obtain an approval, and request expedited processing when appropriate.

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To present the strongest I-212 waiver request you need to do more than just submit the form and documents listed in the instructions.  True success in getting an I-212 waiver grant is more likely when you have experienced counsel.

Consult an immigration attorney at least once and, preferably, hire a reputable one to help you prepare an approvable I-212 application.

For more information on the inadmissibility grounds that require an I-212 waiver, the limitations of the waiver, and when and where you may file for it, read our related article, When do you need an I-212 Waiver (and how do you get it)?

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This article provides general information only. It is based on law, regulations and policy that are subject to change. Do not consider it as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Each legal case is different and case examples do not constitute a prediction or guarantee of success or failure in any other case. The sharing or receipt of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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When do you need an I-212 Waiver (and how do you get it)?

iron gateIf you have been removed from the U.S., you are barred from reentering the country for a set number of years or perhaps permanently, depending on why you were removed. Illegal (or attempted illegal) reentries to the U.S., in certain situations, also make you permanently inadmissible.

To be admitted to the U.S. while the bar still applies, you must file for and obtain an I-212 waiver or Consent to Reapply (CTR). Although the two terms are used interchangeably, a CTR request does not always involve the filing on an official Form I-212 and application fee.

When Do I Need an I-212 Waiver or Consent to Reapply?

Sections 212(a)(9)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Immigration and National Act state that foreign nationals who have been ordered removed may not be readmitted to the U.S. until they have stayed abroad for 5, 10 or 20 years. An aggravated felony conviction, however, creates a permanent bar.

Sections 212(a)(9)(C)(i) and (ii) of the Immigration and National Act further state that foreign nationals who illegally enter or attempt to illegally enter the U.S. after certain prior immigration violations are permanently barred.

When you are subject to the 5, 10 or 20 year-bar, you do not need the I-212 waiver if you wait outside the U.S. for the duration of the bar before you seek admission to the U.S. But if you wish to lawfully reenter the U.S. before the time bar expires, you must obtain an I-212 waiver.  And when a permanent bar applies to you, you will forever be required to obtain an I-212 waiver.

An approved Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal, or Consent to Reapply is valid indefinitely, as long as it is not revoked by the agency that issued the approval.

When the I-212 grant or Consent to Reapply provides permanent relief, it may be used for future immigrant or nonimmigrant purposes, as long as you do not incur new inadmissibility under INA section 212(a)(9)(A) or (C).

Returning unlawfully to the U.S. without the Consent to Reapply may lead to serious consequences, including reinstatement of your removal order, prosecution in criminal court, and a permanent bar from admission to the U.S. (that requires you to wait outside the U.S. for 10 years before you may apply for the waiver).

Five-Year Bar

You have a five-year bar on reentry from the date of your removal if:

  • You were removed upon arrival in the U.S., i.e. ordered removed in an expedited removal proceeding by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) at a U.S. port of entry. [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(i)]
  • You were placed in removal proceedings upon arrival in the U.S. and then ordered removed by an immigration judge as an arriving alien. [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(i)]

Ten-Year Bar

You have a 10-year bar on reentry from the date of your removal if:

  • You were ordered removed, other than as an arriving alien, by an immigration judge in removal proceedings. [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(ii)]
  • You failed to timely depart the U.S. under an order of voluntary departure issued by an immigration judge, causing the voluntary departure to be converted to removal order.  [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(ii)]
  • You departed the U.S. willingly, but before removal proceedings were concluded.  [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(ii)]
  • You left the U.S. while a removal order was outstanding.  [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(ii)]

Twenty-Year Bar

You have a 20-year bar on reentry from the date of your removal if you were ordered removed from the U.S. more than once, whether as an arriving alien or not.  [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(ii)]

Permanent Bar

You have a permanent bar on reentry from the date of your removal if:

  • You were convicted of an aggravated felony.  [INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(ii)]. NOTE: For purposes of this permanent bar, it does not matter whether you have been convicted of an aggravated felony in or outside the United States, whether the conviction itself resulted in the removal order, or whether the conviction occurred prior to or after the removal order.
  • You reentered or attempted to reenter the U.S. illegally (without inspection or lawful admission) after you accrued more than one year (in the aggregate) of unlawful presence in the U.S. and left. [INA section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I).]
  • You reentered or attempted to reenter the U.S. illegally (without inspection or lawful admission) after you were ordered removed from the U.S. [INA section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(II)].

