In this section of the site, we're going to discuss I-601 waivers. Let me explain what these waivers are all about. Many people entered the United States illegally through a border, whether it be Mexico or Canada, or they came in with a specific visa, such as a crewman visa. In these scenarios, if a person marries an American citizen, they cannot adjust their status in the United States. In other words, they can't get their green card in the United States. They have to leave the country to get the green card. The problem is, once they leave the country, a certain law states that they cannot return and get their green card and live here for ten years. They would have to stay out of the country for ten years. However, there are waivers that allow you to reduce the time period, and the I-601 waiver is one such waiver. Until recently, a person would have to leave the country and apply for the waiver at the US consulate. What this meant is that the person would have to wait outside of the United States, not knowing if the waiver is going to be approved, and just wasting time in a nervous state to see if that waiver is going to get approved. These waivers wouldn't normally get approved if a person is not a criminal or has done something very bad in terms of immigration laws. It would get approved if they had children who are US citizens, they could stay out for a year or more, and if they had a wife and kids, they probably would come back in six months or less. But still, that's a big problem for people to be separated and to wonder for up to a year whether it will be approved...
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Video instructions and help with filling out and completing Can Form 8854 Waive
