Tag Archives: 3/10 year bar

Approval of I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver + Immigrant Visa Grant = A True Success Story

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) approved the Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, of the spouse of a U.S. citizen after denying his two earlier requests. On the first try, he had prior counsel’s help. His second attempt was made pro se. With our representation in the third and final I-601A application, he persuaded USCIS to grant the waiver on the merits, based on the extreme hardships his U.S. citizen spouse would suffer if he were denied lawful admission to the United States. He further received an immigrant visa within three weeks of attending his interview at the U.S. Consulate abroad.

Problem: Unlawful Presence Bar

Section 212(a)(9)(B)(i) of the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) states that a person who accrues unlawful presence in the U.S. for more than 180 days, but less than one year, and then departs the U.S. prior to commencement of removal proceedings, is barred from re-entering the country for three years.  The bar to re-entry is 10 years if the unlawful presence lasted one year or more. The 3/10 year unlawful presence bar is triggered when the person departs the U.S. – even if it is to legalize his status by applying for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate overseas.

Our client could not adjust to permanent resident status within the United States, despite being the beneficiary of an approved I-130 immigrant petition filed by his U.S. citizen spouse. The reason is he entered the United States without proper inspection and did not meet the lawful admission requirement to file for a green card inside the country. A departure from the U.S. was necessary for him to get his immigrant visa and then return as a permanent resident.

Because he had been in the U.S. for almost 20 years without authorization (by the time the third waiver request was filed), he was subject to the 10-year unlawful presence bar to re-entry. USCIS’ grant of the I-601A provisional waiver gave him some assurance – but no guarantee – that he would be issued the immigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate. The I-601A waiver covers only the unlawful presence bar, so it is subject to revocation by the U.S. Consulate if other inadmissibility grounds apply.

In its decisions denying the previous two I-601A waiver requests, USCIS stated that prior to his last illegal re-entry, the applicant may have entered the U.S. without inspection and admission or parole on more than one occasion and he may have been unlawfully present in the U.S. for more than one year during prior stays.

I advised the applicant and his spouse that if he had indeed illegally re-entered the country after accruing more than one year of unlawful presence, he would have a permanent bar under INA 212(a)(9)(C). While a person may file a separate Form I-212 application to be excused from this permanent bar, he may not do so until he has been outside the United States for at least 10 years.

After being advised of the risk of being found inadmissible under INA 212(a)(9)(C), in addition to INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i), the applicant agreed to still move forward with the I-601A waiver application and depart the U.S. for consular processing.

Solution: Provisional Waiver

To support the I-601A waiver application, I submitted a legal memorandum clarifying the applicant had just one illegal entry to the United States and was subject only to the 10-year unlawful presence bar. I pointed out that the earlier entry date on his Temporary Protected Status (TPS) application was filled out in error by a notario – without his knowledge and consent – to meet the TPS eligibility requirement. In the TPS request, he did not provide any evidence or information reflecting that earlier entry date because it did not actually occur.

I also counseled the applicant and his spouse on the documentary evidence and information to submit to meet the extreme hardship requirement. This came with challenges because the spouse did not have any serious medical condition, life-threatening illness, or other individual factor to show she would face extreme hardship due to her staying in the U.S. without her spouse or relocating abroad to be with him.

The legal memorandum outlined a multitude of factors and the totality of the circumstances to satisfy the extreme hardship standard. For instance, we described the spouse’s vulnerability to psychological problems, her reliance on him to care for their three young children, and the poor living conditions and high crime rate in his home country.

Outcome: Waiver Approval + Immigrant Visa Grant

Within four months of receiving the Form I-601A waiver application, USCIS approved it. I next provided further counseling to the applicant and his spouse on the Immigrant Visa application process and what to expect at the visa interview.

As planned, the applicant departed the United States to appear for his immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate in his home country. No additional inadmissibility grounds, such as the INA 212(a)(9)(C) bar, were found by the Consulate. The I-601A waiver excused him from the 10-year unlawful presence bar and allowed him to receive the immigrant visa.

His spouse sent me a note confirming he was admitted to the United States with his immigrant visa and was granted lawful permanent residence. She wrote, “We thank you for your diligent work and your representation. I am very satisfied with your legal services and will refer you with no hesitation.

The two prior I-601A denials and possible INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i) bar did not deter the applicant from pursuing the waiver a third time before finally receiving it and the immigrant visa 11 years after the I-130 had been filed. Thankfully, he was able to return home to his family and continue his life in the U.S. as a permanent resident, after living in the country for almost 20 years without status.

