Form I-212 – Permission to Reapply After Deportation or Removal
TITLE: Form I-212 – Permission to Reapply After Deportation or Removal
WHAT IT IS:
Form I-212 is a request for consent to return lawfully to the United States after you have been deported (removed) or excluded. If you are barred from re‑entry because of certain immigration law sections, this form asks the government to grant “permission to reapply” so that you may seek admission again.
WHO NEEDS IT:
You need this form if you are inadmissible under INA sections 212(a)(9)(A) or 212(a)(9)(C) — usually because you were ordered removed, or you re‑entered (or tried to re‑enter) without permission after a prior removal. The form is for anyone who must obtain consent before they can be admitted, whether as an immigrant or a nonimmigrant. Where you must file depends on your situation:
- USCIS handles certain I‑212 applications.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles other cases, including nonimmigrants at a port of entry or U.S. Consulate (except K, T, U, or V nonimmigrants).
- If you are in removal proceedings, follow the filing instructions the immigration court gives you.
Only USCIS can decide applications properly filed with USCIS; applications that belong with CBP or the immigration court will not be processed by USCIS.
HOW TO FILE:
1. Find the correct filing location. For USCIS, check the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I‑212 page on the USCIS website. For CBP, you may be able to file electronically through the e‑SAFE system (search “Form I‑212” on the CBP website) or in person at designated ports of entry. If you are in removal proceedings, use the instructions from the immigration court.
2. Collect supporting documents. You will need:
- Copies of every exclusion, deportation, or removal order issued against you.
- If you list relatives: proof of relationship and, for U.S. citizens, proof of citizenship; for non‑citizens, their full name, date and place of birth, place of admission, current and past immigration status, and A‑Number (if known).
- If your inadmissibility is under INA section 212(a)(9)(C) (re‑entry after removal without consent), also provide evidence of your last departure date, evidence of your absence from the U.S. for 10 years (such as foreign passport entry/exit stamps, airplane tickets, foreign residence registration, utility bills, employment records, etc.), and any other relevant proof.
- Evidence of favorable and unfavorable factors listed in the form instructions.
- If any document is in a language other than English, include a complete English translation and a certification from the translator saying the translation is accurate and the translator is competent.
3. Fill out every section of the form completely. USCIS will reject the form if Part 1 “Information About You” is missing the Family Name or Mailing Address.
4. Do not send original documents unless the form instructions or regulations specifically ask for them. Send copies.
5. Sign the completed form.
6. Attach the correct filing fee.
7. Mail the paper form to the USCIS address shown on the Direct Filing Addresses page (make sure the edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of every page) or submit electronically with CBP if you are eligible.
FEES:
(check the official fee schedule)
CURRENT EDITION & DEADLINES:
Edition date: 01/20/25. (Dates appear in mm/dd/yy format at the bottom of the form pages.) If you mail a paper form, every page must be from this exact edition, with the edition date and page numbers visible. Using any other edition may cause rejection. The form does not state a specific filing deadline; always verify on the official page if any updates have been posted.
COMMON MISTAKES:
- Leaving Part 1 Family Name or Mailing Address blank — USCIS will automatically reject the form if these fields are missing.
- Sending original documents when only copies are required (unless the instructions explicitly ask for an original).
- Submitting a form with pages from different editions, or not verifying that the edition date appears on every page of a mailed filing.
WHERE TO GET THE FORM:
Download the official Form I-212 and its instructions directly from the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-212. Do not use copies from other websites. If you are filing with CBP, search for “Form I-212” on the CBP.gov site for e‑SAFE information.
SOURCE: https://www.uscis.gov/i-212
DISCLAIMER: General info from USCIS, not legal advice — always verify on the official page and consult a licensed immigration attorney for your case. English is authoritative.