If you have been deported (removed) from the United States, you are legally inadmissible and barred from visa eligibility for five, ten, or 20 years; or perhaps permanently, depending on the reason for your removal. If you otherwise meet the requirements for a U.S. visa, but your period of inadmissibility hasn't yet run out, you can ask for "permission to reapply" or "consent to reapply" for a visa by filing USCIS Form I-212: Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States after Deportation or Removal.
We'll explain the details below.
The number of years for which you are inadmissible to the United States is determined by which of the following removal scenarios applies to you:
No. An approved application for permission to reapply, does just that: gives you permission to reapply for a new U.S. visa. This means you must start over in the process and must qualify to receive the visa.
If, for example, you were deported for a crime you committed while you had a green card obtained through your U.S. citizen spouse, your spouse would have to file a new immigrant petition for you. But if you are now divorced from your U.S. citizen spouse, you would no longer qualify for this type of immigrant visa. In this situation, you might also need a separate waiver for your criminal conviction, which is likely a separate ground of inadmissibility.
If you no longer qualify for an immigrant (permanent resident) visa, you might still qualify for a nonimmigrant (temporary) visa, such as an employment visa.
If you no longer qualify for the nonimmigrant visa you previously held, look into whether any other nonimmigrant visas are potentially available to you.
When seeking permission to reapply for a nonimmigrant visa, you should contact the U.S. consulate where you intend to apply; you might not be required to formally file the I-212 form. Instead, the adjudicating officer will determine whether or not to request the I-212 waiver from DHS as a matter of discretion. This discretionary determination can be made only as part of the nonimmigrant visa application process and you must first meet all the qualifications of the visa before the officer can decide whether or not you meet guidelines for a waiver.
You will need to file USCIS Form I-212: Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States after Deportation or Removal with either U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Which one to choose depend on where you are and how you intend to enter the United States. The different scenarios are set forth in a chart on the USCIS website for your reference.
There is no way to know for sure whether your application will be approved. Permission to reapply for admission is always discretionary and there are many factors that will be taken into consideration, including but not limited to:
In deciding your case, any negative factors involved will be weighed against the favorable factors. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. It is important to note that the information provided here is not all-inclusive regarding the requirements and qualifications for filing Form I-212.
The process of applying for a waiver on Form I-212 is complex, and the chances for a denial are high without the assistance of someone with thorough knowledge of U.S. immigration laws. For best results, consult with an experienced immigration attorney to discuss your situation in depth before filing your application.