AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAW FOUNDATION

________________________________________________

PRACTICE ADVISORY1

§ 212(h) Eligibility: Case Law and Potential Arguments

By AILF’s Legal Action Center2

Updated February 19, 2008

This practice advisory addresses the basic statutory requirements for eligibility for INA §
212(h) waivers, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(h). It also addresses the availability of § 212(h) waivers
in removal proceedings depending on whether the person is a lawful permanent resident
(LPR) and/or whether the person is charged with a ground of inadmissibility or
deportability.

The practice advisory also addresses when it is or arguably might be possible for an
individual to file a “stand-alone” § 212(h) waiver, that is, a § 212(h) waiver that need not
be filed in conjunction with an application to adjust status. A stand-alone § 212(h)
waiver generally can be used as an independent form of relief from removal by LPRs
who are charged with inadmissibility. It also arguably may be used by LPRs who are
charged with deportability but have departed the country and returned since committing a
deportable offense. This practice advisory discusses arguments supporting the
availability of stand-alone § 212(h) waivers to arriving aliens and to non-LPRs charged
with inadmissibility. It also discusses arguments for stand-alone waivers for LPRs
charged with deportability who have not departed since committing the deportable
offense.

Finally, the advisory discusses the regulation imposing a heightened hardship standard in
cases involving violent or dangerous crimes. However, this advisory does not address the
procedures for applying for a § 212(h) waiver nor does it address the standards for
evaluating the hardship requirement.

1
Copyright(c) 2008, American Immigration Law Foundation. See
www.ailf.org/copyright for information on reprinting this practice advisory.
2
The authors wish to thank D. Jackson Chaney of Chaney & Lane in Irving, Texas,
Howard Silverman of Ross, Silverman & Levy in Boston, Massachusetts and Zachary
Nightingale of Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale in San Francisco, California for
providing their expertise on this issue.

918 F STREET, NW · WASHINGTON, DC 20004 · TEL: 202-742-5600 · FAX: 202-742-5619 · WWW.AILF.ORG

The information in this advisory is accurate as of the date of the advisory. Readers are
cautioned to check for new cases and legal developments. This practice advisory is not a
substitute for independent legal advice supplied by a lawyer familiar with a client’s case.

I. STATUTORY OVERVIEW OF § 212(h).

Q1: What grounds of inadmissibility does § 212(h) waive?

A § 212(h) waiver, if granted, waives the following criminal grounds of inadmissibility:

• crimes involving moral turpitude. INA § 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I).

• a single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana.
INA §§ 212(a)(1)(A)(i)(II) & 212(h).
• multiple criminal convictions where aggregate sentence was 5 years or
more. INA § 212(a)(2)(B).
• prostitution and commercial vice activities. INA § 212(a)(2)(D).
• serious criminal offenses involving a grant of immunity. INA §
212(a)(2)(E).

Q2. Who can receive a § 212(h) waiver?

A § 212(h) waiver is available to certain “immigrants” (including specifically

VAWA self petitioners) who meet the statutory eligibility requirements and for
whom the agency decides to exercise favorable discretion.3

Q3: What are the statutory requirements for a § 212(h) waiver?

First, the person must fit into one of the following categories (see INA § 212(h)(1)):

A. An immigrant charged with prostitution under subparagraphs (i) or (ii) of

INA § 212(a)(2)(D), where:
a. subparagraph (i) or (ii) is the sole basis of inadmissibility;
b. admission would not be contrary to national welfare, safety, or
security; and
c. the person has been rehabilitated.

B. An immigrant charged with any other criminal ground of inadmissibility

that is subject to the waiver, where:

3
This practice advisory uses the term “immigrant” consistent with its use in §
212(h) and throughout the INA. See 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15) (defining the term
“immigrant” generally as referring to aliens other than those who fall within specified
classes of “nonimmigrant aliens”). Thus, “immigrant” includes both those seeking to
immigrate and those who already are LPRs. When the reference is to the LPR category
only, the practice advisory will so designate.

2
 a. the criminal activities (necessitating the waiver) occurred
more than 15 years before the date of the application for a visa,
admission or adjustment of status; and
b. admission would not be contrary to national welfare, safety, or
security; and
c. the person has been rehabilitated.

C. An immigrant who:
a. is the spouse, parent, or son or daughter of a U.S. citizen or LPR;
and
b. establishes that extreme hardship would befall the qualifying
relative if admission were denied.

