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Official form guide
Form I-191: Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-191 is an application for relief under former INA section 212(c). Eligible individuals in removal or other proceedings may request discretionary relief; USCIS may destroy original documents if not required.
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USCIS Form I-191 - Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-191 is an application for relief under former INA section 212(c). Eligible individuals in removal or other proceedings may request discretionary relief; USCIS may destroy original documents if not required.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Do not fill out Part 13, which is for USCIS official use only.
- 2Submitting original documents when not required, risking their destruction.
- 3Failing to provide a full English translation for foreign‑language documents.
- 4Omitting or incorrectly entering the A‑Number (or using the wrong format).
- 5Leaving out any criminal conviction, including those that occurred abroad.
Plain English
Form I-191 lets a person ask USCIS for discretionary relief under former INA 212(c). The applicant must prove why the agency should favor the request and provide full criminal history and personal details. All foreign‑language documents need certified English translations. The form is signed and sent to the filing address indicated by USCIS.
Submission Date
- Filing date: Not stated in the official source.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when you were lawfully admitted as a permanent resident and are subject to removal because you were convicted before April 1, 1997 of a crime that makes you inadmissible or deportable.
- Do not use it when you are not a lawful permanent resident, your conviction occurred on or after April 1, 1997, or you are not facing removal.
- Check Form I-862 instead when you need to respond to a Notice to Appear initiating removal proceedings.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Received a Form I-862 (Notice to Appear)
Initiates removal proceedings, not a request for relief
✓ Verify you are in removal proceedings before filing I-191
Served with Form I-221 (Order to Show Cause)
Triggers a hearing before an immigration judge
✓ Confirm you are filing with the Immigration Court, not USCIS
Detained and given Form I-122 (Notice for Admission Detained)
Indicates admission detention pending a hearing
✓ Ensure you file the correct detention notice before seeking relief
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Part 6 Travel history
List of each trip with dates, cities, transportation, purpose · Personal travel records
Part 3 Criminal convictions
Court documents for each conviction (U.S. and abroad) · Court records
Height and weight fields
Self‑measured height in feet/inches and weight in pounds · Personal knowledge
USCIS Online Account Number
OAN from receipt with IOE number or account profile · USCIS online account or Account Access Notice
Address change notice
New address within 10 days of moving · Personal address information
Before you submit
- 1Print the form on single‑sided paper
- 2Complete all required fields in Part 2 (Biographic Information)
- 3List each trip in Part 6 with dates, cities, transportation, and purpose
- 4Provide documentation for every criminal conviction in Part 3
- 5Do not fill Part 13; leave it blank for USCIS official use
- 6Sign and date the form
- 7Attach a copy of your green card (proof of LPR status)
- 8Verify that any numeric answer of zero is entered as "None"
- 9Include the filing fee payment if required
- 10Confirm you are filing at the address shown on the USCIS website or with the appropriate Immigration Court
How to file this form
- 1Gather required documents (green card copy, conviction records, travel history) and keep copies
- 2Complete Form I-191 on paper or online, filling every required field
- 3Leave Part 13 blank as it is for USCIS official use only
- 4Sign and date the completed form
- 5Attach the filing fee payment if applicable
- 6Mail the form to the filing address listed on www.uscis.gov/I-191 or submit it to the Immigration Court if in removal proceedings
- 7Retain the mailing receipt or tracking number as proof of filing
Known limitations
- 1Not for individuals who are not lawfully admitted permanent residents
- 2Not for convictions that occurred on or after April 1, 1997
- 3Not for people who are not subject to removal or deportation
- 4Not for filing address changes through the USCIS lockbox
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Petitioner Info
3 items
Your current legal name as it appears on your Green Card or U.S. passport.
Your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY).
Your Green Card number (A-Number) if a permanent resident, or USCIS online account number.
Beneficiary Info
3 items
Full legal name of the relative you are petitioning for.
Date of birth of the relative (MM/DD/YYYY).
Alien Registration Number of the beneficiary if previously assigned.
Relationship
1 items
Select the qualifying relationship: spouse, unmarried child under 21, unmarried child over 21, married child, parent, or sibling.
