The authorities of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported that people who meet certain requirements may be exempt from making payments for some immigration procedures, including permanent residence, better known as Green Card, and citizenship.
To be able to access this benefit, you must meet some specific requirements and demonstrate this with the support of the correct documents.
Through a video shared on his YouTube channel, immigration lawyer Abel Zaldívar explained what these procedures were and how those interested in avoiding paying for these processes should proceed. which will increase from April 1, 2024.
USCIS procedures that can be done for free:
- Make an application to replace your residency, permanent resident card (Form I-90).
- Application for a travel document, as long as this is for humanitarian reasons (Form I-131).
- Application to replace the naturalization and citizenship document (Form N-56).
- Application for certification of citizenship (Form N-600).
Requirements to access this USCIS benefit:
- Receive means-tested public benefits.
- That a household’s income is equal to or less than 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Check if you are experiencing financial difficulties.
The expert points out that these requirements are essential for USCIS to forgive payment for the aforementioned procedures, but that to do so it is necessary to verify that this help is really needed.
This represents a great opportunity for Cuban citizens abroad who wish to regularize their immigration status, as this would allow them to access a wide variety of rights and opportunities in North American territory.
In his video, the attorney also shared a fairly comprehensive guide on how to demonstrate eligibility for these payment waivers. Zaldívar points out that means testing public benefits is very important, as these can influence the application process.
Federal poverty guidelines
Among the requirements for not paying these procedures are the federal poverty guidelines, which are a set of income levels established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that are used to determine eligibility for certain federal programs and benefits. .
This guide takes into account household size and geographic location, as there are variations in the cost of living depending on the state in which one is located.
Number of people in the family/household | Poverty guideline (in dollars) |
1 | 15.060 USD. |
2 | 20.440 USD. |
3 | 25.820 USD. |
4 | 31.200 USD. |
5 | 36.580 USD. |
6 | 41.960 USD. |
7 | 47.340 USD. |
8 | 52.720 USD. |
It is necessary to point out that in families/households with more than 8 members, USD 5,380 must be added for each additional person.
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