USCIS changes policy on fee waivers

USCIS changes policy on fee waivers

Do you believe the new USCIS policies will affect your citizenship application? Call us today at (619) 746-8879

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS, announced a new policy that will go into effect on December 2, 2019, that will change how this agency determines eligibility for a waiver of its application fees.

When these changes go into effect, many citizenship applications, if not thousands, will be potentially stopped. Today, the costs for filing an application of citizenship can go up to $725, which is a very large barrier for low-income immigrants who up until now could opt for a waiver depending on their situation.

Currently, the USCIS allowed an applicant to be eligible for a fee waiver if he or she received a means-tested benefit (Medicaid or supplemental food assistance). Almost half of the applicants did so in 2017, according to information from the Annual Report 2018 from the DHS.

Who can be eligible for a fee waiver after December 2?

The new policy from USCIS will eliminate the means-tested benefit from the eligibility criteria to obtain citizenship. The waiver will be able to be requested by those who can prove their annual household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and can demonstrate other financial hardships.

In addition, those interested in the fee waiver will be required to submit additional documentation and the help from an immigration attorney will be needed.

This policy comes after three federal courts blocked changes in the Public Charge rule in October, which would have made it easier for the United States government to deny Green Cards to immigrants who deemed likely to receive public benefits in the future and become a Public Charge.

If you believe these upcoming changes may affect your immigration status, please contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible. We are ready to help here at Kannan Law in California, get in contact with us today!