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Official form guide
Form I-601A: Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver
Form I-601A is the Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver. It is used by certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are in the United States without lawful status and need a waiver before leaving for consular processing.
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USCIS Form I-601A - Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver
Form I-601A is the Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver. It is used by certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are in the United States without lawful status and need a waiver before leaving for consular processing.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1A single missing signature can cause the whole application to be rejected.
- 2Incorrect fee amount or payment method
- 3Missing signature on the form
- 4Insufficient hardship documentation
- 5Using an outdated form edition
Plain English
If you’re an undocumented family member of a U.S. citizen or green‑card holder and you have to leave the U.S. for an immigrant visa interview, this form asks USCIS to waive the 3‑year or 10‑year bar that would otherwise keep you out. You file it while still in the U.S. so you can stay for the interview.
Submission Date
- Filing date: File the I‑601A after the I‑130 petition is approved and before the applicant departs for the immigrant visa interview; there is no fixed deadline but filing early reduces travel risk.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use when you need a provisional waiver for unlawful presence before consular processing.
- Do not use if you are already outside the U.S. or if you have a different ground of inadmissibility.
- If you need a waiver for criminal convictions, see Form I-601.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Criminal inadmissibility
Waiver covers crimes, not unlawful presence
✓ Verify the nature of the inadmissibility before filing
No qualifying relative
Waiver not available without a U.S. citizen/green‑card holder spouse, parent, or child
✓ Consider other immigration options
Deadline or filing window
There is no statutory deadline, but USCIS recommends filing the I‑601A as soon as the I‑130 is approved and before the applicant departs for the visa interview. Delaying can cause the applicant to leave the U.S. without a waiver in place, triggering the 3‑ or 10‑year bar.
- —Unlawful presence days | Count total days of unlawful stay | Total days | Must be at least 180 days for eligibility
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Relationship proof
Marriage certificate, birth certificate, or adoption decree · Vital records office or USCIS portal
Hardship evidence
Medical records, employment letters, financial statements · Doctor’s office, employer HR, bank
Passport copies
Biographic page and visa stamps · Passport holder
I‑130 receipt
USCIS receipt notice (Form I‑797) · Email or paper copy
Fee payment
Check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" · Bank
Before you submit
- 1Use the latest edition of Form I‑601A.
- 2Verify the filing fee amount and attach a check or money order.
- 3Sign the form in ink where indicated.
- 4Include the I‑130 receipt number on the appropriate line.
- 5Attach clear, legible copies of all required documents.
- 6Provide a complete hardship evidence packet.
- 7Mail to the correct Lockbox address for your state.
- 8Retain a copy of the entire package for your records.
- 9Track the mailing delivery confirmation.
- 10Check that the envelope is labeled "Form I‑601A".
- 11Confirm that no extra pages are left blank.
How to file this form
- 1Download the PDF from the USCIS website and open it in Adobe Reader.
- 2Fill out all fields electronically, then print the form single‑sided.
- 3Sign the printed form in blue or black ink.
- 4Assemble supporting documents in the order listed in the instructions.
- 5Place the fee payment on top of the packet.
- 6Seal the packet in a sturdy envelope and write the correct Lockbox address.
- 7Send via USPS Priority Mail with tracking and retain the receipt.
Known limitations
- 1USCIS does not provide an online status tracker for I‑601A beyond the receipt notice.
- 2Biometrics may be required even though the form is “provisional”.
- 3The form does not cover other grounds of inadmissibility such as fraud.
- 4Processing times vary; no guarantee of a specific timeline.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Petitioner Info
3 items
Your current legal name as it appears on your Green Card or U.S. passport.
Your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY).
Your Green Card number (A-Number) if a permanent resident, or USCIS online account number.
Beneficiary Info
3 items
Full legal name of the relative you are petitioning for.
Date of birth of the relative (MM/DD/YYYY).
Alien Registration Number of the beneficiary if previously assigned.
Relationship
1 items
Select the qualifying relationship: spouse, unmarried child under 21, unmarried child over 21, married child, parent, or sibling.
Evidence
1 items
List of documents establishing the qualifying relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).
Signatures
2 items
Your signature certifying all information is correct under penalty of perjury.
Date you signed the form (MM/DD/YYYY).
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->Check the USCIS website for the most recent edition date and fee. The form is currently at the 08/02/2024 edition, but verify before filing.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date: Verify the form shows the 08/02/2024 edition.
- Fee: Current fee is $630 plus biometrics (if required).
- Mailing address: Use the Lockbox address for the applicant’s state as listed in the instructions.
- Signature: Must be original ink signature; electronic signatures are not accepted.
- Biometrics: Prepare for a possible biometrics appointment after receipt.
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Save the Form I‑797C receipt notice and case number.
- 2Set a calendar reminder to check case status on the USCIS website weekly.
- 3If a biometrics appointment is scheduled, attend on time and bring the notice.
- 4Monitor mail for any Request for Evidence (RFE) and respond within the deadline.
- 5Keep copies of all correspondence and evidence submitted.
- 6Notify your qualifying relative of any updates or additional requests.
- 7Prepare for the consular interview once the waiver is approved.
Sources
- SRCUSCIS Form I-601A official PDF (instructions section)
- SRCUSCIS Fee Schedule for I-601A (as of 2024)
- SRCUSCIS Lockbox mailing addresses list
- SRCEligibility criteria listed in I-601A instructions
- SRCHardship evidence requirements from I-601A guidance
- SRCSignature and payment instructions from the form PDF
- SRCProcessing time estimates from USCIS website
Common confusion points
Unlawful presence vs. unlawful status
Applicants think any illegal stay qualifies
→ Confirm the 180‑day minimum and bar length
Provisional waiver vs. final waiver
Some think approval ends the bar
→ Understand that final approval occurs after consular interview
Fee amount
Fee changes annually
→ Verify the current fee on the USCIS fee schedule
Biometrics requirement
Not always required
→ Check the receipt notice for biometrics instructions
Eligibility of parents vs. children
Misunderstanding of qualifying relative
→ Review USCIS definition of immediate relative
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
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