In country 601 waiver based on criminal grounds, no processing time available.

[Zombie69 363]

My 1-130 has been approved in March. We were given a 601 waiver due to my two CIMT misdemeanors. The wavier packet was submitted on 4/22, and it has almost been 4 months which falls into the processing time of national average. I am in California, my lawyer went to USCIS and said there is no processing time for such a waiver. My waiver was received by National Benefit Center, and now it is in line for review in a field office in Los Angeles. Anyone with similar experience?

[LoveMyTico 999]

How do you know your waiver is at the field office? I-601 waivers are adjudicated at the NSC. Did you file 601 or 601a?

Edited August 7, 2014 by LoveMyTico

[Zombie69 363]

Hi, LoveMyTico:

I filed 601 waiver. My lawyer went to USCIS and talked to an officer there physically, that is the information she got. My receipt number begins with MSC, along with other applications. The website says national average wait time is 4 months, and it only lists processing time for California, Texas, and Nebraska service center. I filed my waiver in Los Angeles. I got married with my husband last August, and I have been here for 17 years with a student visa. Anyway, I have conceded to the possibility that we might have to wait until the end of this year to hear a decision from them. It is kind of frustrating. However, we will just wait until October, my lawyer says she will follow up again if we don't hear anything from them by October. How about you? Did you file a 601A waiver?

[LoveMyTico 999]

I find that really ODD.. I was told by my lawyer that all 601's go to NSC. Of course you send it to the lockbox and then they route it to NSC. I never heard of any waivers getting adjudicated in a local office. Maybe someone can chime in on that but I am almost 100% sure they go to NSC. The 601a's might go to another service center.

My 601 is being sent today GOD WILLING to the Phoenix lockbox and then it will go to the NSC. So far as I have seen lately, the waivers are getting approved in 3-4 months. and you can never EVER go by the times they post on the website. They are lies. Last year they were 8-12 months.. This year they are being processed faster... but that still doesn't mean yours couldn't take 8 months. I think it really depends on the circumstances for the waiver. Ours is straight up overstay.. no deportation or voluntary departure and no illegal activity

[Jawaree 717]

I 601 waivers are processed in Neb. however I would not say

your atty has not done things correctly as she's an atty and U R in

the US, so there maybe validity to her procedure I just hope

it is a waiver atty who has the understanding of waiver process.

She is correct in saying CIMT has no definitive time-line on

processing, due to many different agencies being checked before

a final decision...it can be quick or slow , not even the atty knows

the timeline...good luck

[Zombie69 363]

Hi, Jawaree:

My attorney basically did exactly what needed to be done. Our 130 marriage based interview was approved right on the spot, but the adjudicator had to determine whether it was necesarry for me to do 601 since I have two misdemeanors, and later on he requested us to do submit the waiver. Long story short, my lawyer said the hold up could be due to the retirement of the adjudicator who approved our 130. So it went to another adjudicator and now it is in the pile in line waiting to be reviewed. I have been waiting for over a decade to be able to adjust my status, I guess if i have to wait for another year, I just have to wait. Anyway, I just hope there are people on this forum who have gone through the CIMT waiver process and share it here.

[Zombie69 363]

LovemyTicos: I guess the CIMT waivers are a bit different from most waivers, but I agree with you, I don't trust the timeline given by USCIS. Anyway, all I can do is wait, my waiver is in the pile of hundreds or thousands of waiver applications. I hope I will hear from them at least by the end of the year. I can wait, I have been waiting almost 17 years to be able to have a chance to adjust my status, thanks to the Supreme Court's striking down DOMA. Good luck to you too.