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

Mon Mar 27 2023 16:02:37 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

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.

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.

Download instructions

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

Special Instructions

Where to File

Related

Download Form I-612

Form I-687 | Application for Status as a Temporary Resident Under Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act

Form I-191 | Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

Form N-336 | Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA)

Form I-694 | Notice of Appeal of Decision Under Sections 245A or 210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act

Recent posts

USCIS Processing Times (2026): How to Check Them and What They Really Mean

Navigating Through the National Visa Center: Key Steps in Your Green Card Process

COMPLETE GUIDE TO ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS: UNDERSTANDING FEES, FORMS, AND TIMELINES FOR U.S. GREEN CARD ACQUISITION

Form I-134: A Comprehensive Guide to the Declaration of Financial Support for Visa Applicants

A Guide to the Affidavit of Support

A Full Guide to the H-4 Visa for Family Members of Americans with Work Visa