Representing the applicant in his third and final I-601A waiver request and guiding him through the Immigrant Visa process led to true success.

Cheers,

Dyan Williams

Founder & Principal Attorney
Dyan Williams Law PLLC
(612) 225-9900
info@dyanwilliamslaw.com

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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 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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USCIS Policy Change Makes Nonimmigrant Students and Exchange Visitors More Likely to Accrue Unlawful Presence Toward 3/10-Year Bar and Permanent Bar

Starting on August 9, 2018, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Consulates and Embassies) began applying a stricter policy to calculate unlawful presence for F students, M vocational students and J exchange visitors in the United States.  The policy makes nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors (as well as their dependents) who fall out of status more likely to face the 3/10 year-bar to re-entry under INA 212(a)(9)(B), following departure from the U.S. It also makes them more vulnerable to the permanent bar under INA 212(a)(9)(C), caused by illegal re-entry or attempted illegal re-entry following accrual of unlawful presence of more than one year.

The August 2018 USCIS Policy and DOS Policy state that F, M and J nonimmigrant visa holders begin to accrue  “unlawful presence”  the day after they violate the terms of their status.

With this policy change, it is no longer required that students and exchange visitors — who are admitted to the U.S. for duration of status (D/S) — be given notice of the status violation by USCIS or an Immigration Judge in order for unlawful presence to begin.  The removal of this procedural safeguard creates harsher penalties to nonimmigrants who fall out of F, M or J status, even when the violation is accidental, inadvertent, or due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control.

[UPDATE: On February 6, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina issued a nationwide injunction (PDF) enjoining USCIS from enforcing the Aug. 9, 2018, policy memorandum titled, “Accrual of Unlawful Presence and F, J, and M Nonimmigrants.” Until the case is resolved, USCIS will continue to apply the prior policy guidance found in the May 6, 2009 memorandum, Consolidation of Guidance Concerning Unlawful Presence for Purposes of Sections 212(a)(9)(b)(i) and 212(a)(9)(c)(i)(I) of the Act (PDF).]

What is the 3/10-Year Bar Under INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)? 

3-Year Bar

Section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I) of the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) states the 3 year bar to re-entry applies if you were unlawfully present in the U.S. for more than 180 days, but less than one year, and then depart the U.S. prior to commencement of removal proceedings.  The U.S. government adds up all the days you were unlawfully present in the U.S. in a single ongoing period or stay (i.e. continuous period of unlawful presence).

The 3-year bar does not apply if you depart the U.S. after the Notice to Appear in removal proceedings is filed with the immigration court, following service of the NTA on you. But leaving the U.S. while you are in removal proceedings or being issued a removal order carries other immigration consequences.

10-Year Bar

Section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II) of the INA states the 10 year bar to re-entry applies if you were unlawfully present in the U.S. for one year or more, and then depart the U.S. The U.S. government adds up all the days you were unlawfully present in the U.S., even if they were from different periods or stays (i.e. the aggregate period of unlawful presence).

There are certain exceptions to the unlawful presence rules. For example, any period of unlawful presence prior to April 1, 1997 – the date the law went into effect – does not count toward the 3 year/10 year bars. Furthermore,  a minor who is unlawfully present does not accrue any time toward the 3 or 10 year bar until he turns 18.

What is the Permanent Bar Under INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i)? 

Section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) of the INA inflicts a permanent bar if you illegally enter or attempt to illegally enter the U.S. following accrual of more than 1 year of unlawful presence 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 bar under INA 212(a)(9)(B), there are no exceptions for minors when it comes to the permanent bar. So if you were under 18 when you came 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.

What is Unlawful Presence? 

The term “unlawful presence” is defined in section 212(a)(9)(B)(ii) of the INA. It refers to a person who “is present in the United States after expiration of the period of stay authorized by the Attorney General or is present in the United States without being admitted or paroled.”

To accommodate unexpected changes in academic programs and plans, the U.S. government normally admits F, M, and J nonimmigrants for duration of status (D/S) instead of up to a specific date.  This means nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors may remain in the U.S. as long as they maintain their status, i.e. have a full course of study or remain in the exchange program, avoid unauthorized employment or other unauthorized activities, and timely complete their academic or exchange program or obtain an extension.

What are the Effects of the Unlawful Presence Policy Change? 

Until the policy change went into effect, USCIS and the DOS interpreted the law to require notice of a status violation to persons admitted for D/S in order for unlawful presence to begin.  A formal finding of a status violation is made by USCIS, an Immigration Judge, or the Board of Immigration Appeals in the context of an application for an immigration benefit (e.g. change of status or extension of status request) or in removal proceedings, whichever is earlier.

