I-601A processing time

The I-601A lets some relatives of US citizens and permanent residents ask USCIS to waive their unlawful presence before they leave the US for the immigrant visa interview, so the decision comes while they are still at home. This page covers how long it takes now, who can file and what comes after the approval.

How long the I-601A takes now

The latest quarter USCIS has published is April to June 2026. These are its I-601A counts from the All Forms by Quarter report, FY2026 Q3:

Three ways to read it:

• The median is the middle case. Half of the waivers USCIS decided that quarter took longer than 25.4 months. A median doesn’t tell you how long a waiver filed today will take.
• The line is growing. USCIS received 5,861 more I-601As than it decided that quarter (our arithmetic: 9,993 minus 4,132).
• Our rough indicator: 77,755 pending divided by 4,132 decisions is about 18.8 quarters of work at that quarter’s pace. That is our arithmetic from USCIS counts, not a USCIS processing time. Pace changes from quarter to quarter.

For the range USCIS shows today, pick Form I-601A on the USCIS processing times page.

Who files it

According to the USCIS provisional waiver page, you may be eligible if you:

• are physically present in the US and at least 17 years old;
• are the beneficiary of an approved I-130 or I-140, or an I-360 for certain categories, or were selected in the Diversity Visa program;
• have an immigrant visa case with the State Department and have paid its immigrant visa processing fee;
• can show that being refused admission would cause extreme hardship to your US citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent.

The waiver covers only unlawful presence. USCIS also lists who can’t use it, for example:

• people in removal proceedings that have not been administratively closed, or that were closed and then put back on the immigration court calendar;
• people with a final order of removal, exclusion or deportation, unless USCIS already approved a Form I-212 for them before they file the I-601A.

The full list is on the USCIS page, so read it before you file. The reason the process exists, per USCIS, is to shorten the time families spend apart: without it, the waiver request would come only after the interview abroad, once a consular officer finds the person inadmissible.

Fee: $795, or $0 for VAWA self-petitioners and special immigrant juveniles (G-1055, checked Nov. 4, 2026). The I-601A page lists where to mail it and asks for the State Department fee receipt.

The whole path, step by step

For step 1 in detail, see I-130 processing time. If you also have an I-485 path open, compare with I-485 processing time.

After approval: the consular interview

Per the USCIS waiver page:

• You still have to leave. After approval you depart the US for your immigrant visa interview abroad.
• It gives you nothing in the meantime. USCIS says a pending or approved waiver grants no benefit, does not protect you from removal and does not let you apply for a work permit or advance parole. It also does not guarantee the visa or your admission at the border.
• The interview is a State Department step. Follow that stage on NVC processing time and on the State Department’s immigrant visa fee step.

When an approved waiver stops counting

USCIS lists cases where an approved provisional waiver is automatically revoked:

• the State Department ends the immigrant visa process;
• USCIS revokes the approved petition behind the visa (the I-130, I-140 or I-360);
• the consular officer finds you ineligible for the visa, including on grounds other than unlawful presence;
• you reenter or try to reenter the US without inspection while the waiver is pending, after it is approved or before the visa is issued.

If that happens, USCIS says you may be able to file a different waiver, Form I-601. USCIS adds that it may reopen or reconsider an I-601A decision at any time.

If it is denied or taking too long

• Denied: USCIS says you can’t appeal a denied I-601A or file a motion to reopen or reconsider. You can file a new one, with the fee, while your immigrant visa case is still pending with the State Department.
• A request for evidence: answer by the deadline on the notice. What that status means and how to reply: request for evidence.
• Past the normal range: if your case is outside the range on the processing times page, send a case inquiry through e-Request. Urgent reasons go through an expedite request.
• Moved? Change your address with USCIS right away, or notices can get lost (change of address).

Check your case with the receipt number at USCIS case status. The YourCaseStatus app (coming soon) will alert you when your status changes. Common messages on this form include fingerprints were taken and a notice explaining USCIS actions was mailed.

Official links

• Form I-601A: form, instructions, where to file
• Provisional unlawful presence waivers: eligibility and process
• USCIS fee schedule, G-1055
• USCIS case status
• USCIS processing times
• All forms on one page: processing times hub