Reduced filing fee/ Fee waiver

[Klugscheißer 184]

Hello,

 

I'm gonna apply for Citizenship in about six months and was just looking into form changes, fees, etc. and came across the possibility of applying for a reduced fee, if my income is below 400% of the federal poverty guideline.

 

I was wondering, if anybody has successfully applied for it, how it works and if it has any disadvantages, e.g. it looks bad in front of the officer because I seem cheap or too poor to even pay for my own naturalization. I'm pretty close to the 400% and if I started saving now, could also pay the full fee. But figured, if there's an option to pay less, why not try it. Unless, it affects me negatively to do so. Then I wouldn't.

 

I'm happy about any replies, opinions or whatever 😊

 

Thank you all!

[OldUser 7,400]

The biggest downside of applying for reduced fee / waiver is that you'd have to file N-400 on paper. This means 4-10 weeks to get receipt notice and biometrics reuse / appointment compared to instant notices with electronic filing when paying full fees. 

 

Otherwise, you're not going to be penalized for it.

Edited Monday at 06:33 AM by OldUser

[Klugscheißer 184]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

The biggest downside of applying for reduced fee / waiver is that you'd have to file N-400 on paper. This means 4-10 weeks to get receipt notice and biometrics reuse / appointment compared to instant notices with electronic filing when paying full fees. 

 

Otherwise, you're not going to be penalized for it.

 

Oh, okay. That makes sense. Thank you! 😊

 

I guess, I just need to decide, if it's worth it or not.

But thinking about it... if I apply early within the 90-day window and can't take the oath until I reach my 5-year anniversary anyway, even if I get my interview a month after filing (just as an example). Then, would it really matter, if I file by paper or online? 🤔

I'd actually prefer a same day oath ceremony (and therefore an interview date after my 5-year anniversary), if my office allows it, because I have to drive roughly 6 hours to even get there.

Edited Monday at 08:20 AM by Klugscheißer

[OldUser 7,400]

7 hours ago, Klugscheißer said:

 

Oh, okay. That makes sense. Thank you! 😊

 

I guess, I just need to decide, if it's worth it or not.

But thinking about it... if I apply early within the 90-day window and can't take the oath until I reach my 5-year anniversary anyway, even if I get my interview a month after filing (just as an example). Then, would it really matter, if I file by paper or online? 🤔

It doesn't matter but some people get anxious when they don't hear for a month or two after filing.

 

N-400s slowed down after election, I would expect majority of cases taking over 6 months now. In many instances, over a year.

[Klugscheißer 184]

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

It doesn't matter but some people get anxious when they don't hear for a month or two after filing.

 

N-400s slowed down after election, I would expect majority of cases taking over 6 months now. In many instances, over a year.

 

Well, after so many years of waiting, going through K-1, AOS and I-751. I think, I can wait a little longer 😁

 

I was just looking through the timelines on here. Recently, most people at my field office have been getting their interviews within 2-4 months after filing. So, I don't know how it's gonna change by the time I can file. We'll see.

[OldUser 7,400]

21 minutes ago, Klugscheißer said:

 

Well, after so many years of waiting, going through K-1, AOS and I-751. I think, I can wait a little longer 😁

 

I was just looking through the timelines on here. Recently, most people at my field office have been getting their interviews within 2-4 months after filing. So, I don't know how it's gonna change by the time I can file. We'll see.

Can you share which office it is and where you found timelines? Also, did people file before or after elections?

2-4 months is extremely optimistic. I suspect most of N-400s will take 9+ months for filers filing now.

Edited Monday at 06:10 PM by OldUser

[Klugscheißer 184]

10 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Can you share which office it is and where you found timelines? Also, did people file before or after elections?

2-4 months is extremely optimistic. I suspect most of N-400s will take 9+ months for filers filing now.

 

It would be Norfolk, VA.

 

 

[OldUser 7,400]

17 minutes ago, Klugscheißer said:

 

It would be Norfolk, VA.

 

 

Yes you're showing timelines of people who applied for N-400 before the elections. Those guys were processed super fast, it's an anomaly. It only happens before elections.

[Klugscheißer 184]

8 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Yes you're showing timelines of people who applied for N-400 before the elections. Those guys were processed super fast, it's an anomaly. It only happens before elections.

 

Oh, okay. Didn't even think about it.

 

Well, even if it takes longer, it'll be okay. While I would like to finally be done with the immigration journey, I'm not really in a hurry, now that I got my 10-year Greencard... unless, Germany decides to change their laws about dual citizenship again before I get the chance to naturalize 😅

[Ontarkie 14,432]

My two boys used the fee waiver. They were both approve and no issues at all. They were college students and worked FT, lived at home with us. My husband figure why not try and save money. 

[appleblossom 3,030]

52 minutes ago, Klugscheißer said:

 

Oh, okay. Didn't even think about it.

 

Well, even if it takes longer, it'll be okay. 

 

Yep, always quicker in an election year. That processing time is already up to 8.5 months now - https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

 

So if you do apply 90 days before your 5 year anniversary (best to do it 85 or so days before, just to be sure), then I don’t think there’s any way you’d get your interview a month after filing. 

 

But if you’re in no rush then it’s really your call, paper or online would be fine. Good luck. 

[Klugscheißer 184]

2 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

Yep, always quicker in an election year. That processing time is already up to 8.5 months now - https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

 

So if you do apply 90 days before your 5 year anniversary (best to do it 85 or so days before, just to be sure), then I don’t think there’s any way you’d get your interview a month after filing. 

 

But if you’re in no rush then it’s really your call, paper or online would be fine. Good luck. 

 

Thank you 😊

 

I guess, I'll just wait and see what my finances look like or if anything else comes up by then. Usually, I'm more of a fan of doing things online, so I'd definitely prefer that. But saving a lot of money also sounds very appealing 😁

[JD2 100]

22 hours ago, Klugscheißer said:

Hello,

 

I'm gonna apply for Citizenship in about six months and was just looking into form changes, fees, etc. and came across the possibility of applying for a reduced fee, if my income is below 400% of the federal poverty guideline.

 

I was wondering, if anybody has successfully applied for it, how it works and if it has any disadvantages, e.g. it looks bad in front of the officer because I seem cheap or too poor to even pay for my own naturalization. I'm pretty close to the 400% and if I started saving now, could also pay the full fee. But figured, if there's an option to pay less, why not try it. Unless, it affects me negatively to do so. Then I wouldn't.

 

I'm happy about any replies, opinions or whatever 😊

 

Thank you all!

A co-worker of mine just did it.  Her package was delivered on Dec. 28th and she got her SMS with case number on Jan. 15th and her money order was cashed on Jan. 16th.  She filled the reduced fee section out but also wrote in her cover letter that she was applying for the reduced fee.  She also put all the evidence she could to prove she qualified (her last 3 years tax transcripts, last month's pay stubs, and her last W-2).  Might have been overkill but she figured it overlapped with other sections (e.g. tax transcripts).  I don't know if it was the right move but she got her case number and they cashed her payment so we shall see.