A prior USCIS May 6, 2009 memorandum stressed “the accrual of unlawful presence neither begins on the date that a status violation occurs, nor on the day on which removal proceedings are initiated.” The memo noted,”…it is important to comprehend the difference between being in an unlawful immigration status and the accrual of unlawful presence (‘period of stay not authorized’). Although these concepts are related (one must be present in an  unlawful status in order to accrue unlawful presence), they are not the same.” 

With the policy change, USCIS no longer distinguishes between falling out of status (including minor and technical violations) and accruing unlawful presence. Rather than considering unlawful presence to begin accruing the day it denies an application or petition for immigration benefits, USCIS will now find that unlawful presence began retroactive to the date it determines a status violation occurred.  The DOS updated its Foreign Affairs Manual to incorporate this policy change and guide consular officers in determining whether the unlawful presence bar applies. 

Under the new policy, “unlawful presence” will begin the day after a status violation occurs, even if the person has no idea that s/he has fallen out of status. Examples include accidentally engaging in unauthorized employment; relying on erroneous advice by a Designated School Official (DSO) regarding reduced course load; and missing work for 90 days or more due to a serious injury while on Optional Practical Training (OPT).

USCIS will apply the policy retroactively; nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors who are found to have violated their status before the new policy took effect will also begin to accrue unlawful presence as of August 9, 2018.

F, M or J nonimmigrants who failed to maintain status before August 9, 2018, start accruing unlawful presence based on that failure on August 9, unless they already started accruing unlawful presence on the earliest of the following:

  • The day after USCIS denied the request for an immigration benefit, if USCIS made a formal finding that they violated their nonimmigrant status while adjudicating a request for another immigration benefit;
  • The day after the Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, expired, if the F, M or J nonimmigrant was admitted for a date certain; or
  • The day after an immigration judge ordered them excluded, deported or removed (whether or not the decision is on appeal).

F, M or J nonimmigrants who failed to maintain status on or after August 9, 2018, start accruing unlawful presence on the earliest of the following: 

  • The day after the F, M or J nonimmigrant no longer pursues the course of study or the authorized activity, or the day after he engages in an unauthorized activity;
  • The day after completing the course of study or program (including any authorized practical training plus any authorized grace period)
  • The day after the Form I-94 expires, if the F, M or J nonimmigrant was admitted for a date certain; or
  • The day after an immigration judge orders them excluded, deported or removed (whether or not the decision is on appeal)

When determining whether an F, M or J nonimmigrant accrued unlawful presence and was no longer in authorized stay, USCIS will consider information related to the person’s immigration history, such as:

  • information in the systems available to USCIS
  • information in the person’s record, including the person’s admissions concerning his immigration history or other information discovered during adjudication of an application or petition
  • information obtained through a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny, if any

Conclusion

USCIS’ unlawful presence policy change, in combination with its updated guidance on Notices to Appear and Requests for  Evidence, will have dire consequences for nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors, as well as their dependents.

While there is a 212(d)(3) nonimmigrant waiver and a Form I-601/INA 212(a)(9)(B)(v) immigrant waiver for the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar, they come with certain eligibility standards and they are not granted in every case. There are also limitations to obtaining a Consent to Reapply (I-212 waiver) to be excused from the permanent bar under INA 212(a)(9)(C).

New policies are not as binding as changes in the law passed by Congress, or regulations issued through notice-and-comment rulemaking. Still, unless the policy change is rescinded or is struck down by federal courts, it reflects how USCIS and the DOS will calculate unlawful presence for F-1, M-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants and their dependents (F-2, M-2 and J-2) as of August 9.

For more information, read our related articles:

Updated Policy Makes It Easier for USCIS to Deny Petitions and Applications Without First Issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID)

Updated Notice to Appear (NTA) Guidance Requires USCIS to Initiate Removal Proceedings In More Cases

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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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Expansion of I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver: What Changed?

The final rule expanding the I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver to all statutorily eligible applicants went into effect on August 29, 2016.  It allows more immigrant visa applicants, who are in the U.S., to seek the unlawful presence waiver before they depart for their visa interview abroad.

Published on July 29, 2016, the final rule is meant to encourage unlawfully present persons (who are ineligible for adjustment of status) to leave the U.S., attend their immigrant visa interviews, and return legally to the U.S. as permanent residents.

What Changed Under the 2016 Final Rule? 

