Form I-192: What You Need to Know

Some people might have done something that made them inadmissible to the United States. As such, entering the U.S. seems impossible under those circumstances. But are there exceptions when an inadmissible nonimmigrant can enter the U.S. temporarily? It is possible, and it’s something that can be done with Form I-192.

What Is Form I-192?

Form I-192, or the Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant, is an application for nonimmigrants who are inadmissible. This form allows a nonimmigrant to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility for some nonimmigrant visas. In other words, this can be used to help a nonimmigrant enter the U.S. for a temporary period.

Who Needs Form I-192?

The I-192 form can be used only by certain types of inadmissible nonimmigrants. For example, if you are an applicant for U or T nonimmigrant status, you are one of the categories of people who can apply. Moreover, people who are nonimmigrants and possess appropriate documents yet are inadmissible can use Form I-192 too.

It’s also important to know when not to file this form. For instance, if you’re someone that is looking for admission under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) under INA section 217, then you should not consider Form I-192. If you’re in this situation, then you should consider applying for your nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate instead, thus obtaining your travel authorization.

Furthermore, you should not use this form if you’re an applicant for a T visa and you’re inadmissible under INA section 212(a)(4)(Public charge). Since you are exempt from this inadmissibility ground, you are not suitable for applying Form I-192.

How to Complete Form I-192

If you want to complete Form I-192, you can download it from the USCIS page. Here are some instructions on how to complete it:

Part 1

In part 1, you will have to mention your application type. As such, you need to make sure to check box B on Question 1, which will indicate that you’re on a U visa.

Part 2

Part 2 is where you have to offer personal information. Question 1 will ask you for your name, and questions 2-3 will ask you for your Alien Registration Number. In general, there are a lot of applicants that will not have this number. You may only have it if you were a permanent resident in the past, or at least you were in removal proceedings.

As such, lacking this number means you should leave the section blank. Moreover, since you probably didn’t submit certain types of applications, you may not have the required USCIS Online Account Number either. You should also leave this part blank.

At questions 4-6, you will have to enter your current nationality or citizenship, as well as your birth date and place. Questions 7-8 will require your current phone number and address. Make sure to list all addresses where you’ve resided for the last five years. The first one listed should be the present address. In case you didn’t have more addresses and only had this one for this entire period, write “Same as above”. If you don’t have an email address, do not worry about it.

Afterward, you will get to the travel information. Questions 9-10 may not apply to you if you’re a U visa applicant and you apply Form I-192 when in the United States. Write “N/A” if this applies to you.

On the other hand, if you apply from abroad, then you should answer questions 9 and 10. For the 9^th, mention the location at which you want to enter the U.S. So, write the port of entry you will be flying to from your current country. If you happen to make some travel plan changes, don’t worry – you can enter from more ports of entry.

At question 11 you will have to say what means of transportation you will use to enter the states, like an airplane for instance. Question 12 will require the estimated date for U.S. entry, and question 13 will ask for the approximate amount of time you’ll be in the country for.

For question 14, USCIS will ask you what you want to do when you arrive in the U.S. Then, at the 15^th question, you will have to answer the question “Do you believe that you are inadmissible to the United States?”. Make sure you provide correct information, and maybe have an attorney helping you. Include the statutory code and then explain to cite the right statuses. If more reasons make you inadmissible, list all of them.

Moving on, questions 16-17 will ask you if you filed an application for advance permission to enter the U.S. as a nonimmigrant before. Mention the date when you filed a U visa application in the past, as well as the immigration office you submitted it to. Lastly, for this section, there will be questions 18-21 that you will have to leave blank, as they don’t apply to U Visa applicants.

Part 3

Here, you’ll be required to bring biographic information, so you should be aware of what to do here.

Part 4

This is where you write your statement, certification, contact information, and then provide your signature.

H2 Where to File Form I-192

The place you should file depends on what type of applicant you are.

Applicants for T nonimmigrant status should apply at the Vermont Service Center with USCIS. The address is USCIS-Vermont Service Center, 75 Lower Welden Street, St. Albans, VT 05479-0001. If you’re an applicant for U nonimmigrant status, you should file at the same address as the T nonimmigrant status applicants.

Meanwhile, people who are inadmissible nonimmigrants and already have their appropriate documents should file Form I-192 with the CBP. Make sure it’s done before the date you intend to go to the U.S. Usually, you will have to file this application at the CBP designated port of entry or preclearance office.

If you’re a Palau citizen, then you should contact a consulate that is the nearest to you and ask for instructions for submitting your form. It’s also possible to email the CBP/Admissibility Review Office at aro.inquiry.waiver@cbp.dhs.gov.

If you’re an attorney, your inquiry should be sent to aroattorneyinquirywaiver@cbp.dhs.gov.

Furthermore, there’s the possibility of filing and paying for this form online. It can be done through the Electronic Secured Adjudication Forms Environment. When you do it through this method, you will receive an email confirmation. What’s cool about this method is that it will allow you to track the application status too.

Form I-192 Cost

You need to have your money ready when filing this form as it will cost you $930. Keep in mind that you agree to pay for a government service when sending the money. This means you agree that the amount will not be refunded, no matter what decision you or the officials are making regarding the application.

There are cases when a fee waiver request for T or U nonimmigrant status applicants is acceptable, all in accordance with 8 CFR 103.7(c)(5). You should check out the fee waivers page of USCIS and find out more.

Conclusion

If you’re an inadmissible nonimmigrant, then you should use Form I-192 to your advantage. It will help you go back to the U.S. for a certain amount of time if the application is approved.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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