How To Get Free Citizenship for Low Income

How Do I Get Free Citizenship for Low Income? Becoming a citizen of the United States of America is a huge milestone. However, for a lot of aspiring U.S. citizens, the price of applying for US citizenship can be a significant barrier. This is the reason why the United States government has provided options for some foreigners to make the overall naturalization process accessible and affordable for low-income individuals. Eligible applicants can apply for fee waiver for citizenship and reductions and can turn to organizations to lower or avoid the economic burden of applying for US citizenship.

As per www.onepercentforamerica.org, 83% of requests for US citizenship application fee reductions are granted each year, while 20% of approved citizenship applications have a fee waiver. Making savings on your US citizenship application process is attainable. This guide will help you explore all the available options for low-income individuals who want to reduce or waive their citizenship fees. The guide will also help you walk through the eligibility criteria, documentation process, and application procedure to get started. In this way, you can navigate the path to obtain Free Citizenship for Low Income without adding financial stress. Read the guide to understand your available options.

How Much Does It Really Cost To Become A U.S Citizen?

The naturalization fee for a citizenship application in the United States ranges between $380 and $760 for an additional person. This includes fees for processing Form N-400 and biometric services fee. Both biometric fees and filing fees are non-refundable. This means the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will not return the funds to you even if you are denied the application. Let’s break the cost of the citizenship application fee.

• Online US citizenship application: $710.
• Online application with biometric service: $710.
• Paper applications: $760
• Paper application with biometric service: $760
• Citizenship application for individuals having income in the range of 150% to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines: $380
• Citizenship application for individuals with income 150% to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines with biometric service: $380.

A few applicants may, however, reduce or waive the fee completely. If you’re an active-duty military or veteran, then your application will be completely free of charge. If cost seems to be a significant barrier to becoming a U.S. citizen, then requesting a fee waiver for citizenship or reduction is the right choice for you.

Want to know how to apply for a free passport for low-income individuals? Take a look at our next guide now.

What Is Form N-400?

The application for Naturalization is known as Form N-400. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires lawful permanent residents to file an adjustment of status to submit the form to the government of the United States as a proof of application for a U.S. citizen. DCA and asylum seekers recipients are not eligible to file this form. The high cost of filing a US citizenship application known as Form N-400 may make the process of applying for naturalization difficult. Applicants must demonstrate financial need to get a fee waiver for citizenship from the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

How To Get Free Citizenship Application Assistance Near Me?

Wondering, ‘How can I get US citizenship for free’? Well, naturalized citizens can enjoy numerous immigration benefits; however, obtaining citizenship through naturalization may be a costly affair. If you are on a tight budget and unable to afford your citizenship filing fees, then don’t worry. Following are a few ways through which you can get free citizenship for low-income people citizenship:

Apply For A Citizenship Fee Waiver

Low-income applicants can get a fee waiver from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS allows applicants to request a fee waiver of the naturalization application fee or N-400 fee waiver if they can meet specific income criteria based on the federal poverty guidelines and household size.

To request a fee waiver, applicants have to submit a request for a fee waiver form i-912 fee waiver along with the naturalization application. But who is eligible for the fee waiver for citizenship? The eligibility criteria requires candidates to have income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level or receive benefits through TANF, SSI or other government assistance programs. On being approved for a USCIS fee waiver, you can pay $0 in citizenship application fees.

Apply For A Citizenship Fee Reduction

Candidates who do not qualify for fee waiver for passport application or citizenship, however, face difficulty affording the citizenship application form, can apply for a reduced fee for naturalization.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers fee reductions for applicants who have income and range between 150% and 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. For these applicants need to submit a request for reduced fee or form I-942. The citizenship fee waiver for low-income will apply only to the Form N-400 naturalization application, however, the additional fees may not be waived.

Reach Out To Organizations For Help With Citizenship Filing Fees

Do you belong to a faith group or church? Then you can approach them to help you with free U.S citizenship near me. There are several government-funded organizations that are in place to help immigrants handle the high cost of immigration. Besides, the USCIS also has a potential list of organizations and groups that help immigrants with filing fees. USCIS also offers citizenship classes for free. To get help with citizenship classes near me click here and search by zip code and find an organization near you.

Work With The Legal Aid Office

You may save some dollars on legal fees if you work with a lawyer who can help you file your application and provide free immigration assistance. For this, you need to contact a legal aid office. Often, legal aid offices have expert immigration lawyers who charge low or no cost to assist immigrants who are not in a position to afford an attorney and pay for their fees. These offices offer free help with immigration forms. To get help filling out immigration forms near me click here.

Crowdfunding your Citizenship Filing Fees

Crowdfunding sites are a popular way to raise funds for your needs. Even though it may seem awkward, a lot of immigrants have crowdfunded successfully, and you can also follow their lead. GoFundMe is an excellent crowdfunding campaign that is free. Through the campaign, you need to share your story about why you need help with immigration paperwork and filing fees.

Bing Your Application Filing Fees With A Credit Card

You can use a credit card to pay for citizenship filing fees if you do not have the funds currently but expect to have them in the future. For this, you need to complete Form G-1450 authorization for credit card transactions and submit it with the application.

Individuals who are looking for a passport fee waiver for low-income people can also go through the aforementioned resources.

Am I Eligible For A Citizenship Fee Waiver or Reduction?

Eligibility for Fee Waiver

Do you know who qualifies for citizenship fee waiver? Following are the conditions that applicants need to complete to be eligible for citizenship fee waiver for low-income:

• Your annual household income should be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. You can click here to see the level of your income.
• You must show that you are receiving public benefits based on the resources and income that USCIS includes in the eligibility criteria like SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, SSI, or housing assistance programs.
• You have significant financial hardship, for instance, unemployment or medical expenses.
• To request a citizenship fee waiver for low-income, candidates need to file a Form I-912 (Request For A Fee Waiver).