The final rule expanding the I-601 Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver resulted in several changes that promote family unity and streamline the immigrant visa and waiver application process.

1. The I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver is Available to All Statutorily Eligible Immigrant Visa Applicants

The 2013 regulation extended the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver only to spouses, minor children (under age 21 or CSPA-eligible ), and parents of U.S. citizens. Under the 2016 regulation at 8 CFR 212.7(e), the pool of eligible applicants is no longer limited to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.

Under the 2016 final rule, all beneficiaries of family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa petitions, as well as Diversity Visa Lottery selectees, who are eligible for an immigrant visa may seek the I-601A waiver – as long as they meet the statutory requirements under INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(v). The statute requires you (a) have a qualifying relative (i.e. U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent) who will suffer extreme hardship if you are not admitted to the U.S., and (b) deserve the waiver in the favorable exercise of discretion.

2.There is No Time Restriction Based on the Date the Department of State’s Acted to Schedule the Immigrant Visa Interview 

In the proposed rule, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sought to keep the time restrictions preventing immediate relatives of U.S. citizens from applying for the I-601A waiver if the DOS acted before January 3, 2013 to schedule their immigrant visa interview –  even if they failed to appear for the interview, the interview was cancelled, or the interview was rescheduled on or after January 3, 2013.

The proposed 2016 rule would have made other applicants ineligible if DOS initially acted before the effective date of the final rule to schedule their immigrant visa interviews.  I-601A waiver applications subject to the time bar would have been rejected or denied.

In the final rule, the DHS removed the restrictions based on the date that DOS acted to schedule the immigrant visa interview. There is no more visa interview scheduling cut-off dates.

Immigrant visa applicants who were previously subject to the January 3, 2013 cut-off date may now apply for the I-601A waiver, as long as they did not depart the U.S. If their visa case was terminated due to inaction of one year or more, they may ask the DOS to reinstate their visa application or the petitioner may file a new immigrant visa petition for them.

3. Reason-to-Believe Standard, as a Basis for Ineligibility, No Longer Exists

Under the 2013 rule, you were ineligible for the I-601A waiver if USCIS determined, based on the record, there is reason to believe you are inadmissible on grounds other than unlawful presence, such as immigration fraud, illegal re-entries, and criminal convictions. DHS had initially applied the reason-to-believe standard because it would be of little benefit to grant provisional waivers to applicants who would eventually be denied immigrant visas based on other grounds of inadmissibility.

Based on comments received during the notice-and-comment rulemaking process, DHS determined the reason-to-believe standard created confusion among applicants.

It is DOS, and not USCIS, that generally determines whether the immigrant visa applicant is admissible, which includes an in-depth, in-person interview conducted by DOS consular officers. It is U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and not USCIS, that determines admissibility at the time the person seeks admission at a port of entry.

In the 2016 rule, DHS noted, “Any assessment by USCIS with respect to other grounds of inadmissibility would be, at best, advisory in nature and would likely cause even greater confusion for applicants.” Therefore, to avoid further confusion, the 2016 rule removes the reason-to-believe standard as a basis for denying provisional waiver applications.

When adjudicating I-601A waiver applications, USCIS will only consider whether you have shown extreme hardship to the qualifying relative if you are not admitted to the U.S., and whether you deserve the waiver as a matter of discretion. USCIS will no longer deny provisional waivers because it has a reason to believe you are subject to inadmissibility grounds other than the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar.

4. Individuals Subject to Final Orders of Removal, Deportation, or Exclusion May Apply for the Provisional Waiver if Certain Conditions are Met

The 2013 rule prohibited persons subject to final orders of removal,  deportation or exclusion to apply for the I-601A waiver. Persons who depart the U.S. due to a removal, deportation or exclusion order are barred from re-entry for a period of 5 to 20 years under INA section 212(a)(9)(A). These include persons with an expedited removal order by CBP at the port of entry (5-year bar) and a final removal order by an Immigration Judge in removal proceedings (10-year bar).

Certain persons, however, may seek consent to reapply for admission to the United States before the 5 to 20-year period expires, by filing a Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal. If you were ordered removed and are inadmissible under INA 212(a)(9)(A), but have yet to leave the U.S. and will apply for an immigrant visa abroad, you may file the Form I-212 before your departure.

The 2016 rule allows individuals with final orders of removal,  deportation or exclusion to apply for the I-601A waiver, provided they already filed the Form I-212 and USCIS conditionally approved it.