Key Things to Know About the Permanent Bar

Permanent Bar Under INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(ii)

The permanent bar, due to an aggravated felony conviction, applies even if you were removed for reasons other than the conviction or you were convicted of the aggravated felony after being removed from the U.S.

Permanent Bar Under INA section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) and (II)

The permanent bar, due to illegal entry or attempted illegal entry, applies only if you accrued the (1+ year) unlawful presence or were ordered removed on or after April 1, 1997, or entered or attempt to reenter the U.S. unlawfully on or after April 1, 1997.

The accrual of unlawful presence is cumulative. For example, if you were unlawfully present for 6 months in 3 different periods (i.e. 18 months total), and you then re-enter the U.S. illegally, you face the permanent bar.

Unlike with the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar under INA 212(a)(9)(B), there are no exceptions for minors and asylees when it comes to the permanent bar. So if you were under 18 when your parent took you to the U.S., you accrued unlawful presence of more than 1 year, you left, and then returned to the U.S. without inspection, you face the permanent bar.

NOTE TO IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS: If you are subject to the permanent bar under INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i) and seek an immigrant visa, you must be outside the U.S. and wait ten years abroad before filing the Form I-212. Based on 2006-2007 Board of Immigration Appeals case law and 2009 USCIS policy, an I-212 application for waiver of this permanent bar cannot be approved unless you are outside the U.S. and at least 10 years have elapsed from your date of departure.

NOTE TO I-360 VAWA SELF-PETITIONERS: If you are a VAWA self-petitioner, you do not have to wait outside the U.S. for 10 years to apply for a separate waiver of the INA 212(a)(9)(C) inadmissibility ground. But you must establish a connection between (i) your battering or subjection to extreme cruelty at the hands of your U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse and (ii) your removal, departure from the United States, or illegal re-entry into the U.S.

NOTE TO NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS: If you are inadmissible under INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) [9C1] and seek a nonimmigrant visa, you may file for temporary relief at any time through the U.S Consulate.  This is referred to as a 212(d)(3) waiver instead of a Consent to Reapply for Admission. The U.S. Consulate may submit an ARIS Waiver Request Form through the ARIS system. If granted, this relief is temporary and may not be extended to any future visa applications.

If section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) [9C1] is the only inadmissibility ground, and more than ten years have passed since the bar was incurred, you may file the Form I-212 with USCIS (DHS) to obtain a Consent to Reapply. If granted, this relief is permanent and allows the issuance of a full validity visa.

A nonimmigrant visa applicant who is barred under INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(II) [9C2] must wait 10 years outside the U.S. before he may file a Form I-212 with USCIS (DHS). ARIS is not used by the U.S. Consulate for this relief. If granted, this allows the issuance of a full validity visa.

What are the Limitations of the I-212 Waiver or Consent to Reapply?

The I-212 waiver or Consent to Reapply alone is generally not enough to request lawful admission to the United States. It only gives you permission to apply for admission with a nonimmigrant visa, immigrant visa or, in some cases, adjustment of status, when you are inadmissible under INA 212(a)(9).

Only visa-exempt citizens of Canada, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands do not need a visa to enter the United States for temporary visits. [NOTE: Being visa-exempt is not the same as being a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country, where the applicant still has to receive authorization under ESTA. ESTA will not be granted to an inadmissible person.]

If your waiver is granted, your prior visa status is not restored. Instead, you merely have permission to apply for a new visa or admission to the United States. For example, if you previously had lawful permanent residence based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, but were removed from the U.S., you must seek a new immigrant visa after the I-212 waiver is granted. If you are now divorced, you will no longer qualify for the immigrant visa based on the same marriage. You may, however, use the I-212 waiver to apply for a visa on another basis.

The I-212 waiver is also not enough if you have other grounds of inadmissibility for which there is no waiver or for which there is a waiver, but you do not qualify.

