212(a) Inadmissibility Grounds & Waiver of Inadmissibility Below are the various Section 212(a) inadmissibility grounds that can be found in the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) section 212. If the inadmissibility ground is waivable, reference to the specific waiver of inadmissibility is also given.
| Inadmissibility Grounds | Inadmissibility Grounds INA Reference | Waiver of Inadmissibility for Immigrant Visa | Waiver of Inadmissibility for Non-immigrant Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communicable Disease | 212(a)(1)(A)(i) | 212(g) | 212(d)(3) |
| Lacking Required Vaccinations | 212(a)(1)(A)(ii) | 212(g) | N/A |
| Physical or Mental Disorder | 212(a)(1)(A)(iii) | 212(g) | 212(d)(3) |
| Drug Abuser/ Drug Addict | 212(a)(1)(A)(iv) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT) | 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) | 212(h) | 212(d)(3) |
| Controlled Substance Violations (Drug Crimes) | 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) | 212(h) – but only for possession of 30g or less of marijuana | 212(d)(3) |
| Multiple Criminal Convictions | 212(a)(2)(B) | 212(h) | 212(d)(3) |
| Controlled Substance (Drug) Traffickers and their families | 212(a)(2)(C)(i), 212(a)(2)(C)(ii) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Prostitution | 212(a)(2)(D)(i) | 212(h) | 212(d)(3) |
| Procuring a Prostitute | 212(a)(2)(D)(i) | 212(h) | 212(d)(3) |
| Asserted immunity from prosecution | 212(a)(2)(E) | 212(h) | 212(d)(3) |
| Espionage | 212(a)(3)(A)(i) | No Waiver Available | No Waiver Available |
| Unlawful activity related to security | 212(a)(3)(A)(ii) | No Waiver Available | No Waiver Available |
| Attempts to Overthrow the US Government | 212(a)(3)(A)(iii) | No Waiver Available | No Waiver Available |
| Terrorist Activities | 212(a)(3)(B) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Foreign Policy | 212(a)(3)(C) | No Waiver Available | No Waiver Available |
| Membership in Totalitarian Party | 212(a)(3)(D), (ii), (iii) | N/A | N/A |
| Nazi Party | 212(a)(3)(E)(i) | No Waiver Available | No Waiver Available |
| Genocide | 212(a)(3)(E)(ii) | No Waiver Available | No Waiver Available |
| Public Charge | 212(a)(4) | 213 | 212(d)(3), 221(g) |
| Labor Certification | 212(5)(A) | N/A | N/A |
| Unqualified Physician | 212(5)(B) | No Waiver Available | N/A |
| Uncertified Health Care Workers | 212(5)(C) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Aliens Present without Admission or Parole (EWI) | 212(a)(6)(A) | VAWA: 212(a)(6)(A)(II), Asylum: 208, Cancellation: 240A, AOS: 245(i) | N/A |
| Failure to Attend Removal Proceedings | 212(a)(6)(B) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Misrepresentation | 212(a)(6)(C)(i) | 212(i), 237(a)(1)(H) | 212(d)(3) |
| False Claim to US Citizenship | 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) | 212(a)(6)(C)(ii)(II) for claims made prior to 1997 | 212(d)(3) |
| Stowaways | 212(a)(6)(D) | Asylum 208 | N/A |
| Smugglers | 212(a)(6)(E) | 212(d)(11) | 212(d)(3) |
| Civil Penalty under INA 247C | 212(a)(6)(F) | 212(d)(12) | 212(d)(3) |
| Student Visa Abusers | 212(a)(6)(G) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Documentation Requirement for Immigrants | 212(a)(7)(A) | 211, 212(k) | N/A |
| Documentation Requirement for Nonimmigrants | 212(a)(7)(A)(B) | N/A | 212(d)(4), 212(a)(7)(B)(iii), 212(a)(7)(B)(iv) |
| Immigrant Ineligible for Citizenship INA 314 or INA 315 | 212(a)(8)(A) | No Waiver Available | N/A |
| Draft Evaders | 212(a)(8)(B) | Carter Pardon | 212(d)(3) |
| Ordered Removed Upon Arrival | 212(a)(9)(A)(i)(ii)(iii) | 212(a)(9)(A)(ii), (iii) | 212(d)(3) |
| Unlawful Presence | 212(a)(9)(B) | 212(a)(9)(B)(v) | 212(d)(3) |
| Unlawful Presence after Prior Immigration Violation | 212(a)(9)(C) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Immigrant Polygamists | 212(a)(10)(A) | No Waiver Available | N/A |
| Guardian accompanying inadmissible helpless child | 212(a)(10)(B) | N/A | N/A |
| International Child Abduction | 212(a)(10)(C) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Unlawful Voter | 212(a)(10)(D) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Former Citizen who renounced to avoid taxes | 212(a)(10)(E) | No Waiver Available | 212(d)(3) |
| Former Exchange Visitors | 212(e) | I-612 Waiver | I-612 Waiver |
| Individual who is detrimental to US interests | 212(f) | No Waiver Available | No Waiver Available |