This is Teacher Jennifer from US Citizenship Podcast.
Today we're going to discuss the USCIS updates to the I-912 Fee Waiver requirements.
This is a press release dated October 25th 2019 from USCIS.
SUMMARY:
The October 25th 2019 press release changes 3 things.
First: USCIS updated form I-912 Request for Fee Waiver
by removing receipt of means-tested benefits to establish eligibility.
Second: Individuals may still request a fee waiver
if their documented annual household income
is at or below one hundred and fifty percent
of the Federal Poverty Guidelines;
OR they demonstrate financial hardship.
Third: The new policy is effective on December 2, 2019.
ELIGIBILITY:
You can submit an I-912 Fee Waiver for your N-400 Application for Naturalization
if you provide the documents that show
you, your spouse, or head of household living with you
are currently receiving a means-tested benefit.
Your household income is at or below 150 percent
of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file.
You are currently experiencing financial hardship
that prevents you from paying the filing fee
including unexpected medical bills or emergencies.
WHAT IS A MEANS-TESTED BENEFIT?
"Means" is defined as the money or income that you have.
For example: I don't have the means to support a family.
Means-tested Benefit is a public benefit
where the agency granted the benefit
considers your income and resources.
Examples of means-tested benefit programs are:
Medicaid
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program--formerly called Food Stamps)
TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families )
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
Examples of programs that are not Means-tested Benefits include
Medicare
Unemployment benefits
Social Security benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Retirement, Survivors & Disability Insurance (RSDI)
Student financial aid/loans/grants
HOW TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING A MEANS-TESTED BENEFIT
You must provide evidence that you are currently
receiving means-tested benefit computer pronounced or official documents must
include the required information your name the name of the agency granting the
public benefit the type of benefit and an indication that you're currently
receiving that benefit for example the date granted expiration date and/or the
date of renewal if available federal poverty guidelines you may qualify for a
fee waiver if your household income is at or below one hundred and fifty
percent of the federal poverty guidelines at the time you file below is
a table for the federal poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states
there's a separate table for Hawaii and Alaska for example
you are in a household with one person a hundred and fifty percent of the federal
poverty guidelines says that you must must earn a hundred and eighteen
thousand seven hundred and thirty five for a household of two you are you must
earn twenty five thousand three hundred and sixty five and so on financial
hardship a hardship is something that makes your life difficult especially a
lack of money or the condition of having a difficult life you may qualify for a
fee waiver if you have financial hardship write a detailed description of
why you had the financial hardship on the i-91 to form and provide evidence if
you cannot provide evidence of financial hardship write a letter and explain why
you cannot provide the evidence you may want to include an affidavit from a
community member who can provide more insight into your situation in case of a
natural disaster fire robbery etc provide a copy of a police report
insurance claim or other report how requesting a fee waiver affects your
current immigration status relying primarily a public cash assistance for
income maintenance can affect your eligibility for some immigration
benefits depending on your totality of the circumstances you may be
inadmissible to the United States and therefore ineligible for certain
immigration benefits like a green card because you are more than likely not to
become a public charge you may also be deportable for already having become a
public charge within five years entering the United States for reasons
that arose before you entered the country when deciding your fee waiver
request USCIS will not consider the possibility that you might be
inadmissible or deportable as a public charge USCIS will decide your fee waiver
requests separately from making a decision about your eligibility for the
immigration benefit however being inadmissible as a public charge may make
you ineligible for the benefit that you seek USCIS will deny your application or
petition if we determine that it involves false documentation or fraud in
a further note if you're applying for application for naturalization you have
already probably proved that you are not a public charge now let's read the
October 25th 2019 press release USCIS updates fee waiver requirements
Washington u US Citizenship and Immigration Services has revised the
form i-9 one to regret quest for free waiver by removing the means-tested
benefits that was previously used as a factor in determining whether an
applicant was exempt from paying for filing fees or biometric services
individuals may still request a fee waiver if they're documented annual
household income is at or below one hundred and fifty percent of the federal
poverty guidelines or they demonstrate financial hardship a means-tested
benefit is a public benefit offered by federal state and local agencies for
which eligibility and amount duration z' are based on a person's
income and resources USC is formally considered Medicaid Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program temporary assistance to needy families and
Supplemental Security income during eligibility evaluations the USCIS has
determined that receiving a means-tested benefit is not an appropriate criteria
in reviewing fee waiver request because income levels used to decide local
assistance eligibility vary greatly from state to state
quote USCIS relies on fees to cover the cost of adjudicating applications and
petitions implementing operational efforts and ensuring the nation's lawful
immigration system is properly administered said USCIS acting director
Ken Cuccinelli USCIS waives hundreds of millions of dollars in fees annually the
revised fee waiver process will improve the integrity of the program and the
quality and consistency of fee waiver approvals going forward providing clear
direction to agency adjudicators for more uniform determinations will help us
to uphold our mission of efficiently and fairly adjudicating immigration requests
USCIS has estimated that the dollar amount of fee waivers increase from
around three hundred and forty four point three million dollars in fiscal
year 2016 to three hundred and sixty seven point nine million dollars in
fiscal year 2017 in 2018 the estimated annual dollar
amount of fee waivers USCIS granted was two hundred and ninety three point five
million fee revenues account for more than 95 percent of the u.s. CIS budget
under the revised criteria individuals may still request a fee waiver if
they're documented annual household income is at or below 150% of the
federal poverty guidelines or if they demonstrate financial hardship however
USCIS will require applicants to complete form i-9 1 to submit supporting
documentation including federal income tax transcripts USCIS will not accept a
letter stating the applicant is unable to afford the filing fees or biometric
services without a completed form i-9 1 - as of December 2nd 2019 those seeking
a fee waiver must submit the October 24th 2019 version of this form to
request a waiver of a required fief or immigration benefits after December 2nd
2019 USCIS will reject any form i-9 one - with an addition date of March 13th
2018 or earlier a fee waiver request submitted with a letter or documentation
of a receipt of means-test a benefit to show eligibility for a fee waiver USCIS
will adjudicate any fee waiver request post-market before December 2nd under
the previous policy
the new form does not change the applications and petitions that are
eligible for fee waiver for a list of eligible applications of petition C form
i-9 one two instructions in addition USCIS has updated policy guidance in the
USCIS policy manual to accompany this form revision the updated policy
guidelines is effective on December 2nd
for more information on USCIS and their programs visit us CIS gov or follow us
CIS on Twitter Instagram YouTube Facebook and LinkedIn for more
information on the i9 one to request for fee waiver visit form i-9 one to request
for fee waiver @ww USCIS gov slash i-91 - additional information on filing a fee
waiver is available at WWE USCIS gov slash fee waiver for quick discussion
about the n400 fee waivers and fee reductions watch our video posted on
January 18 2018 available at Bentley /i - 9 1 2 -
2018 thanks for watching I know you will be a great American citizen thank you so
much bye-bye