D. VAWA self-petitioners under INA §§ 204(a)(1)(A)(iii) or (iv) or

204(a)(1)(B)(ii) or (iii) (no additional statutory requirements).

Second, the person cannot have been convicted of having committed, attempted or
conspired to commit, or have admitted acts that constitute murder or criminal acts
involving torture. See INA § 212(h).

Third, “the Attorney General, in his discretion, and pursuant to such terms, conditions
and procedures as he may by regulations prescribe, has consented to the alien’s applying
or reapplying for a visa, for admission to the United States, or adjustment of status.” See
INA § 212(h)(2).

Finally, in the case of a person previously granted LPR status, additional restrictions
apply. In addition to the three requirements above, a § 212(h) waiver can only be granted
to a person previously admitted to the U.S. as an LPR where the LPR:
a. has lawfully resided4 in the United States for not less than 7 years
before removal proceedings were initiated;5 and
b. has not been convicted of an aggravated felony since becoming
an LPR.6

4
In an unpublished decision, the BIA has held that the statute does not require 7
years of continuous residence as an LPR but instead only requires 7 years of continuous
residence in any lawful status. In re Afek, No. A45-662-418, 2006 WL 3088766 (BIA
Aug. 4, 2006). The BIA went on to hold that a person resides “lawfully” for purposes of
§ 212(h) if he or she was not subject to being removed as a matter of law during the
prescribed period. Id.
5
Notably, unlike cancellation of removal under INA § 240A, the commission of a
criminal offense does not cut off the 7 years required for a § 212(h) waiver. Thus, an
LPR who is not eligible for cancellation on this basis, or not eligible for § 212(c) relief (if
offense is post-1996), still could be eligible to apply for a § 212(h) waiver.
6
Several courts have considered whether the aggravated felony bar and/or seven
year residency requirement violates equal protection insofar as these requirements do not
apply to non-LPRs applying for § 212(h). Compare category C, above, with

3
Q4: In what circumstances can a person apply for a § 212(h) waiver?

Persons in the U.S. seeking § 212(h) waivers generally either will apply for the waiver in
conjunction with an application to adjust status or as a stand-alone application in removal
proceedings. 8 C.F.R. §§ 1212.7(a)(1)(ii)-(iv), 1240(a)(a)(ii). However, a person filing a
stand-alone application in removal will also need a basis to avoid removal. Thus, stand-
alone § 212(h) waivers are often filed by LPRs returning from a trip abroad, in which
case pre-existing LPR status is maintained. Alternatively, stand-alone § 212(h) waivers
may be filed by immigrant visa holders, in which case, the waiver must be granted nunc
pro tunc which would concurrently render the visa valid.7

An LPR returning from a trip abroad arguably also could apply affirmatively for a §
212(h) waiver to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Such an affirmative application would
be particularly useful if the person has not yet accrued 7 years of lawful residence in the
United States, because otherwise the issuance of the Notice To Appear would cut off the
continued accrual of physical presence.

Persons outside the U.S. can apply for a § 212(h) waiver in conjunction with an
application for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate. 8 C.F.R. § 212.7(a)(1)(i).