For instance, fraud or willful misrepresentation of material fact to gain immigration benefits, under INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i), and certain crime-related grounds under INA 212(a)(2) make you permanently inadmissible. An I-601 [INA § 212(i)] immigrant waiver is available to overcome the fraud/willful misrepresentation bar when you have a qualifying relative who will suffer extreme hardship if you are not admitted to the U.S. An I-601 [INA § 212(h)] immigrant waiver is available to some foreign nationals for some criminal grounds. A 212(d)(3) nonimmigrant waiver is available for most inadmissibility grounds.

Where Do I File My Form I-212 Application or Request for Consent to Reapply?

Whether you are in the U.S. or abroad, the reasons you were deported, the type of visa you intend to use to enter the U.S., whether you also need an I-601 waiver, and other factors determine where you file your I-212 application or request for Consent to Reapply.

There are various potential filing locations, including the U.S. Consulate that will issue the visa if the waiver is granted; the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Field Office having jurisdiction over the place of the original removal proceedings; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The direct filing addresses for the I-212 are currently posted on the USCIS website.

The current application procedures, which are subject to change, include the following: 

Immigrant visa applicants who also need a concurrent Form I-601 waiver: file Forms I-212 and I-601 concurrently with the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox, which will forward your applications to the Nebraska Service Center.

Immigrant visa applicants who do not require a Form I-601 waiver: file Form I-212 with the USCIS field office having jurisdiction over the place where your removal proceedings were held. The same field office retains jurisdiction to adjudicate the Form I-212 waiver application.

Nonimmigrant visa applicants (other than K, T, U, or V visa applicants): request a Consent to Reapply at the U.S Consulate with jurisdiction over your nonimmigrant visa application.  The consular officer must then forward a recommendation for consent to reapply for admission and visa issuance to the CBP/Admissibility Review Office (ARO) for a decision.

K or V nonimmigrant visa applicants: file Form I-212 with the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox, which will forward your application to the Nebraska Service Center.

Nonimmigrant visa applicants with INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i) bar. If section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) [9C1] is the only inadmissibility ground, and more than 10 years have passed, the Form I-212 is filed with USCIS (DHS). If section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(II) [9C2] applies, you must wait 10 years before you may file the Form I-212 with USCIS [DHS].

Nonimmigrant visa applicants with the 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) [9C1] bar – but NOT the 9C2 bar – may seek temporary relief [212(d)(3) waiver] through the U.S. Consulate at any time.

Nonimmigrants or visa-exempt citizens at a U.S. port of entry who are not required to obtain nonimmigrant visas: file Form I-212 in person at a CBP-designated port of entry or a CBP-designated preclearance office, which will then forward it to the CBP/ARO for adjudication. [UPDATE: Starting in mid-2019, eligible citizens of visa-exempt countries — Canada, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands — file the Form I-192 application through the online system, e-SAFE. Electronic filers need to go to the following ports of entry to complete the biometrics portion (fingerprints and photograph) of the waiver process: Blaine, Washington; Buffalo, New York; and Toronto Pearson International Airport.]

Adjustment of status applicants who are physically present in the U.S. and are inadmissible only under INA section 212(a)(9)(A): file Form I-212 with the USCIS office having jurisdiction over the Form I-485 adjustment of status application, which will adjudicate both applications.

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Applying for an I-212 waiver or Consent to Reapply involves more than just submitting the form and/or documents listed in the instructions. True success in obtaining an I-212 waiver is more likely when you have experienced counsel.

When you need the I-212 waiver or Consent to Reapply to reenter the U.S., consult an immigration attorney at least once and, preferably, hire a reputable one to guide you through the process from start to finish.

For more information on what to submit with your application and why seeking counsel helps, read our related article, What should you to get your I-212 Waiver? 

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This article provides general information only. It is based on law, regulations and policy that are subject to change. Do not consider it as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Each legal case is different and case examples do not constitute a prediction or guarantee of success or failure in any other case. The sharing or receipt of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.

SUBSCRIBE           CONTACT

Photo by: Linda Paul