If you obtain a conditional I-212 approval while in the U.S. and thereafter depart to attend your immigrant visa interview abroad, you are generally no longer inadmissible under INA section 212(a)(9)(A) and can be issued an immigrant visa.  The I-212 approval is conditioned on your actually departing the U.S.

In this situation, consent to reapply for admission refers only to inadmissibility under INA section 212(a)(9)(A). You cannot file an I-212 application while you are in the U.S. if you are inadmissible under INA section 212(a)(9)(C), i.e. illegal re-entry or attempted illegal re-entry after you accrued more than one year of unlawful presence in the U.S. and left, or after you were ordered removed from the U.S.

The I-601A addresses the unlawful presence bar, while the I-212 deals with the removal order. Each waiver covers separate grounds of inadmissibility and has different eligibility requirements. USCIS will deny a provisional waiver request if your Form I-212 application has not yet been conditionally approved at the time the Form I-601A is filed.

In the final rule, DHS further clarified that USCIS has exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate I-601A waiver applications, regardless of whether the applicant is or was in removal, deportation, or exclusion proceedings.

The DHS also clarified which persons are ineligible for provisional waivers because they are subject to a reinstatement of a prior removal, deportation or exclusion order. The CBP or Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) must first serve notice and actually reinstate the order, prior to the filing of the I-601A application or while the application is pending, for the person to be ineligible for the provisional waiver under the 2016 rule.

5. Individuals Who Violated a Voluntary Departure Order Might Be Eligible for the Provisional Waiver

The 2016 regulations do not specifically mention voluntary departure as a bar to a provisional waiver. The Supplementary Information to the final rule discusses this issue, but creates more questions than provides answers.

If a person is granted voluntary departure while in removal proceedings, the immigration judge is required to enter an alternate removal order. DHS may not carry out the alternate removal order while the voluntary departure period is in effect. But if the person fails to voluntarily depart on time, the alternate removal order automatically kicks in. Under current law, removal proceedings for such persons are considered to have ended when the grant of voluntary departure, with an alternate removal order, becomes administratively final.

The regulation at 8 CFR §212.7(e)(4)(iii) bars individuals who are “in removal proceedings, in which no final order has been entered, unless the removal proceedings are administratively closed and have not been recalendared at the time of filing the application….” No doubt, a person who is granted voluntary departure is ineligible for an I-601A waiver while the voluntary departure period is still in effect.

The Supplementary Information to the final rule states, “DHS has determined that individuals granted voluntary departure will not be eligible for provisional waivers.” The DHS reasoned that allowing a person whose voluntary departure period has not expired to apply for a provisional waiver would suggest the person is excused from leaving the U.S. within the voluntary departure period. The Supplementary Information also states, “an individual who fails to leave as required under a grant of voluntary departure will have an administratively final order of removal, and will thus be ineligible for a provisional waiver.”

The Supplementary Information, however, cites to the new regulation at  8 CFR §212.7(e)(4)(iv), which took effect on August 29, 2016. This regulation reads:

… an alien is ineligible for a provisional unlawful presence waiver … if: (iv) [t]he alien is subject to an administratively final order of removal, deportation, or exclusion under any provision of law … unless the alien has already filed and USCIS has already granted … an application for consent to reapply for admission under section 212(a)(9)(A)(iii) of the Act and 8 CFR 212.2(j).

The 2016 regulation shows an exception to the final order bar if you first obtain an approved I-212.

Until there is further clarity on this issue, persons who have overstayed a voluntary departure period, and are subject to a final order, must exercise caution in applying for an I-601A waiver based on a conditionally approved I-212. If you are still in removal proceedings, the better course it to request administrative closure to pursue a provisional waiver. Assuming the I-601A waiver is granted, you may then file a motion to recalendar and request termination of proceedings so you may apply for an immigrant visa abroad.

More Key Things to Know

What stayed the same under the 2016 final rule?

Although the 2016 rule expands the provisional unlawful presence waiver, it kept many of the provisions under the 2013 regulation.

For more information, read Expansion of I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver: What Stayed the Same? 

When is the 3/10 year bar triggered?

As of April 1, 1997, if you accrue unlawful presence in the U.S. of more than 180 days to less than 1 year (for a continuous period), after age 18, you are barred from re-entering the U.S. for 3 years. The bar to re-entry is 10 years if the unlawful presence lasted 1 year or more (for an aggregate period). When you do not qualify for adjustment to permanent resident status, and must leave the U.S. for consular processing, you trigger the 3/10-year unlawful presence bar under INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(i), upon departure.