II. SITUATIONS INVOLVING INADMISSIBLITY CHARGES

Q5: My client committed a waivable § 212(h) offense after becoming a lawful

permanent resident. She then departed from the U.S., and was charged as an

requirements for people previously granted LPR status. To date, courts have rejected
these claims. See Malagon de Fuentes v. Gonzales, 462 F.3d 498, 507-08 (5th Cir.
2007); Taniguchi v. Schultz, 303 F.3d 950, 957-58 (9th Cir. 2002); Latu v. Ashcroft, 375
F.3d 1012, 1020-21 (10th Cir. 2004); De Leon-Reynoso v. Ashcroft, 293 F.3d 633, 638-40
(3d Cir. 2002); Jankowski-Burczyk v. INS, 291 F.3d 172, 178-81 (2d Cir. 2002);
Lukowski v. INS, 279 F.3d 644, 647-48 (8th Cir. 2002); Moore v. Ashcroft, 251 F.3d 919,
925-26 (11th Cir. 2001); Lara-Ruiz v. INS, 241 F.3d 934, 947-48 (7th Cir. 2001);
Umanzor-Lazo v. INS, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 8514 (4th Cir. 1999) (unpublished
decision upholding statute in summary fashion). See also In re Michel, 21 I&N Dec.
1101, 1104 (BIA 1998) (affirming distinction on statutory basis).
7
A § 212(h) waiver can be granted nunc pro tunc to cure a ground of
inadmissibility existing at the time the person applied for the visa or admission. See
Matter of P--, 7 I&N Dec. 713, 714 (BIA 1958) (§ 212(h)’s predecessor waiver may be
granted nunc pro tunc to returning LPR charged with inadmissibility); Matter of Millard,
11 I&N Dec. 175, 178 (BIA 1965) (§ 212(h) waiver granted nunc pro tunc to immigrant
visa holder charged with inadmissibility); Matter of Sanchez, 17 I&N Dec. 218, 222 (BIA
1980) (§ 212(h) waiver may be granted nunc pro tunc to returning LPR in deportation
proceedings); Matter of Parodi, 17 I&N Dec. 608, 611 (BIA 1980) (§ 212(h) waiver
available to LPR in deportation proceedings in conjunction with adjustment of status
application).

4
 arriving alien upon return from abroad. Is she eligible for a stand-alone §
212(h) waiver?

Yes. The Board of Immigration Appeals has held that a returning LPR seeking to
overcome a ground of inadmissibility is not required to apply for adjustment of status in
connection with a § 212(h) waiver. Matter of Abosi, 24 I&N Dec. 204 (BIA 2007).

Section 101(a)(13) of the INA was enacted by IIRIRA and defines the terms “admission”
and “admitted.” Generally, under this definition, an LPR will not be regarded as “seeking
admission” upon a return to the U.S., and thus will be allowed entry as an LPR. See INA
§ 101(a)(13). However, there are important exceptions to this in the statutory definition.
Under subsection (C)(v) of INA § 101(a)(13), a lawful permanent resident returning from
abroad may be regarded as seeking admission (and, thus, be classified as an arriving
alien8) if, among other things, he or she has committed an offense identified in INA §
212(a)(2). See Q7 for exceptions to INA § 101(a)(13)(C)(v). LPRs regarded as seeking
admission upon return to the U.S. will be placed in removal proceedings.

If the lawful permanent resident is seeking to overcome a ground of

inadmissibility covered by a § 212(h) waiver (see Q1) and meets (or arguably meets) the
statutory eligibility criteria for such a waiver (see Q3), he or she can apply for a § 212(h)
waiver. Even if she is eligible for adjustment, an LPR in this situation will not have to
apply for adjustment, but instead can apply solely for a stand-alone § 212(h) waiver.

In Matter of Abosi, 24 I&N Dec. 204 (BIA 2007), the BIA held that a returning
lawful permanent resident who is placed in removal proceedings and charged as an
arriving alien need not apply for adjustment of status in conjunction with the § 212(h)
waiver. Rather, the grant of a § 212(h) waiver, the BIA reasoned, eliminates the basis of
inadmissibility and leaves LPR status intact. The BIA further noted that the regulation
requiring persons “in the United States” to file § 212(h) waiver applications concurrently
with adjustment applications did not apply to the respondent, a returning LPR charged as
an arriving alien. Matter of Abosi, 24 I&N Dec. at 205-06 discussing 8 C.F.R. §
1245.1(f).

Matter of Abosi involved an LPR who was cited for a possession of a small
amount of marijuana, who then departed the United States and was placed in removal
proceedings and charged as an arriving alien upon his return due to the drug offense.
Important to the BIA’s conclusion was that LPR status is not lost until entry of a final
administrative removal order.

Q6: My client is an immigrant visa holder (but not an LPR) who has been placed
in proceedings as an arriving alien; is he eligible for a stand-alone § 212(h)
waiver?

8
An “arriving alien” generally is defined by regulation as an applicant for
admission coming or seeking to come into the United States at a port-of-entry. 8 C.F.R.
§§ 1.1(q) and 1001.1(q).

5
At least one group of non-LPR immigrants may be able to file stand-alone § 212(h)
waivers in this situation. In Matter of Millard, 11 I&N Dec. 175 (BIA 1965), the
respondent failed to disclose that she had engaged in prostitution outside the United
States on her applications for a nonimmigrant border crossing card and on her subsequent
immigrant visa application. Upon entry, she was placed in exclusion proceedings and
charged with inadmissibility for misrepresentation, a crime involving moral turpitude
(perjury) and prostitution. The BIA held that the granting of a stand-alone § 212(h)
waiver application effectively eliminated her inadmissibility at the time of entry and
concurrently rendered the immigrant visa valid. Consequently, she both defeated
removal proceedings and was eligible for admission.

