I-601A Provisional Waiver Timeline

USCIS will not accept I-601A provisional waiver applications until March 4, 2013. Do not submit your application before this date! It will be rejected and sent back to you, costing you valuable time in the waiver process.

I understand how tempting it may be to try to get your application submitted first in the hope of receiving a quick decision. There is nothing wrong with trying to submit your application as early as possible. Just be careful that you don’t submit your package before the I-601A provisional waiver timeline allows.

Since I can’t file my application early, how can I get the fastest decision on my I-601A provisional waiver application?

As mentioned above, you won’t get a faster decision by submitting your package before March 4, 2013. You’ll only get your package returned to you, quite possibly after considerable delay which will slow down the waiver process for your family.

So what other options are there? The best options for getting the fastest decision possible on your I-601A waiver application are:

• Make sure that you include all the required information and documents with your application. If you leave something out, you are likely to get a Request for Evidence which will cost you valuable weeks or months.
• Make sure that you fill out all forms completely and accurately. If you aren’t sure how to complete the forms or what information you should put down, the best thing that you can do is work with an immigration lawyer who handles waiver cases.
• Organize your hardship factors so that your strongest arguments are presented first. Presenting weak arguments up front will only cause the reviewer to form a negative initial impression of your case. If you aren’t sure what your strongest arguments may be, you should work with an immigration lawyer on your waiver application. Keep in mind, what you think are your strongest hardship factors may not be the same as how other people see your situation. Working with a lawyer can help you get valuable insights into how USCIS will view your case.
• Make sure that you include a meaningful table of contents with your package. The person reviewing your package is unlikely to go hunting for information. It should be easy for them to find the information they are looking for.
• Make sure that all supporting statements, including your hardship letter, are written in easy to understand English. Yes, this means using proper spelling and grammar. If English was your worst class in high school, make sure that you have someone who is willing to give you honest feedback proofread your hardship letter for you. A poorly written hardship letter will be difficult for the reviewer to read and understand, making it more difficult for the reviewer to approve your application.
• Don’t forget that all documents that are not in English need to have an English translation with a proper translator’s certificate. Don’t rush to submit your application if you don’t have all your translations ready. Failing to include a translation with a proper translator’s certification will only delay the decision in your case.

I-601A Provisional Waiver Timeline – Additional Information

If you have any questions, you can learn more about the I-601A provisional waiver timeline at the USCIS website.