The 3/10 year bar is triggered only if you leave  the U.S. You do not need an unlawful presence waiver if you are in the U.S. and applying for adjustment to permanent resident status. If you are in the U.S. and are eligible for adjustment, you should avoid leaving the U.S. for consular processing of the immigrant visa, which will trigger the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar.

For more information, read When do you need an I-601 waiver due to unlawful presence (and how do you get it)? 

Why apply for the I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver instead of the regular I-601 waiver?

An I-601A waiver grant gives some assurance the U.S. Consulate will excuse you from the 3/10 year bar and issue the immigrant visa. Prior to March 2013, when the I-601A waiver was first introduced under the Obama Administration, every immigrant visa applicant who was subject to the 3/10 year bar had to wait outside the U.S. to get the regular I-601 waiver, after they attended the visa interview. When the I-601 process is delayed or the application is denied, long-term family separation, job loss, and other hardships result.

If you are subject to the 3/10 year bar only, and no other grounds of inadmissibility, and you are still in the U.S., the I-601A waiver is all you need.  The I-601A process allows you to apply for the unlawful presence waiver before you leave the U.S. Your immigrant visa interview will be scheduled at the U.S. Consulate only after USCIS adjudicates the I-601A waiver application. In contrast, you may file for the regular I-601 waiver only after you have left the U.S. and attended your visa interview.

The regular I-601 waiver process requires you to wait several months or even years outside the U.S. for a decision.  On the other hand, an approved I-601A waiver application facilitates the grant of the immigrant visa and shortens the time you are separated from your U.S. citizen or permanent resident family members. With an I-601A waiver granted, you normally wait about 2 weeks for the immigrant visa to be processed.

For more information, read I-601 waiver or I-601A waiver for unlawful presence? 

Seek Help from an Experienced Immigration Attorney

Seek advice from an experienced immigration attorney to confirm whether you are inadmissible due to unlawful presence and/or other grounds, verify your eligibility for the I-601A waiver, guide you on the forms and documents to submit, and help you prepare a strong waiver application for approval.

Even when you have an I-601A waiver, the U.S. Consulate may still your immigrant visa if it finds you are inadmissible on multiple grounds. But if the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar is your only inadmissibility ground, the I-601A approval means you can expect an immigrant visa grant.

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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

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Expansion of I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver: What Stayed the Same?

On August 29, 2016, USCIS began accepting I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver applications under the 2016 final rule expanding the pool of applicants eligible for the provisional waiver.

The I-601A waiver is no longer limited to just immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. Qualified applicants now include beneficiaries of all family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant visa petitions, as well as Diversity Visa Lottery selectees, who are eligible for an immigrant visa and who meet the legal requirements for a waiver under INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(v).

What Stayed the Same Under the 2016 Final Rule?

The final rule expanding the I-601 Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver resulted in several changes that promote family unity and streamline the immigrant visa and waiver application process. Despite significant changes under the 2016 regulation, many things stayed the same.

1. I-601A Waiver Applicants Must Still Have a Qualifying Relative Who Will Suffer Extreme Hardship if They are Not Admitted to the U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can only expand the I-601A waiver to those who fall within the current immigrant visa categories and who meet the requirements for the unlawful presence waiver described in INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(v). The statute, passed by Congress, requires you to have a qualifying relative who will suffer extreme hardship if you are not admitted to the U.S. It further defines a qualifying relative as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent. In addition to meeting the extreme hardship requirement, you also must warrant a favorable exercise of discretion.

Immigrant visa applicants in any family-based or employment-based category, plus Diversity Visa applicants, may file for the I-601A waiver only if they have a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent who will suffer extreme hardship if they are not granted the visa.

Congress, not DHS, has authority to change the statutory requirement. USCIS also cannot grant an I-601A waiver if you have not demonstrated extreme hardship to a qualifying relative as required by statute.  USCIS may also deny provisional waiver applications, as a matter of discretion, even when you are eligible for the relief.

USCIS will continue to make extreme hardship determinations on a case-by-case basis, consistent with agency guidance. On October 7, 2015, USCIS posted proposed guidance on extreme hardship determinations for public comment on its Website. USCIS continues to train its officers on provisional waiver adjudication, including the extreme hardship determination.

2. Removal of the DOS Visa Interview Scheduling Cut-Off Dates Does not Alter Other Laws or Regulations Relating to Visa Availability

In the final rule, DHS removed the date restrictions preventing  immediate relatives of U.S. citizens from obtaining provisional waivers if the Department of State (DOS) acted prior to January 3, 2013 to schedule their immigrant visa interviews. DHS also rejected a proposed rule making other applicants ineligible for provisional waivers if DOS had acted on or before the effective date of the final rule to schedule the immigrant visa interview.