Thus, under Matter of Millard, an immigrant visa holder who is placed in removal
proceedings and charged with inadmissibility as an arriving alien solely for a criminal
offense that is waivable under § 212(h) should be permitted to file a stand-alone § 212(h)
waiver. The criminal offense could have been committed outside the United States (as in
Matter of Millard). Arguably, the criminal offense also could have been committed
inside the United States (if the person was previously present) provided it was committed
prior to the issuance of the immigrant visa by the U.S. Embassy or consulate abroad. The
person would need to request nunc pro tunc adjudication (thereby restoring the validity of
the immigrant visa). Once the validity of the visa was restored, the grounds for removal
would be eliminated and the individual would be eligible for admission without
additional relief, such as adjustment of status.9

Q7: My client is a lawful permanent resident who committed and pled guilty to
an offense identified in INA § 212(a)(2) before April 1, 1997, who departed
the U.S. and who does not want to be charged as an arriving alien. What
argument is available?

9
This argument in support of stand-alone § 212(h) waivers for immigrant visa
holders charged as arriving aliens and placed in removal proceedings is bolstered by the
2006 interim regulations on jurisdiction over adjustment applications of paroled arriving
aliens in removal proceedings. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 245.2(a)(1) and 1245.2(a)(1). Under
these interim regulations, which are currently effective, only USCIS has jurisdiction to
adjudicate an adjustment application of an “arriving alien” in removal proceedings.
Thus, if the § 212(h) application was filed in conjunction with the adjustment application
before an IJ, the IJ would not have jurisdiction to hear the adjustment application and
would pretermit it on this basis. It might be possible for the IJ to adjudicate the I-212(h)
waiver first, and then pretermit the adjustment application for USCIS to adjudicate the
adjustment application, but this would be very cumbersome and there is no guarantee IJs
would be willing to cooperate. On the other hand, if the two applications were filed
together with USCIS, USCIS would be in the position of deciding whether to waive
inadmissibility – the very issue that was initially before the IJ in the removal proceedings.
Thus, a stand-alone § 212(h) waiver is not only consistent with Matter of Millard, but
also resolves the procedural dilemma created by the interim “arriving alien” adjustment
regulations.

6
There is an argument, accepted by two circuit courts, that the definition of “admission”
adopted by IIRIRA cannot be applied retroactively to LPRs who pled guilty prior to April
1, 1997.

IIRIRA enacted a new definition of “admission” and “admitted.” INA § 101(a)(13).

Under this definition, a returning LPR will be considered an applicant for admission in
six specific situations. See § 101(a)(13)(C)(i)-(vi). Relevant here, the LPR will be
considered an applicant for admission if he or she committed an offense identified in INA
§ 212(a)(2), unless since such offense, he or she has been granted relief under § 212(h) or
cancellation. INA § 101(a)(13)(v). If the returning LPR is considered an applicant for
admission under this definition, he or she will be charged as an arriving alien with a
ground of inadmissibility.10

In some cases, it may be more beneficial for a returning LPR to be charged with a
deportability ground under INA § 237(a)(2) rather than as an “arriving alien” with an
inadmissibility ground under INA § 212(a). For example:

• Arriving aliens charged under INA § 212 bear the burden of proving
admissibility. The government, however, bears the burden of proving
deportability by clear and convincing evidence if the person is charged with
deportability under § 237.

• A single crime of moral turpitude committed at any time may trigger

inadmissibility whereas it must have been committed within 5 years of lawful
admission for it to trigger deportability. Compare INA § 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) with
INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(i)(I).

The Fourth and Ninth Circuits have held that LPRs who pled guilty prior to April 1, 1997
and who subsequently depart and return to the United States are not subject to current
INA § 101(a)(13) and, thus, cannot be charged as arriving aliens. See Olatunji v.
Ashcroft, 387 F.3d 383 (4th Cir. 2004); Camins v. Gonzales, 500 F.3d 872 (9th Cir.
2007). The courts reasoned that the retroactive application of INA § 101(a)(13)’s
definition of admission (as enacted by IIRIRA) would have an impermissible retroactive
effect because it effectively prohibits an LPR from traveling abroad.

