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  • Immigration
    • U.S. Residency – Green Card
      • Family Residency / Green Card
      • Marriage Residency / Green Card for Spouse
      • Same Sex Marriage Residency / Green Card for Same Sex Spouse
      • Employment Residency / Green Card
      • TPS to Green Card
      • Cancellation of Removal/Deportation (10 Year Law)
      • DACA (Deferred Action Program for Young Immigrants)
      • Immigration Pardons – I-601 and I-601A Waivers
      • Expansion of I-601A Waiver, as of 8-29-2016
      • Asylum Immigration
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Home / FAQ / Waivers

    Entry without Inspection and Waivers of Inadmisibility: FAQs

    • I entered the U.S. without a visa (or without inspection), am I eligible to obtain residency in the U.S.? Or what options do I have to legalize myself?
    • I am a U.S. citizen but my spouse entered without inspection, can I assist him/her in obtaining a green card?

    1. I entered the U.S. without a visa (or without inspection), am I eligible to obtain residency in the U.S.? Or what options do I have to legalize myself?

    here are generally three options through which people are able to obtain legal status in the U.S.:

    1). An employment petition;

    2). A petition filed by an immediate family member; or

    3). A special petition such as political asylum or cancellation of removal (deportation).

    However, in general, people will fall in one of four categories of eligibility:

    1). People who entered the U.S. with a visa and are eligible to get their residency in the U.S. through a family petition (even if the visa has expired or the visa was not valid).

    2). People who entered the U.S. without inspection or visa and are eligible to obtain residency through family or employment because they are 245(i) eligible. (see explanation of who is 245(i) eligible).

    3). People who entered the U.S. with a valid U.S. visa, with a current, un-expired I-94 (small white card issued at the time you entered the U.S., which tells you how long you are allowed to remain in the U.S.). These persons are eligible to apply for any other category of visa. The visa approval will depend on the person meeting the specific qualifications required by the particular visa.

    4). Persons who came into the U.S. without inspection or persons that came with a visa and the visa has expired, may be eligible to apply for residency in the U.S., however, their adjustment of status petition may require a waiver. A waiver is a “pardon” from the U.S. government that says that even though you have violated an immigration regulation you will be granted a green card under special circumstances. These waivers are generally granted to individuals with special family connections to the U.S. These waivers are most commonly issued at a U.S. consulate abroad.

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    2. I am a US citizen but my spouse entered without inspection, can I assist him/her in obtaining a green card?

    Yes. You may file an I-130 petition with the appropriate USCIS service center and upon approval, you must file an I-864 Affidavit of Support with the National Visa Center and a DS-230 petition with either the National Visa Center or the consulate office as directed by the government. Your spouse must attend a medical examination appointment and a biometrics appointment in his/her country of origin, as determined by the consulate (unless the person is 245(i) eligible, in which case he/she would be allowed to adjust status [I-485] inside the U.S. simultaneously with the I-130 approval). Afterwards, your spouse must appear for a visa interview at the U.S. consulate. At that time, the U.S. government will make a decision if he/she case requires a “waiver of inadmissibility” or not. A “waiver of inadmissibility” is a pardon that is requested if someone has been in the U.S. illegally for more than 180 days or if they have violated other immigration rules, like using false documents or some other unlawful method to enter the U.S. The waiver of inadmissibility application, form I-601, is presented to the consulate and the consulate will forward the application to a USCIS officer for adjudication. This generally takes 10 months (the range of time for this is 4 to 24 months). The application must demonstrate that the resident or citizen spouse would suffer extreme hardship if the alien, or foreigner, is not able to return to the U.S.
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    IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

    The information contained in this document is general in nature and subject to change at any point in time. As such, it may not necessarily apply to all situations. Therefore, under no circumstance it should be construed as legal advice. Please ensure that you consult with an attorney regarding your specific situation before starting a legal process.

    Watch video: How to obtain an immigration Pardon or a 601 waiver

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