Skip the Homeland Honeymoon: USCIS Extends Waiver Form Unchanged
Published Date: 9/14/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security is extending the approval for the form used to ask for a waiver of the foreign residence rule in immigration, without making any changes. This affects people who want to skip the usual two-year stay abroad after certain visa programs. You can comment on this extension until November 13, 2026, and there’s no new cost or extra paperwork involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
I-612 Waiver Application Continues
USCIS is extending, without change, the information collection for Form I-612, the Application for Waiver of the foreign residence requirement under section 212(e). An alien subject to section 212(e) may submit this form if complying would cause exceptional hardship to their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child, or if returning would subject the alien to persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion.
Estimated Annual Cost Burden to Respondents
USCIS estimates the total annual cost burden associated with the I-612 information collection is $882,000. This is the aggregate estimated cost to respondents for the collection in a single year.
Estimated Time Burden Per Response
USCIS estimates the average time to complete Form I-612 is 0.15 hours (9 minutes) per response, with a total annual hour burden of 1,080 hours across respondents. The agency estimates 7,200 respondents for this collection.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19026, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Collection of Qualitative Feedback Through Focus Groups
USCIS is keeping its focus group feedback collection going without any changes, giving the public 30 more days to share thoughts by October 19, 2026. This affects anyone interested in how USCIS gathers feedback to improve services, with no new costs or paperwork. It’s a smooth extension to keep hearing from people and making things better!
2026-18671, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Petition for CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transition Worker and Semiannual Report for CW-1 Employers
USCIS is extending the current paperwork for employers who hire CNMI-only nonimmigrant workers and must file semiannual reports, with no changes to the forms or rules. This means employers in the CNMI can keep using the same process without extra costs or new steps. The public can comment on this extension until November 13, 2026.
2026-18672, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
USCIS is keeping the Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers form just as it is and wants to extend its use without any changes. This affects employers and workers applying for immigrant visas, with no new costs or extra paperwork. You’ve got 60 days, until November 13, 2026, to share your thoughts or questions!
2026-18680, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition
USCIS is extending the approval for the Nonimmigrant Petition based on Blanket L Petition without making any changes. This affects companies and workers using this form to bring employees to the U.S. temporarily. You’ve got 60 days, until November 13, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or extra paperwork, just keeping things rolling smoothly!
2026-18710, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for Family Unity Benefits
The Department of Homeland Security is extending the current approval for the Application for Family Unity Benefits without making any changes. This means families applying to stay together can keep using the same form, and the public has until November 13, 2026, to share their thoughts. There’s no new cost or extra paperwork, just a smooth continuation of the process.
2026-18722, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for Regional Center Designation; Application for Approval of an Investment in a Commercial Enterprise; Regional Center Annual Statement; Bona Fides of Persons Involved With Regional Center Program; Registration for Direct and Third-Party Promoters
USCIS is extending the approval for forms used by Regional Centers and investors without making any changes. This means folks involved in investment projects and regional center operations can keep using the same paperwork for now. Comments on this extension are open until November 13, 2026, with no new fees or time changes expected.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-18689, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Interagency Record of Request A, G, or NATO Dependent Employment Authorization or Change/Adjustment To/From A, G, or NATO Status
The Department of Homeland Security is extending the approval for a form used by certain government workers and their families to request or change work permission tied to special visa statuses. No changes are being made to the form or process, and the public can comment on this extension until November 13, 2026. This keeps things smooth for those affected without adding any new costs or paperwork.
Next: 2026-18691, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Customer/Partner Customer Service Satisfaction Surveys
The FDA wants to keep running surveys to check how happy customers and partners are with their services. This affects businesses like food makers, drug companies, and local governments who work with the FDA. They’re asking for feedback by October 14, 2026, and there’s no cost to participate—just a chance to help improve FDA services!