III. SITUATIONS INVOLVING DEPORTABILITY CHARGES

Q8: My client is charged with deportability, is eligible to adjust status (or re-
adjust status if client is an LPR) but needs a § 212(h) waiver. Could she
apply for a § 212(h) waiver in this situation?

10
In unpublished decisions, the BIA has held that the government has the burden of
proving that the returning LPR falls within one of the exceptions in § 101(a)(13(C) and
should be categorized as an applicant for admission. See, e.g., In re Picon Alvarado,
A90-316-913, 2004 WL 1405870 (BIA Mar. 12, 2004).

7
Yes, the BIA has held that persons charged with deportability may apply for a § 212(h)
waiver in conjunction with an application for adjustment of status. Matter of Bernabella,
13 I&N Dec. 42 (BIA 1968); Matter of Parodi, 17 I&N Dec. 608 (BIA 1980); Matter of
Alarcon, 20 I&N Dec. 557 (BIA 1992). The BIA reasoned in these decisions that, in
order to qualify for adjustment of status, an applicant must be admissible under INA §
245(a). Moreover, it noted that an adjustment applicant has been held to be assimilated
to the same position as a non-citizen presenting at the border and seeking entry as an
LPR. Based upon this reasoning, the BIA concluded that an individual charged with
deportability could apply for a § 212(h) waiver of inadmissibility in conjunction with an
adjustment application.

Q9: Can a person charged with deportability apply for a stand-alone § 212(h)
waiver?

Possibly. A person charged with a ground of deportability arguably is eligible for a

stand-alone § 212(h) waiver where the deportable offense is also an inadmissible offense
to which the § 212(h) waiver applies; and where the person has departed and reentered
the U.S. after committing the deportable offense.

A person charged with a ground of deportability may be eligible for a § 212(h) waiver but
not eligible for adjustment of status or another form of relief. For example, the person
may have a U.S. citizen child (and thus a qualifying relative for the § 212(h) waiver) but
the child is not old enough to file an immigrant visa petition. Arguably, if a stand-alone §
212(h) waiver were available in this situation, the waiver could be granted nunc pro tunc
to restore the person’s previous status. Matter of Sanchez, 17 I&N Dec. 218 (BIA 1980)
(§ 212(h) waiver may be granted nunc pro tunc to returning LPR in deportation
proceedings). This would provide relief from removal for a person whose prior status
was lawful. However, if the person’s previous status was not lawful or had expired, then
even a nunc pro tunc grant of a stand-alone § 212(h) waiver would not prevent a removal
order.11

The BIA’s decision in Matter of Sanchez, supra, establishes that stand-alone § 212(h)
waivers are available to cure deportability grounds where the person: (1) committed a
deportable offense which is also an inadmissible offense to which the § 212(h) waiver
applies; and (2) departed and reentered the United States after committing the deportable
offense. In Matter of Sanchez, the respondent was found deportable for having
committed a crime involving moral turpitude within five years of entry. Relying on prior

11
Generally, where the law is settled with respect to eligibility for a stand-alone §
212(h) waiver, it is not necessary for an individual to be ineligible for adjustment to
consider filing a stand-alone waiver. Where the law is settled, filing a stand-alone §
212(h) waiver application is much simpler than filing a § 212(h) waiver application with
an accompanying adjustment application. However, if the law is not settled,
practitioners may want to file (and argue eligibility for) a stand-alone § 212(h) waiver
application only in situations in which the person is ineligible for adjustment.

8
BIA precedent in the § 212(c) context, the BIA held that the § 212(h) waiver may be
granted nunc pro tunc to cure a ground of deportability “when, at the time of the alien’s
last entry, he was inadmissible because of the same facts which form the basis of his
deportability.” Matter of Sanchez, 17 I&N Dec. at 221 (quoting Matter of Tanori, 15
I&N Dec. 566 (BIA 1976)).

The BIA has stated that where the person has not departed the United States since
commission of the deportable offense (which is also an inadmissible offense), the person
cannot obtain nunc pro tunc relief. In this situation, the BIA has considered § 212(h)
waiver applications in conjunction with adjustment applications only. Matter of Parodi,
17 I&N Dec. 608, 611 (BIA 1980). This position has lead to equal protection challenges
to the availability of stand-alone § 212(h) waivers based solely on departure from the
U.S. See Q10, infra.

