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“Case Was Received”on your I-612 · J-1 two-year home rule waiver

USCIS has your I-612, the request to waive the J-1 two-year home residence rule based on exceptional hardship to a U.S.
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WHICH STEP ARE YOU ON?
Receipt notice · here
Review by an officer
Request for evidence (if needed)
Decision
Approval notice mailed

What to do, in 4 steps

Save your receipt notice (Form I-797C) in a safe place.
Check that your name, birth date and address on the notice are correct.
Look up current processing times for your form and office.
Keep your mailing address up to date with USCIS.
25months
22 to 25 monthsTypical time for a complete I-612. USCIS published times. Typical ranges, never an exact date.
In this statusThis status can last from a few weeks to many months, depending on the form and office.

What it means for your I-612

USCIS has your I-612, the request to waive the J-1 two-year home residence rule based on exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or resident spouse or child, or on persecution. Keep the receipt with your Department of State waiver case number, since both agencies take part in this decision.

In general, on any form:

USCIS received your application or petition and gave it a receipt number. This is the first status almost everyone sees. It does not mean anyone has reviewed your case yet. It is normal for the status to stay here for weeks or months.

Avoid these mistakes

Thinking the case is stuck because the status does not change for weeks.
Moving without filing a change of address (Form AR-11).
Losing the receipt notice and the receipt number.

Quick questions

What does "Case Was Received" mean on an I-612?

USCIS has your I-612, the request to waive the J-1 two-year home residence rule based on exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or resident spouse or child, or on persecution. Keep the receipt with your Department of State waiver case number, since both agencies take part in this decision.

Does 'Case Was Received' mean my case is approved?

No. It only means USCIS has your application and opened a file for it.

Why has my status said 'Case Was Received' for months?

Many cases sit in a queue before an officer reviews them. Compare your wait with the published processing times before worrying.

What is the receipt number?

It is a 13-character code, like IOE1234567890, printed on your receipt notice. You use it to check your status online.

How long does an I-612 take?

The typical range published by USCIS is 22 to 25 months. It depends on the office and your case; it is not an exact date.

Other statuses of your I-612

Every status of an I-612 →

This same status on other forms

AI-assisted explanation based on the official USCIS status, reviewed by CaseAlerta. Not legal advice. Times are typical ranges, never an exact date.