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

Edition date

04/01/24. 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: You have an exceptional hardship to your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child; or You believe that returning to your country of nationality or last residence would subject you to persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion Mail your form to the filing location based on where you live. If you live in:Mail your form to: Alaska Armed Forces – America Armed Forces – Europe Armed Forces – Pacific Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Tennessee Utah Vermont Washington Wisconsin Wyoming USCIS Elgin Lockbox U.S.

Postal Service (USPS): USCIS Attn: I-612 P.O. Box 4224 Carol Stream, IL 60197-4224 FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS Attn: I-612 (Box 4224) 2500 Westfield Drive Elgin, IL 60124-7836 Alabama American Samoa Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Micronesia Mississippi Nevada New Mexico North Carolina Northern Mariana Islands Oklahoma Palau Puerto Rico

Filing fee

You can find the filing fee for Form I-612 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.

Initial evidence

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).