USCIS · FORM I-612
I-612 processing time
Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended). Below is every processing time USCIS publishes for this form, then USCIS's own quarterly counts.
Application for a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement
USCIS publishes 2–5 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “Only Service Center Operations (SCOPS) processes this form type. The posted processing time listed on this page includes all SCOPS completions.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 2–5 months | June 02, 2026 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
Application for a waiver of the 2-year foreign residence requirement based on exceptional hardship or persecution
USCIS publishes 21.5–25 months for this category, handled at Service Center Operations (SCOPS).
USCIS note for this category: “Only Service Center Operations (SCOPS) processes this form type. The posted processing time listed on this page includes all SCOPS completions.”
| Office | Processing time | Receipt date for a case inquiry | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 21.5–25 months | September 20, 2024 | March 2026 to August 2026 |
How USCIS describes these numbers: “We generally process cases in the order we receive them. This processing time is based on how long it took us to complete 80% of adjudicated cases over the past six months. Each case is unique, and some cases may take longer than others. Processing times should be used as a reference point, not an absolute measure of how long your case will take to be completed.”
Source: USCIS, Check Case Processing Times, published September 17, 2026; recorded by greencardline October 17, 2026. USCIS shows a range for most forms; what the range means and how the inquiry date is used are explained, with quotes from USCIS, in How USCIS processing times work.