Humanitarian
Form I-601
Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility
Used to request a waiver of certain grounds of inadmissibility (such as fraud, unlawful presence, or criminal grounds) that would otherwise bar admission to the United States.
- Filing fee
- $1,050
- Biometrics
- No fee
Who can file
- Persons found inadmissible who have a qualifying relative
- Must demonstrate extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen or LPR qualifying relative
- Available for fraud/misrepresentation, unlawful presence bars, and certain criminal grounds
Send with it
- Evidence of qualifying relationship
- Detailed hardship declaration from the qualifying relative
- Medical, psychological, financial evidence of hardship
- Country condition evidence (if relevant)
- Evidence of rehabilitation (if criminal ground)
Worth knowing
- The "extreme hardship" standard is high - document thoroughly
- Hardship to the applicant alone is generally not enough
- Consider hiring an attorney experienced in waiver cases
- I-601A (provisional waiver) may be available if applying from within the U.S.
Common mistakes
- Not demonstrating sufficient extreme hardship
- Focusing only on hardship to the applicant rather than the qualifying relative
- Insufficient supporting documentation
- Not addressing the specific ground of inadmissibility
Questions
- How much does Form I-601 cost?
- The USCIS filing fee for Form I-601 is $1,050.
- How long does Form I-601 take?
- Typically 12 to 36 months, depending on the office and the category. Check the current USCIS times for your office before you plan around it.
Related forms
Fees are as published by USCIS. Confirm on USCIS's fee schedule (G-1055) before you pay - a wrong fee gets a filing rejected. General information, not legal advice.