I-212 Waiver

What is the I-212 Application?

For individuals who are inadmissible due to a prior order of removal/deportation/exclusion or due to multiple immigration law violations, U.S. law does not allow you to lawfully return to the United States or otherwise ask for an immigration benefit unless you file the I-212 application for consent to re-apply for admission into the United States.

“Consent to re-apply” may be available as a benefit for individuals who:

• Have been ordered removed/deported/excluded and are currently outside the United States
• Have been ordered removed/deported/excluded, but have not yet left the United States
• Entered or attempted to re-enter the United States illegally multiple times after being unlawfully present in the country for more than a year
• Entered or attempted to re-enter the United States illegally after a prior order of removal/deportation/exclusion.

What is the benefit of I-212 relief?

People who are granted I-212 “consent to re-apply” are given permission to re-apply for a new visa or another immigration benefit. For certain applicants outside the country, the I-212 also terminates the 5-year, 10-year, or 20-year time period that the applicant otherwise would have to wait through before they could apply for admission into the United States again.

However, please note that the I-212 approval itself does not provide any legal status or work authorization. It simply allows permission to apply for lawful admission into the United States.