Seattle Immigration Law Updates & Resources
Expert Guidance from Attorney Lesley Irizarry-Hougan
Get clear answers about citizenship, green cards, asylum, VAWA, and family immigration from Seattle attorney Lesley Irizarry-Hougan. Latest USCIS policy updates, step-by-step guides, Know Your Rights resources, and immigration news in English and Spanish. 20+ years of experience helping Seattle's immigrant community.
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What is the I-212 Waiver When Applying for the “Green Card”?
In previous blog posts, we have discussed two common waivers that are often required when applying for lawful permanent resident status (the “green card”), the I-601 and the I-601A. In this post, we discuss a third waiver, the I-212. The I-212 is used to waive a prior removal (deportation). It is also used if you have been unlawfully present in the United States for more than one year and you attempt to reenter unlawfully.
Cambios por Obama para el Proceso de la Exención I-601A: Elegibilidad Expandida para Exenciones Provisional de Inadmisibilidad
El 20 Noviembre de 2014, el presidente Obama anuncio cambios al proceso de exención I-601A, la cual expande elegibilidad para ciertos individuos buscando exención provisional de presencia ilegal.
ANTECEDENTES
El 4 de Marzo de 2013, el gobierno comenzó a aceptar aplicaciones para exención provisionales de inadmisibilidad por presencia ilegal. Esto significa que individuos quienes necesitaban regresar a su país de origen para aplicar para la residencia permanente legal en el consulado, pueden aplicar para exenciones de presencia ilegal en los Estados Unidos antes de salir de los E.U. Esta aplicación fue sometida usando la forma I-601A.
Obama's Changes to the I-601A Waiver Process: Expanded Eligibility for Provisional Waivers of Inadmissibility
On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced changes to the I-601A waiver process, which expands eligibility for certain individuals seeking provisional waivers of unlawful presence.
Understanding the I-601A - Unlawful Presence Waiver
A common scenario among our clients is that the client has an immediate relative (spouse, parent, child under the age of 21) who has or who can petition for them with Form I-130 (explained in a previous blog post), but the client entered the U.S. without a visa or inspection. As immigration laws exist currently, a person who has entered the U.S. without a visa or inspection cannot process their residency (green card), which would normally be done with Form I-485, while in the U.S., because they were not originally inspected and admitted (there are some exceptions). The person who is applying for residency must do so from outside the U.S. through “consular processing.”