Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility

OMB No. 1615-0032; Expires 12/31/09

Instructions for I-690, Application for
Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility

Department of Homeland Security
U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions
Please read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use a
separate sheet(s) of paper. Write your name and Alien Registration Number (A #), if any, at the top of each sheet of paper
and indicate the section and number of the item to which the answer refers.

What Is the Purpose of This Form.
This form is used to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility by
an applicant for adjustment of status under section 245A or
210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Who May File This Form I-690.
Special Instructions for Individuals Applying for a
Waiver of One or More of the Medical Grounds
Under Section 212(a)(1)(A) of the INA.
1. Applicants Who Require a Waiver for Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Tuberculosis (TB).
The physician or medical facility that will provide the
required treatment to you must fill out Part C of the
accompanying TB/HIVsupplement. If that physician or
health care facility is not part of the state or local health
department, the local health department in the jurisdiction
where you will reside must also complete and sign Part
D. If you are outside of the United States, a relative in the
United States must complete this process for you.
After the TB/HIV supplement is completed, attach the
supporting documents and file your waiver application. If
you are inadmissible because of HIV and/or TB and your
waiver application does not include a properly completed
HIV/TB supplement, your waiver application will be
returned to you.
2. Applicants Requesting a Waiver of the Vaccination
Requirements of INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii).

You can apply for a waiver of the vaccination
requirements without filing this form and without
paying a fee, if:
1. You initially did not submit proof that you have
received the required vaccines, but you are now
vaccinated; or
2. It is not medically appropriate for you to have one
or more of the missing vaccines. The physician
will make this certification according to the
applicable regulations published by the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the
accompanying technical instructions for physicians
designated to perform the required medical
examination. These instructions are published by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). According to these technical instructions,
"not medically appropriate" covers the following
situations:
A. The vaccination is not recommended by the
Advisory Committee for Immunization
Practices (ACIP) for your age group; or
B. The vaccination is medically inadvisable; or
C. There is an insufficient interval between doses
for vaccines requiring a series of doses; or
D. It is not the flu season (for the flu vaccine
only).
Applicants Who Have a Physical or Mental Disorder
With Associated Harmful Behavior - INA 212(a)(1)(A)
(iii)(I) or (II).

B. You object because of your religious beliefs or
moral convictions (you do not need to be a member
of a "mainstream" or recognized religion); and

If the examining physician determines that you have a
physical or mental disorder with associated harmful
behavior, or a past history of a physical or mental
disorder with harmful behavior that is likely to recur, the
medical examination report completed by the designated
physician will, at a minimum, contain the following
information, as required by HHS regulations at 42 CFR
part 34 and the accompanying technical instructions
published by the CDC:

C. Your beliefs are sincere.

1.

If your waiver application is based on religious or moral
objections to vaccinations, you must establish that:
A. You object to vaccinations in any form; and

At a minimum, you must submit a personal statement
describing the basis of your objection.

2.
3.

A complete medical history, including the details of
any prior or current hospitalization, treatment or
care;
The current findings, diagnosis and prognosis; and
Any other information necessary for USCIS to
determine, in consultation with HHS, the terms and
conditions that should be imposed on the waiver, if
it is granted.
Form I-690 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y

Applicants Who Are Inadmissible Because of
Substance or Drug Abuse or Substance or Drug
Addiction - INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iv).
The designated physician will determine whether you are
currently using, or have used in the past, any controlled or
psychoactive substance. The examining physician will
make this determination during the required medical
exam, according to the applicable HHS regulations at 42
CFR part 34 and the accompanying technical instructions
published by the CDC.
If you are inadmissible under INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iv) due to
drug abuse or drug addiction, you may apply for a waiver.
USCIS will exercise discretion in determining whether to
grant this waiver, after consulting with HHS, and if you
are not inadmissible on any other grounds that cannot be
waived.
You are not inadmissible under INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iv) if
the designated physician that performed the required
medical exam determined that you are in remission for
prior drug use or abuse, or that your prior drug use was
strictly experimental. The designated physician will
determine whether any prior drug use is in remission, or
whether it was strictly experimental, based on the
applicable HHS regulations and the accompanying
technical instructions published by the CDC.
Note the following key items:
1.

If you engaged in the use of any controlled
substance, and such use was illegal at the place
where it occurred, your admission to the examining
physician may be sufficient to make you
inadmissible on criminal grounds under INA 212(a)
(2)(A)(i)(II) relating to any controlled substance
violation (U.S. or foreign).

2.

The USCIS officer reviewing your primary benefit
application (Form I-687, Form I-698 and/or Form
I-485) will determine whether this admission to the
designated physician makes you inadmissible under
INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II).

3.

The only drug offense under INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II)
that can be waived is one offense of simple
possession of marijuana (30 grams or less).

4.

Any willful concealment or misrepresentation of any
material fact made to procure an immigration benefit
(including any willful concealments or
misrepresentations made to avoid being found
inadmissible under any provision) will result in the
denial of this waiver application and your primary
benefit application. You may also become subject to
additional penalties under the law.

General Instructions.
Step 1. Fill Out the Form I-690
A separate waiver application must be filed by each
applicant who is inadmissible.
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the item number, and date and
sign each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is "none,"
write none.

What Is the Filing Fee.
The filing fee for Form I-690 application is $185.00.
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for the Form I-690.:
1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States
and must be payable in U.S. currency; and
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam and are filing your petition
there, make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing
your petition there, make it payable to
Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
C. If you live outside the United States, Guam, or the
U.S. Virgin Islands, contact the nearest U.S.
consulate or embassy for instructions on the
method of payment.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."
Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send us
a check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer
(EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the
account information on it to electronically debit your account
for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will
usually take 24 hours, and will be shown on your regular
account statement.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient
funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two times.

Form I-690 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 2

How to Check If the Fees Are Correct.
The form and biometric fees on this form are current as the
edition date appearing in the lower right corner of this page.
However, because USCIS fees change periodically, you can
verify if the fees are correct by following one of the steps
below:
1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select
"Immigration Forms" check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the Fee Schedule included in your form
package, if you called us to request the form; or
3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.

Where to File.
You must file this waiver application with the USCIS office
that has jurisdiction over your primary benefit application -Form I-687, Form I-698 and/or Form I-485.

Address Changes.
If you change your address and you have an application or
petition pending with USCIS, you may change your address
on-line at www.uscis.gov, click on "Change your address with
USCIS" and follow the prompts or by completing and mailing
Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card, to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
For commercial overnight or fast freight services only, mail
to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

USCIS Forms and Information.
To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free number at
1-800-870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and
information on immigration laws, regulations and procedures
by telephoning our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 or visiting our internet website at www.uscis.
gov.

As an altenative to waiting in line for assistance at your local
USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through
our internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system,
visit our website. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler and
follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment.
InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that
appears on the screen.

Penalties.
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with this request, we will
deny the benefit you are filing for, and may deny any other
immigration benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law,
and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Privacy Act Notice.
We ask for the information on this form, and associated
evidence, to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form I-690.

Paperwork Reduction Act.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 15 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529.
OMB No. 1615-0032. Do not mail your application to this
address.

Form I-690 Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 3