Notably, with two exceptions,12 the regulation at 8 C.F.R. § 1245.1(f) provides that a
concurrently filed adjustment of status application is the “sole method” of requesting the
Attorney General’s exercise of discretion for a § 212(h) waiver if the person is “in the
United States.” However, this regulatory language existed at the time of the BIA’s
decision in Matter of Sanchez and did not alter the outcome of the decision. Thus,
immigration judges should continue to follow Matter of Sanchez.

Q10: Does the BIA’s interpretation permitting stand-alone § 212(h) waivers for
returning LPRs charged with inadmissibility but denying them to LPRs who
have not left the country and, thus, are charged with deportability, violate
equal protection?

Arguably, yes, however, circuit courts have reached opposite conclusions on this issue.
The Eleventh Circuit has held that the BIA’s distinction between LPRs based on whether
they have departed and returned to the United States after becoming deportable is
“arbitrary” and thus, its application to the petitioner violated equal protection. Yeung v.
INS, 76 F.3d 337, 340-41 (11th Cir. 1995). The court concluded that the BIA’s decisions
(Matter of Sanchez and the decision below in Yeung) created two classifications of non-
citizens “identical in every respect” but for their departure and held that deportable aliens
are equally deserving of consideration for § 212(h) waivers. Id. [Notably, the BIA had
not yet issued its decision in Matter of Abosi permitting returning LPRs to apply for a
stand-alone § 212(h) waiver at the time of the Eleventh Circuit’s decision in Yeung.
Thus, the court relied on Matter of Sanchez for the proposition that a returning LPR is
eligible for a stand-alone § 212(h) waiver].13

More recently, however, the Fifth and Seventh Circuits upheld the distinction between
LPRs who departed the country and, thus, are charged with inadmissibility and those who

12
According to the regulation, the two exceptions are provided in 8 C.F.R. §§ 1235
and 1249.
13
As it is the law of the circuit, DHS and immigration judges within the Eleventh
Circuit are bound by the Yeung decision. Please let AILF know if the decision is not
being followed by emailing us at [email protected].

9
had not departed and, thus, are charged with deportability. Malagon de Fuentes v.
Gonzales, 462 F.3d 498 (5th Cir. 2007); Klementanovsky v. Gonzales, 501 F.3d 788 (7th
Cir. 2007). The Seventh Circuit in Klementanovsky posited reasons why Congress may
have contemplated a statutory distinction between these two groups and criticized the
Yeung decision for not having considered such reasons (notably, that the Yeung Court
focused exclusively on the BIA-created distinction, and not any congressionally-created
distinction). Klementanovsky, 501 F.3d at 793-94. The Fifth Circuit in Malagon de
Fuentes, in a summary fashion, also concluded that the distinction survived rational basis
review. Malagon de Fuentes, 462 F.3d at 504.

Both courts also purport to have distinguished their holdings from the § 212(c) context, in
which the Second Circuit in Francis v. INS, 532 F.2d 268 (2d Cir. 1976) found that
permitting LPRs in exclusion proceedings to apply for § 212(c) relief while denying
LPRs in deportation proceedings from similarly applying violated equal protection.
Malagon de Fuentes, 462 F.3d at 504-05; Klementanovsky, 501 F.3d at 793-94.

IV. CHART

The following charts summarized the availability of § 212(h) waivers by charges

lodged and immigration status (assuming statutory eligibility).

Persons Charged with Inadmissibility

Stand-alone § 212(h) Waiver Waiver Necessary In

Available? Conjunction with AOS?

LPRs Yes, per Matter of Abosi, 24 I&N Dec. Not necessary if stand-alone
204 (BIA 2007). § 212(h) waiver is granted.

If person cannot avoid

arriving alien classification
and if paroled, person still
has right to adjust status
before USCIS.14

14
See generally, 8 C.F.R. § 1245.2(a)(1)(ii). For more detailed information
regarding arriving aliens and adjustment of status, see the following AILF practice
advisories: “Arriving Aliens” and Adjustment of Status: What is the Impact of the
Government’s Interim Rule of May 12, 2006? (Updated October 3, 2006); Adjustment of
Status of “Arriving Aliens” Under the Interim Regulations: Challenging the BIA’s Denial
of a Motion to Reopen, Remand, or Continue a Case (April 16, 2007); USCIS
Adjustment of Status of “Arriving Aliens” with an Unexecuted Final Order of Removal
(Amended March 14, 2007). See also AILF’s issue page on this topic, located at
http://www.ailf.org/lac/clearinghouse_102306.shtml.

