The purpose of Form I-601 is for those aliens who are not eligible for admission into the United States as an immigrant or to adjust status in the United States, to seek a waiver for certain grounds of inadmissibility. Form I-601 is also the appropriate form for certain non-immigrant aliens who are inadmissible and must seek a waiver of certain grounds of inadmissibility. Form I-601 is the appropriate form for applicants who are:

1. An immigrant visa applicant; 2. Any applicant for adjustment of status; 3. K-1 or K-2 non-immigrant visa applicant; 4. K-3, K-4 or V non-immigrant status; 5. Temporary Protected Status applicant; 6. Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act applicant; 7. Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act applicant 8. Violence Against Women Act self-petitioner, or 9. T non-immigrant visa holder filing for adjustment of status who is inadmissible due to a ground that was not already waived in connection with the T non-immigrant status and seeks a waiver pursuant to Form I-601 on any of the following grounds:

a. Health-related grounds; b. Certain criminal grounds; c. Immigration fraud or misrepresentation; d. Membership in totalitarian government; e. Smugglers and subject to civil penalty; f. a three year or ten year bar; g. previous removal from the United States; h. unlawful presence after an immigration violation;

Form I-601 specifies certain grounds that cannot be waived which include security related grounds, international child abductors, and former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxes. Once the completed Form I-601 has been processed, the USCIS may require additional information from the applicant or require an interview.