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

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

Purpose of Form

If you are the member of any exchange program, you have a possibility to get J-1 or J-2 visas. These programs are created in order to exchange cultural and professional experience, that’s why US citizens can leave the US in order to live in another country, while non-American citizens can live in the US and develop their language skills or learn something new about our culture. Holders of these visas can stay in the US until the end of the exchange program. In most cases, you cannot come back to the US within two years after this program. However, there is a legal possibility to overcome this prohibition.

Special Instructions

If you are a former J-1 and J-2 visas holder and you want to visit the US before the expiration of two years after the exchange program, you have to file USCIS form I-612 (Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended) in order to cancel this restriction.

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;
  • 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:

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 department’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. 

Common filing mistakes

  • Using an outdated USCIS edition of the form.
  • Leaving required fields blank or mixing typed and handwritten answers inconsistently.
  • Forgetting the signature, supporting evidence, or the correct filing fee.

Official USCIS Update

USCIS can change filing addresses, fees, and accepted editions without notice. Use the official links below before filing.

Current edition: 04/01/24

Verified: 2026-05-21

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

Where to file: If you are filing Form I-612 because:

Open USCIS form page
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See also

Download Form I-612Read more
Form I-687 | Application for Status as a Temporary Resident Under Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality ActRead more
Form I-191 | Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)Read more
Form N-336 | Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA)Read more
Download form I-193Read more
Form I-694 | Notice of Appeal of Decision Under Sections 245A or 210 of the Immigration and Nationality ActRead more

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Comments

2 voices

Alex
Alex May 24, 2019

How much is the fee for submitting this form?

usa-immigrations
usa-immigrations May 25, 2019

Reply for Alex

Hello. At the moment, the fee for submitting the form is $ 930

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