Evidence
1 items
List of documents establishing the qualifying relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).
Signatures
2 items
Your signature certifying all information is correct under penalty of perjury.
Date you signed the form (MM/DD/YYYY).
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The edition shown is dated 01/20/25 and expires 03/31/2027; the instructions direct filers to the USCIS website for the most current filing location.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the form shows 01/20/25 (Instructions p.1)
- Fee — Not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source; refer to www.uscis.gov/I-191 for current address (Instructions p.10)
- Signature — Not stated in the official source
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep a complete copy of the filed Form I-191 for your records
- 2Monitor your case status online via your USCIS account
- 3Respond to any biometrics appointment notice if USCIS requests it
- 4Do not send address‑change requests to the lockbox; use the online portal or call the Contact Center
- 5If you discover an error, file a new Form I-191 with corrected information
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — purpose and eligibility criteria for Form I-191
- SRCInstructions p.5 — use of "N/A" and "None" for inapplicable or zero numeric answers
- SRCInstructions p.6 — travel history details required in Part 6
- SRCInstructions p.7 — height, weight, eye color, hair color entry rules
- SRCInstructions p.10 — do not complete Part 13; filing location on USCIS website
- SRCInstructions p.10 — address change must be reported within 10 days and not to the lockbox
- SRCInstructions p.11 — public reporting burden and collection time estimates (no fee listed)
- SRCNot stated in the official source — filing fee amount
Common confusion points
Do I need to fill Part 13?
The instructions say USCIS will complete it and applicants must not fill it.
→ Ensure Part 13 is left entirely blank.
What should I enter for weight if I don’t know it?
Instructions require "000" for unknown, under‑30, or over‑699 pounds.
→ Enter "000" when weight is unavailable.
When should I write "N/A" versus "None"?
"N/A" is for inapplicable questions; "None" is for numeric responses of zero.
→ Use "None" for zero counts and "N/A" only when the question truly does not apply.
Do I need a USCIS Online Account Number?
Only if you have a receipt number beginning with IOE; otherwise you do not have an OAN.
→ Check your receipt number before entering an OAN.
Can I mail the form to the address listed in the burden notice?
The burden notice states not to mail the completed form to that address.
→ Use the filing address on the USCIS website instead.
Is the form still valid after the expiration date?
The form expires 03/31/2027 as shown on the cover page.
→ Verify the edition date is before the expiration date before filing.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
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Questions about USCIS Form I-191
What is USCIS Form I-191 used for?
Form I-191 lets a person ask USCIS for discretionary relief under former INA 212(c). The applicant must prove why the agency should favor the request and provide full criminal history and personal details. All foreign‑language documents need certified English translations. The form is signed and sent to the filing address indicated by USCIS.
What information does USCIS Form I-191 require?
The form collects the applicant’s A‑Number, citizenship, birth place, physical description, and a complete list of all criminal convictions in Part 3 and any additional offenses in Part 8.
Where do I file USCIS Form I-191?
Visit www.uscis.gov/I-191 for the current filing location; if you are in deportation, exclusion, or removal proceedings, file the application with the appropriate Immigration Court.
How do I complete USCIS Form I-191?
Download the latest Form I-191 PDF and open it with Adobe Reader. Enter personal data, including A‑Number or “N/A,” citizenship, birth place, and physical traits. List every conviction in Part 3 and any other offenses in Part 8, attach required translations, and sign the form. Do not fill Part 13; USCIS completes it. Mail the completed form to the filing address indicated on the USCIS website.
What happens if USCIS Form I-191 is filed incorrectly?
Submitting original documents when not required may lead USCIS to destroy them, and failing to meet the discretion standard can result in denial of relief.
Do I need to fill Part 13?
The instructions say USCIS will complete it and applicants must not fill it. Ensure Part 13 is left entirely blank.
What should I enter for weight if I don’t know it?
Instructions require "000" for unknown, under‑30, or over‑699 pounds. Enter "000" when weight is unavailable.
When should I write "N/A" versus "None"?
"N/A" is for inapplicable questions; "None" is for numeric responses of zero. Use "None" for zero counts and "N/A" only when the question truly does not apply.
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