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I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended)

J-1 and J-2 visas holders and their families may use this form to apply for a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement.

Download iconForm I-612 (PDF, 449 KB)
Download iconInstructions for Form I-612 (PDF, 246 KB)

Number of Pages

Form 7; instructions 7.

Edition Date

09/17/19. Starting 12/23/19, we will only accept the 09/17/19 edition. Until then, you can use the 04/24/17 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Where to File

If You Are Filing Form I-612 Because Of:Mail Your Form To:
  • Exceptional hardship to your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child; or
  • Your belief that returning your country of nationality or last residence would subject you to persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS California Service Center
I-612 Unit 
P.O. Box 30112
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0112

For express or courier delivery:

USCIS California Service Center
24000 Avila Rd.
2nd Floor, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

  • You received a request from an interested U.S. government agency;
  • You received a written statement from your country of nationality or last foreign residence that it has no objection to the waiver; or
  • A state’s Department of Public Health, or its equivalent, sent a request to the U.S. Department of State for you to work in a medically underserved area (Conrad Waiver Program)
The address listed on the Department of State’s website. 

Don’t forget to sign your form!  We will reject and return any unsigned form.

Filing Fee

$930.

When you send a payment, you agree to pay for a government service. Filing and biometric service fees are final and non-refundable, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition, or request, or if you withdraw your request.

Checklist of Required Initial Evidence (for informational purposes only)

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form I-612. It 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. You may view the form instructions at uscis.gov/i-612.

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 to 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)
  • 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
  • Evidence of legal termination of all prior marriages for you and your spouse (if applicable)
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