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How Do I File A Hardship Waiver?
If you are an immigrant fiance or spouse with a criminal history, you should obtain and bring your court
records with you to your visa interview, because the consulate will ask to see them. If you have the records
with you, it helps to make things move faster. If your visa is denied, you may be eligible to file for a waiver. (but
you cannot file for a waiver until you have been denied the visa) If you are reasonably sure that you will require
a waiver, your US citizen fiance/spouse can go ahead and download the I-601 waiver form and compose a
letter indicating why you should be granted the visa. Your US fiance/spouse should send the letter and form to
you to take along to the interview. Then, if you are told you need to file the waiver, you will have the waiver
form and letter all ready to hand in right at the interview, thus saving some more time.
The US citizen has to show to the satisfaction of the consulate that there is hardship to the US citizen
because of your denial and why he/she cannot live in the foreign country instead of the US. There are
several things that may validly be used as reasons in the letter that the US citizen writes for the waiver:
U.S. citizen children who need schooling in the US.
U.S. citizen children who cannot leave the US due to previous spouse not granting immigration consent
U.S. citizen children who would have to stay behind in the US that you would not be able to visit
frequently.
U.S. citizen inability to speak the language of the foreign country.
U.S. citizen's lack of employment in the foreign country.
U.S. citizen's need to care for aging parents or relatives in the US.
U.S. citizen's ownership of properties in the US that he/she does not want to sell or cannot sell for
specific reasons.
U.S. citizen's preference that you want to live in the US because it is your native country and you are a
citizen of that country.
excessive cost involved in moving your household members and goods to the foreign country, including
plane fares and transport of goods.
U.S. citizen's financial loss due to the separation.
get character reference letters from anyone who can provide these for the immigrant fiance/spouse.
get letters from doctors, clergymen, and the like, regarding emotional suffering that the US fiance/spouse
is experiencing as a result of the separation.
Any letters submitted are best notarized and should include the name, address, social security
number, date and place of birth of the person writing the letter.
Below are cases which go into defining "extreme hardship", I suggest that you read and study
these for more information on what kinds of things may be helpful in defining "hardship":
--- http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/efoia/bia/...dfDEC/3298.pdf
--- http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/efoia/bia/...ended/3380.pdf
--- The Kao/Lin Case 5/4/01, a new decision that is worth reading
--- The Agwu Okpa Case, 6/7/01, another new decision you will find informative
Remember: The goal is to show hardship to the U.S. Citizen, NOT to the immigrant fiance or
spouse!
The US citizen may file the waiver form without attorney assistance, however using an attorney may
improve the chances of success, in order to be sure that the case is presented in the best light. Attorney
assistance is generally recommended for filing a waiver.
If you are an immigrant fiance or spouse with a criminal history, you should obtain and bring your court
records with you to your visa interview, because the consulate will ask to see them. If you have the records
with you, it helps to make things move faster. If your visa is denied, you may be eligible to file for a waiver. (but
you cannot file for a waiver until you have been denied the visa) If you are reasonably sure that you will require
a waiver, your US citizen fiance/spouse can go ahead and download the I-601 waiver form and compose a
letter indicating why you should be granted the visa. Your US fiance/spouse should send the letter and form to
you to take along to the interview. Then, if you are told you need to file the waiver, you will have the waiver
form and letter all ready to hand in right at the interview, thus saving some more time.
The US citizen has to show to the satisfaction of the consulate that there is hardship to the US citizen
because of your denial and why he/she cannot live in the foreign country instead of the US. There are
several things that may validly be used as reasons in the letter that the US citizen writes for the waiver:
U.S. citizen children who need schooling in the US.
U.S. citizen children who cannot leave the US due to previous spouse not granting immigration consent
U.S. citizen children who would have to stay behind in the US that you would not be able to visit
frequently.
U.S. citizen inability to speak the language of the foreign country.
U.S. citizen's lack of employment in the foreign country.
U.S. citizen's need to care for aging parents or relatives in the US.
U.S. citizen's ownership of properties in the US that he/she does not want to sell or cannot sell for
specific reasons.
U.S. citizen's preference that you want to live in the US because it is your native country and you are a
citizen of that country.
excessive cost involved in moving your household members and goods to the foreign country, including
plane fares and transport of goods.
U.S. citizen's financial loss due to the separation.
get character reference letters from anyone who can provide these for the immigrant fiance/spouse.
get letters from doctors, clergymen, and the like, regarding emotional suffering that the US fiance/spouse
is experiencing as a result of the separation.
Any letters submitted are best notarized and should include the name, address, social security
number, date and place of birth of the person writing the letter.
Below are cases which go into defining "extreme hardship", I suggest that you read and study
these for more information on what kinds of things may be helpful in defining "hardship":
--- http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/efoia/bia/...dfDEC/3298.pdf
--- http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/efoia/bia/...ended/3380.pdf
--- The Kao/Lin Case 5/4/01, a new decision that is worth reading
--- The Agwu Okpa Case, 6/7/01, another new decision you will find informative
Remember: The goal is to show hardship to the U.S. Citizen, NOT to the immigrant fiance or
spouse!
The US citizen may file the waiver form without attorney assistance, however using an attorney may
improve the chances of success, in order to be sure that the case is presented in the best light. Attorney
assistance is generally recommended for filing a waiver.
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