A. Inadmissibility Based on Seeking Admission within the Statutory 3 Years or 10 Years After Departure or Removal
A noncitizen who accrued the requisite period of unlawful presence[1] is inadmissible under section 212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) if the noncitizen “again seeks admission” to the United States within either the statutory 3-year or 10-year period after departure or removal (whichever applies). However, a noncitizen who “again seeks admission” after the end of the statutory 3-year or 10-year period since the noncitizen’s departure or removal (whichever applies) is not inadmissible under INA 212(a)(9)(B) based on the period of unlawful presence preceding the departure or removal.
In general, a noncitizen who is inadmissible under INA 212(a)(9)(B) can only be admitted to the United States or obtain a grant of adjustment of status if the noncitizen applies for, and is granted, a waiver of inadmissibility.[2]
B. Effect of Returning to the United States During the Statutory 3-Year or 10-Year Period After Departure or Removal
The statutory 3-year or 10-year period begins to run on the day of departure or removal (whichever applies) after accrual of the period of unlawful presence. This statutory period continues to run, without interruption, regardless of whether or how the noncitizen returned to the United States during the 3-year or 10-year period. Thus, it is immaterial whether the noncitizen has spent the applicable statutory 3-year or 10-year period in or out of the United States. As long as the noncitizen again seeks admission[3] more than 3 or 10 years after the relevant departure or removal,[4] the noncitizen is not inadmissible under INA 212(a)(9)(B) based on the period of unlawful presence preceding the departure or removal because the statutory 3-year or 10-year period after that departure or removal has ended.
Note however, that the manner in which the noncitizen returned to the United States during the statutory 3-year or 10-year period may result in the accrual of a new period of unlawful presence or result in inadmissibility under other grounds.
C. Relationship Between Multiple Unlawful Presence Grounds of Inadmissibility
There are three separate inadmissibility grounds involving the accrual of unlawful presence – the 3-year unlawful presence ground,[5] the 10-year unlawful presence ground,[6] and the permanent unlawful presence ground.[7] Whether a specific inadmissibility ground applies to a noncitizen depends on an analysis of the facts of the noncitizen’s case in light of that specific ground.
It is possible that a noncitizen’s immigration history makes the noncitizen inadmissible under both the 3-year or 10-year unlawful presence grounds of inadmissibility and the permanent unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility. Additionally, a noncitizen who accrued the requisite unlawful presence and who is removed from the United States may be inadmissible as a noncitizen previously removed under INA 212(a)(9)(A)[8] and under the unlawful presence grounds, depending on the circumstances of the noncitizen’s case.
Footnotes
[^ 1] If a noncitizen accrues more than 180 days but less than a year of unlawful presence during a single stay in the United States, departs the United States, and again seeks admission within 3 years of such departure, then the noncitizen is inadmissible. See INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I). If a noncitizen accrues 1 year or more of unlawful presence during a single stay in the United States, departs or is removed from the United States, and again seeks admission within 10 years of such departure or removal, then the noncitizen is inadmissible. See INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II).
[^ 2] For more information on waivers, see Volume 9, Waivers and Other Forms of Relief [9 USCIS-PM]. For more information about waivers specific to the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility, see INA 212(a)(9)(B)(v) and 8 CFR 212.7(e).
[^ 3] In determining inadmissibility under INA 212(a)(9)(B), USCIS only considers the noncitizen’s pending application for admission.
[^ 4] “Relevant departure or removal” means, in this instance, the departure or removal immediately following the accrual of the requisite unlawful presence.
[^ 5] See INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I).
[^ 6] See INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II).
[^ 7] See INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I).
[^ 8] See INA 212(a)(9)(A). A noncitizen who has been ordered removed is inadmissible if the noncitizen seeks admission to the United States within a statutorily-specified period of time after removal or departure.
