A I-601 hardship waiver, also known as an “extreme hardship waiver” is a useful tool to remove certain immigration obstacles that block an undocumented alien from obtaining a visa, green card, or even being able to visit the country in a lawful manner.

In certain select circumstances, An I-601 hardship waiver can be used by immigrants fighting to keep their permanent resident status in an immigration court. The legal term “hardship” refers to the requirement that undocumented aliens must satisfy in order to prove that one of their relatives would suffer extreme hardship if they are removed or their waiver is not approved.