---
title: "Inadmissibility"
type: Legal Term
source: https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/inadmissibility
---

# Inadmissibility

Inadmissibility refers to the statutory grounds under INA section 212(a) that render a noncitizen ineligible for admission to the United States or for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident. The grounds are extensive and include health-related issues, criminal convictions (such as crimes involving moral turpitude and controlled substance offenses), security and terrorism concerns, public charge likelihood, prior immigration violations (including the three-year and ten-year unlawful presence bars), fraud or misrepresentation, and lack of proper documentation. Some grounds of inadmissibility may be waived through applications such as Form I-601 or I-601A, depending on the ground and the applicant's qualifying relationships. Inadmissibility is distinct from deportability, which applies to noncitizens already admitted; an individual may be deportable but not inadmissible, or vice versa.

## Related Terms

- visa
- adjustment-of-status
- deportation-removal
- consular-processing

## Related Cases

- chevron-usa-inc-v-natural-resources-defense-council

## Example

An applicant for adjustment of status is found inadmissible under INA section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) for having previously used a fraudulent passport to enter the United States, requiring her to file an I-601 waiver demonstrating extreme hardship to a qualifying U.S. citizen relative.

---
Source: [Inadmissibility — CaseBriefly](https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/inadmissibility)