10
Arriving aliens Yes, per Matter of Millard, 11 I&N Not necessary if stand-alone
and non-LPRs Dec. 175 (BIA 1965), but need nunc § 212(h) waiver is granted.
pro tunc grant and, as a practical
matter, other means to immigrate to If person cannot avoid
avoid removal (e.g. immigrant visa arriving alien classification
holder). and if paroled, person still
has right to adjust status
before USCIS.15

Persons Charged with Deportability

Waiver Available
Stand-alone § 212(h) Waiver in Conjunction with AOS?
Available?

LPRs who have Yes, if meet conditions set forth in Yes, per Matter of
departed and Matter of Sanchez, 17 I&N Dec. 218 Bernabella, 13 I&N Dec. 42
returned since (BIA 1980). (BIA 1968) and Matter of
committing Parodi, 17 I&N Dec. 608
deportable (BIA 1980).
offense
LPRs who have Yes, if in the Eleventh Circuit per Yes, per Matter of
not departed Yeung v. INS, 76 F.3d 337 (11th Cir. Bernabella, 13 I&N Dec. 42
the U.S. since 1995). (BIA 1968) and Matter of
committing Parodi, 17 I&N Dec. 608
deportable No, if in the Fifth or Seventh Circuits (BIA 1980).
offense per Malagon de Fuentes v. Gonzales,
462 F.3d 498 (5th Cir. 2007);
Klementanovsky v. Gonzales, 501 F.3d
788 (7th Cir. 2007).

Potential equal protection argument

available to persons in the First,
Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth,
Ninth and Tenth Circuits.

Non-LPRs No, must be adjustment eligible. Yes, per Matter of Alarcon,

20 I&N Dec. 557 (BIA
1992); Matter of Michel, 21
I&N Dec. 1101 (BIA 1998).

V. VIOLENT OR DANGEROUS CRIMES

15
See footnote 14 above.

11
Q11: My client has been charged with what is arguably a violent or dangerous
crime. Must they show “extreme hardship” or “exceptional and unusual
hardship” to a qualifying relative to warrant a favorable exercise of
discretion?

Short answer: Whether a crime is violent or dangerous is beyond the scope of this
advisory. However, practitioners should first consider whether there is a basis for
challenging this classification. Unless the courts rule otherwise, a person charged with a
violent or dangerous crime must show either exceptional circumstances or exceptional
and unusual hardship to a qualifying relative.

Explanation: In enacting § 212(h), Congress authorized the Attorney General to

exercise broad discretion in deciding whether to grant a waiver:

(2) the Attorney General, in his discretion, and pursuant to such terms,
conditions and procedures as he may by regulations prescribe, has
consented to the alien’s applying or reapplying for a visa, for
admission to the United States, or adjustment of status.

INA § 212(h)(2). In turn, legacy INS promulgated the following regulation:

(d) Criminal grounds of inadmissibility involving violent or dangerous

crimes. The Attorney General, in general, will not favorably exercise
discretion under section 212(h)(2) of the Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(h)(2)) to
consent to an application or reapplication for a visa, or admission to
the United States, or adjustment of status, with respect to immigrant
aliens who are inadmissible under section 212(a)(2) of the Act in cases
involving violent or dangerous crimes, except in extraordinary
circumstances, such as those involving national security or foreign
policy considerations, or cases in which an alien clearly demonstrates
that the denial of the application for adjustment of status or an
immigrant visa or admission as an immigrant would result in
exceptional and extremely unusual hardship. Moreover, depending on
the gravity of the alien’s underlying criminal offense, a showing of
extraordinary circumstances might still be insufficient to warrant a
favorable exercise of discretion under section 212(h)(2) of the Act.

8 C.F.R. § 212.7(d) (emphasis added). In Mejia v. Gonzales, 499 F.3d 991, 995-97 (9th
Cir. 2007), the Ninth Circuit upheld the heightened “exceptional and unusual hardship”
standard as a permissible construction of the Attorney General’s statutorily-authorized
authority to promulgate regulations governing the exercise of its discretion. The court
also held that the regulation could be applied retroactively to a person who was convicted
before the regulation was enacted. Id. at 997-98.

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