Although there is no DOS visa interview scheduling cut-off date, I-601A waiver applicants still cannot obtain an immigrant visa unless their priority date is current or they are in the immediate relatives category. The I-601A cannot be filed until you (a) first pay the immigrant visa fee, which may be submitted only when an immigrant visa is available, or (b) you have been assigned a Diversity Visa case number and are waiting for a visa interview.

3. The Waiver, By Itself, Provides No Interim Benefits or Immigration Benefits 

The filing of an I-601A waiver, or the approval of such an application, still does not provide any basis for receiving interim benefits, including employment authorization in the U.S. or an advance parole/travel document to re-enter the U.S.

The DHS pointed out that because an approved immigrant visa petition and a waiver of inadmissibility do not, by themselves, grant any immigration status or lawful presence in the U.S., they do not serve as a basis for interim benefits. The DHS further noted that granting interim benefits to persons with provisional waivers could encourage them to postpone their timely departures from the U.S. to apply for their immigrant visa.

The provisional waiver process is meant to encourage the applicant to depart the U.S. for their immigrant visa interview and apply for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate. The purpose is not to extend an applicant’s unlawful presence in the United States.

4. The Provisional Waiver Excuses Unlawful Presence Only, and No Other Grounds of Inadmissibility

The I-601A waiver excuses you from the 3/10-year unlawful presence bar only. The DHS did not extend the I-601A process to waive other inadmissibility grounds, such as fraud or wilful misrepresentation of material fact to gain immigration benefits, criminal convictions, or medical issues.

The DHS also did not expand the provisional waiver to persons who are inadmissible based on illegal re-entry or attempted illegal re-entry after previous immigration violations under INA section 212(a)(9)(C)(i). The person must have an approved Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal, to overcome this ground of inadmissibility.

If during the immigrant visa interview the consular officer finds you are inadmissible on other grounds that have not been waived, such as prior removal orders, criminal convictions, and immigration fraud, the approved provisional waiver will be automatically revoked. Revocation of the provisional waiver does not prevent you from filing a regular I-601 application for waiver of unlawful presence plus other other waivable grounds of inadmissibility.

5. Individuals in Active Removal Proceedings May Not Apply for or Receive the Provisional Waiver Unless Their Case is Administratively Closed

Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) may agree to administratively close removal proceedings for individuals who are eligible for a provisional waiver and are a low priority for removal.  ICE also works to facilitate, when appropriate, the timely termination or dismissal of administratively closed removal proceedings once USCIS approves a provisional waiver.

Under the 2013 regulations, persons in removal proceedings may apply for and be granted provisional waivers only if their removal proceedings have been and remain administratively closed. DHS kept this restriction in the 2016 final rule.

6. Individuals Subject to a Reinstated Removal, Deportation or Exclusion Order Do Not Qualify for the Provisional Waiver

A person who illegally reenters the U.S. after having been removed, or having departed voluntarily, while under an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal shall be removed from the U.S. by reinstatement of the prior order. The person has no right to a hearing before an immigration judge in such circumstances.

In the final rule, the DHS confirmed that persons with a reinstated prior removal, deportation or exclusion order are ineligible for the provisional waiver. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) or ICE must first serve notice and actually reinstate the order, prior to the filing of the I-601A application or while the application is pending, for the person to be ineligible for the provisional waiver under the 2016 rule.

7. Individuals Granted Voluntary Departure Are Ineligible for a Provisional Waiver While the Voluntary Departure Period is in Effect

If you were granted voluntary departure in lieu of a removal order, you are ineligible for a provisional waiver while the voluntary departure period is still in effect.

The immigration judge is required to enter an alternate removal order when voluntary departure is granted. DHS may not execute the alternate removal order while the voluntary departure period is in effect. But if the person fails to voluntarily depart on time, the alternate removal order automatically kicks in. Under current law, removal proceedings for such persons are considered to have ended when the grant of voluntary departure, with an alternate removal order, becomes administratively final.

The regulation at 8 CFR §212.7(e)(4)(iii) bars individuals who are “in removal proceedings, in which no final order has been entered, unless the removal proceedings are administratively closed and have not been recalendared at the time of filing the application….” Thus, an individual with a voluntary departure order that has not yet expired is ineligible for a provisional waiver.

