Fee waiver request (I-912) questions

[CyberSamurai013 69]

My wife is here on an emergency humanitarian parole that is valid for 2 years. Unfortunately, she does not have any other status currently and we need to file immediately for her adjustment of status. We are going to file a fee waiver request (I-912) as we qualify under 2 of the 3 categories due to our emergency situation. If granted, does the fee waiver also cover the civil surgeon exam? Also, will it hurt her AOS request to file the fee waiver request despite indigency not being one of our conditions?

[Crazy Cat 41,728]

The medical exam fee is paid to the medical facility and civil surgeon...not to the US government.  Fee waiver does not apply.  

Edited September 1, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 45,411]

You are not specific as to what you are filing but my guess is that the forms are not eligible for a fee waiver.

[Boiler 45,411]

Presumably you have a Joint Sponsor lined up?

[CyberSamurai013 69]

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

The medical exam fee is paid to the medical facility and civil surgeon...not to the US government.  Fee waiver does not apply.  

 

Roger, thank you.

Just now, Boiler said:

You are not specific as to what you are filing but my guess is that the forms are not eligible for a fee waiver.

 

Apologies. The waiver would be for the I-485, I-864, and I-765.

[Boiler 45,411]

2 minutes ago, CyberSamurai013 said:

 

Roger, thank you.

 

Apologies. The waiver would be for the I-485, I-864, and I-765.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-912instr.pdf

 

I do not see it.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

Just now, Boiler said:

Presumably you have a Joint Sponsor lined up?

 

Negative. We have the means for support moving forward, but cannot wait to file the I-485 and do not have the means currently to pay all the associated fees due to the emergency situation that occurred. My wife is a political refugee and we were forced to flee political persecution, and threatened wrongful detention and death. We just arrived less than a month ago in America and were forced to completely start our lives over from nothing. We had to leave everything behind when we fled.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

Just now, Boiler said:

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-912instr.pdf

 

I do not see it.

 

I-485 is on there.

[Boiler 45,411]

2 minutes ago, CyberSamurai013 said:

 

Negative. We have the means for support moving forward, but cannot wait to file the I-485 and do not have the means currently to pay all the associated fees due to the emergency situation that occurred. My wife is a political refugee and we were forced to flee political persecution, and threatened wrongful detention and death. We just arrived less than a month ago in America and were forced to completely start our lives over from nothing. We had to leave everything behind when we fled.

Look at the instructions, I do not see any category eligible..

[Boiler 45,411]

1 minute ago, CyberSamurai013 said:

 

I-485 is on there.

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. A fee waiver is only available if you are
applying for lawful permanent resident status based on:
A. Special Immigrant Status based on an approved Form I-360 as an Afghan or Iraqi Interpreter, or Afghan or Iraqi
National employed by or on behalf of the U.S. Government; 
Form I-912 Instructions 09/03/21
B. An adjustment provision that is exempt from the public charge grounds of inadmissibility of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA) section 212(a)(4), such as the Cuban Adjustment Act, the Haitian Refugee
Immigration Fairness Act, continuous residence in the United States since before January 1, 1972, (“Registry”),
Asylum Status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, or similar provisions; 

[Chancy 6,241]

5 hours ago, CyberSamurai013 said:

My wife is a political refugee

 

Though your wife is a political refugee, she is not on "refugee" status as far as USCIS is concerned.  She is a "parolee", intending to adjust status on the basis of marriage to a USC.  As such, she is not exempt from the public charge grounds of inadmissibility, so not eligible for I-485 fee waiver.  More info here -- https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-g-chapter-3

 

Note that you only need to pay the I-485 filing fee (currently $1,140 + $85 biometrics fee = $1,225 total).  There's no fee for submitting the I-864 with the I-485.  Filing I-765 and I-131 are also (still) free, if filed along with a full-fee I-485.

 

As for the medical, you may be able to get discounts at a clinic that caters to refugees and asylees.  Check the thread below for @Adventine's experience, to get tips on finding a similar clinic in your area --

 

 

Edited September 2, 2023 by Chancy
clarification

[Adventine 3,196]

There are nonprofits that help immigrants not just with the civil surgeon fees/I-693 medical fees, but also with setting up a new household from scratch. World Relief comes to mind. They have many offices throughout the US. They primarily serve refugees and asylum seekers, and may be able to provide local resources or at least point you in the right direction.