I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended)
ALERT: We are reverting to the intake process we applied before October 2019 to Form I-589, Form I-612, and Form I-918.
Exchange Visitors (J-1) may file this application to apply for a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement of INA Section 212(e).
Form Details
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| If You Are Filing Form I-612 Because Of: | Mail Your Form To: |
|---|---|
| U.S. Postal Service (USPS): USCIS Texas Service Center FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS Texas Service Center |
| The address listed on the Department of State website. |
You can find the filing fee for Form I-612 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.
Please do not submit this checklist with your Form I-612. The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form, but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form. Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations.
If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Did you provide the following?
- A statement detailing the hardship or persecution that will occur if you return to your country of citizenship or nationality;
- Copies of all Forms DS-2019/IAP-66, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, for all exchange programs in which you or your spouse participated (if applicable); and
- A copy of your Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record.
If you are applying for a waiver of the foreign residence requirement because your departure from the United States would impose exceptional hardship on your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child, did you provide the following?
- Evidence of your spouse’s or child’s U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status;
- Evidence of the relationship between you and your spouse or child; and
- Evidence of legal termination of all prior marriages for you and your spouse (if applicable).
Filing Tips: Review our Tips for Filing Forms by Mail page for information on how to ensure we will accept your form.
Don’t forget to sign your form. We will reject any unsigned form.