What does it mean to be inadmissible?
Immigration Waivers (Waivers of Inadmissibility)
Immigration Lawyer for Immigration Waivers
At Zhanay Law, we help people in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota, and other states who face inadmissibility issues due to unlawful presence, departures from the country, deportations, fraud, misrepresentation, or certain criminal records, and need to file a waiver with U.S. immigration authorities.
There are cases where meeting the requirements for a visa or permanent residence is not enough: an immigration violation or a legal problem from the past can cause a person to be considered “inadmissible” and stop their case completely. In those situations, an immigration waiver can be the legal tool that unlocks the path and gives your case a new chance.
When Might You Need an Immigration Waiver?
Many people find out they need an immigration waiver when their process stops during a consular interview, adjustment of status, or review of their immigration history.
This can happen in situations like:
- Unlawful presence in the United States
- Departures from the country that create bars to returning
- Prior deportations or removals
- Fraud or misrepresentation in an immigration process
- Certain criminal records that affect eligibility for a visa or permanent residence
Not all cases qualify for a waiver, and not all grounds of inadmissibility have the same solution.
At Zhanay Law, we carefully review your immigration history to identify what obstacle is affecting your case and what options are available before filing any application.
Need an Immigration Waiver? Let's Review Your Case in Detail
If your immigration process stopped because you were found inadmissible or you were told you need an immigration waiver, don’t make decisions without knowing all your options.
Types of Immigration Waivers We Handle
At Zhanay Law, we work with different types of waivers and special applications, including:
- I-601 and I-601A waivers for:
- Unlawful presence and need to attend a consular interview
- Fraud or misrepresentation in prior immigration processes
- Certain criminal records or prior deportations
- I-212 applications to request permission to reapply for admission to the United States after a removal or deportation
- I-192 applications, in specific contexts where a waiver is required for certain violations when applying for admission as a nonimmigrant
Each form has its own requirements, different authorities, and specific times when it must be filed, so it’s important to get legal guidance before making decisions that could permanently affect your case.
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Practice Areas
Deportation Defense
U & T Visas (Humanitarian Visas)
Citizenship and Naturalization
Green Cards
Family Immigration and Petitions
Fiancé Visas (K-1)
Immigration Waivers
VAWA Self-Petitions
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
We Support You in Preparing Your Immigration Waiver
Filing an immigration waiver is not just filling out a form: it’s telling, with documents and arguments, the story of what your family could lose if that waiver is denied.
We can help you:
- Identify precisely which grounds of inadmissibility apply in your case
- Determine what type of waiver (I-601, I-601A, I-212, I-192) fits your situation and when it should be filed
- Gather evidence of the extreme hardship your qualifying family member would face if the waiver is not granted (medical reports, financial documents, psychological evaluations, declarations, etc.)
- Organize that evidence in a clear and coherent way for immigration authorities
- Explain what to expect in terms of processing times, possible additional requests, and scenarios in case of approval or denial
The goal is that you don’t have to guess how to present your case or what documents are important, but feel supported by an immigration lawyer who knows the process and the type of analysis USCIS does in these applications.
Edwin Zhanay
Immigration Attorney
Edwin Zhany
Frequently Asked Questions
It means that, under immigration law, there is a reason that can prevent a person from getting a visa, entering the United States, or obtaining permanent residence.
No. The possibility of applying for a waiver depends on the cause of inadmissibility and the requirements set by law. Each situation must be evaluated individually.
Both are immigration waivers, but they are not used for the same thing. The I-601A is provisional and only forgives unlawful presence before leaving for a consular interview. The I-601 is a more general waiver, used for various grounds of inadmissibility. During the consultation, we can review your immigration history and determine which one might apply to your case.
In practice, the choice depends on the exact cause of inadmissibility, whether the person is inside or outside the U.S., and the type of immigration process they have open.
Processing times change constantly and depend on the type of application and USCIS workload. During the consultation, we can give you guidance based on the most recent processing times.