In the Supplemental Information to the 2016 rule, the DHS states:

Allowing an individual whose voluntary departure period has not expired to apply for a provisional waiver would suggest that the individual is excused from complying with the order of voluntary departure. This result would contradict the purpose of voluntary departure — allowing the subject to leave promptly without incurring the future inadmissibility that results from removal. For these reasons, DHS did not modify the rule to allow those with grants of voluntary departure to apply for provisional waivers.

Whether a person who overstays the voluntary departure period, thus triggering a final removal order, may apply for a provisional waiver is another issue.  A strict reading of the 2016 regulations at 8 CFR §212.7(e)(4)(iv) indicates persons with a final removal order bar may seek an I-601A waiver if they first receive a conditionally approved I-212 (permission to reapply for admission into the United States after deportation or removal).

Until there is further clarity on this issue, persons who have overstayed a voluntary departure period, and are subject to a final order, must exercise caution in applying for an I-601A waiver based on a conditionally approved I-212. If you are still in removal proceedings, the better course it to request administrative closure to pursue a provisional waiver. Assuming the I-601A waiver is granted, you may then file a motion to recalendar and request termination of proceedings so you may apply for an immigrant visa abroad.

More Key Things to Know

What changed under the 2016 final rule?

Although the 2016 rule kept many of the provisions under the 2013 regulation, it expands the provisional unlawful presence waiver and introduced several changes.

For more information, read Expansion of I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver: What Changed? 

When is the 3/10 year bar triggered?

If you accrue unlawful presence in the U.S. of more than 180 days to less than 1 year, you are barred from re-entering the U.S. for 3 years. The bar to re-entry is 10 years if the unlawful presence lasted 1 year or more. When you do not qualify for adjustment to permanent resident status, and must leave the U.S. for consular processing, you trigger the 3/10-year unlawful presence bar under INA section 212(a)(9)(B)(i), upon departure.

The 3/10 year bar is triggered only if you leave  the U.S. You do not need an unlawful presence waiver if you are in the U.S. and applying for adjustment to permanent resident status. If you are in the U.S. and are eligible for adjustment, you should avoid leaving the U.S. for consular processing of the immigrant visa, which will trigger the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar.

For more information, read When do you need an I-601 waiver due to unlawful presence (and how do you get it)? 

Why apply for the I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver instead of the regular I-601 waiver?

An I-601A waiver grant gives some assurance the U.S. Consulate will excuse you from the 3/10 year bar and issue the immigrant visa. Prior to March 2013, when the I-601A waiver was first introduced under the Obama Administration, every immigrant visa applicant who was subject to the 3/10 year bar had to wait outside the U.S. to get the regular I-601 waiver, after they attended the visa interview. When the I-601 process is delayed or the application is denied, long-term family separation, job loss, and other hardships result.

If you are subject to the 3/10 year bar only, and no other grounds of inadmissibility, and you are still in the U.S., the I-601A waiver is all you need.  The I-601A process allows you to apply for the unlawful presence waiver before you leave the U.S. Your immigrant visa interview will be scheduled at the U.S. Consulate only after USCIS adjudicates the I-601A waiver application. In contrast, you may file for the regular I-601 waiver only after you have left the U.S. and attended your visa interview.

The regular I-601 waiver process requires you to wait several months or even years outside the U.S. for a decision.  On the other hand, an approved I-601A waiver application facilitates the grant of the immigrant visa and shortens the time you are separated from your U.S. citizen or permanent resident family members. With an I-601A waiver granted, you normally wait about 2 weeks for the immigrant visa to be processed.

For more information, read I-601 waiver or I-601A waiver for unlawful presence? 

Seek Help from an Experienced Immigration Attorney

Seek advice from an experienced immigration attorney to confirm whether you are inadmissible due to unlawful presence and/or other grounds, verify your eligibility for the I-601A waiver, guide you on the forms and documents to submit, and help you prepare a strong waiver application for approval.

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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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Photo by: Luis Sarabia

3/10 Year Unlawful Presence Bar

In this video, attorney Dyan Williams discusses the 3/10 year unlawful presence bar, including when you accrue unlawful presence and when you do not.

[UPDATE: As of August 9, 2018, the U.S. government calculates unlawful presence of F-1 students as starting on the day after they fall out of status, and does not require notice of a status violation from an immigration judge or USCIS.]

 For more information, read these articles:

Contact Dyan for specific advice and guidance on filing for the Immigrant I-601 or I-601A waiver for unlawful presence.

This video provides general information and is for educational purposes only. Do not consider it as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Immigration laws, regulations and policies are subject to change. The sharing or receipt of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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