Eligibility for Fee Reduction

Following is the list of eligibility criteria to qualify for fee reduction:

• Your annual household income is at or below 150% or 400% of the federal poverty guidelines at the time of filing. You can click here to find out the income level. You need to prove that you have exceptional financial hardships like illness, natural disaster, job loss, unexpected medical expenses, etc.
• You need to file Form I-942 to request a fee reduction as a low-income citizenship applicant, provide supporting documents, and mail the application with the appropriate reduced filing fees. The total fees will be $380.

Note: You need to submit your Form N-400 application through paper mail to apply for the reduced fee or fee waiver option. These options are not accepted with online applications. You need to supply a copy of your last paycheck stub, last year’s income tax return, or letter verifying income as a part of the supporting documents for a reduction request or waiver request based on your household income or size.

Our next guide will help you know how to apply for Free moving services for low-income families. 

Documentation Required For Citizenship Application Fee Waiver or Reduction

While applying for fee waiver for citizenship citizenship fees waiver or reduction in America, applicants need to provide proof of specific documents to verify their eligibility and support their request. Following is a list of key documents that are required to be submitted with Form N-400 to apply for free citizenship for seniors and low-income individuals:

• Proof of Income: Applicants need to provide proof of income in the form of recent tax returns or Form 1040, pay stubs, income statements like Social Security payments, pension details, unemployment benefits, etc. These documents will verify that your income falls between 150% and 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• Proof of Participation in Government Assistance Programs: If you’re currently receiving assistance from the government like TANF, Medicaid, SSI, or SNAP, then you need to provide proof of documents like benefits statements or award letters.
• Proof of Household Size: Applicants who are unable to pay for the citizenship application due to financial hardship and must provide proof of their need and household size, like a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a record showing familiar household members, etc.
• Proof of Identity: Additional documents for the naturalization application include a permanent resident card or green card, two passport-style photos, marriage and divorce certificates, proof of military service, biometric information, etc.
• Proof of medical disability (if any): Candidates with the disability need to submit Form N-648, also known as Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.
• Application Fees Payment: If you are qualified for fee reduction, then you need to submit payment in the form of a personal check, a credit card authorization form or form G-1450, or a money order.
• Proof of Marital Status: You need to submit copies of the following to establish your current marital status, like a divorce paper, a marriage certificate, a death certificate, an annulment certificate, or other official records.
• Proof of Military Service: This includes Form N-46, which is officially called ‘Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service’.
• Fee Reduction Application Form: You need to submit Form I-942, that is officially known as the Request for Reduced Fee.
• Fee Waiver Application: You need to submit Form I-912, that is officially known as a Request For a Fee Waiver.
• Request for Representative At The Naturalization Interview: You need to submit G-28, that is known as ‘Notice of Entry of Appearance, as an Attorney or Accredited Representative’.

The documents mentioned in the above section of the article are similar even if you want to complete a fee waiver for passport application.

Read our next guide to apply for Free movers for low-income families.

How To Apply For Citizenship Fee Waiver or Reduction?

To apply for a free citizenship application assistance near me, you need to follow the below-mentioned steps carefully:

• Verify Your Eligibility: The first and foremost step for low-income citizenship application is to confirm your eligibility and gather relevant documents. This includes letters from government agencies, medical reports, and tax returns. The main form that you need to apply for US citizenship is filing N-400.
• Complete Filing Forms: Fill out forms and provide specific documents to request a fee waiver or reduction. Provide detailed information about your present financial situation.
• Attach The Relevant Documents and Submit Them: Make sure to provide clear copies of all the requested documents to support your application. You need to send the form along with Form N-400 and supporting documents to USCIS. The required documents for citizenship fee waiver for low-income that you need to submit have been mentioned in the above section of the article.

Application Processing Time

Wondering how long does U.S citizenship take? The USCIS application processing time for fee waiver requests or reduction requests may take several months. The reason is due to the documentation and additional steps, including.

• Waiver and reduction requests require candidates to file N-400 by mail instead of online.
• Additional documents may be required to be reviewed and approved by USCIS prior to processing the N-400 application.
• If a candidate is denied a fee reduction or waiver, the payment that they submitted for N-400 will be incorrect. In that case, the application fee will be sent back to the candidate. They can start over and resubmit the application for fee waiver for citizenship with the correct fee amount.

What Are The Benefits of US Citizenship?

Becoming a citizen of the United States is a logical step for a majority of green card holders, especially if they want to stay in America for the long term. Qualifying for fee waiver for citizenship comes with a lot of advantages that are not entitled to green card holders:

• You Can Travel With One of The Most Powerful Passports In The World: One of the major benefits of US citizenship is applying for a US passport after getting your certificate of naturalization. This will allow you to travel to more than 180 destinations for short-term trips without applying for a visa and make as many trips abroad as you want. With the US passport, you can also get assistance from a local U.S. embassy during times of trouble.
• You Will Not Be Deported To Your Country or Former Nationality or Citizenship: Having US citizenship after naturalization will give you as much right as an American to live and work in America. Even if you are charged with a crime in the future, you may stay in the United States. However, recent news reports state that the United States government has planned to pursue denaturalization based on previous criminal offenses for a few naturalized U.S. citizens.
• You Can Get Federal Benefits That Are Available Only To Citizens Of The United States: After naturalizing, you can access all government benefits programs that are available only to citizens of the United States.
• You Can Run For Elected Office: A US citizenship is required for public office or federal office at the state and local level.
• You Can Vote in Federal Elections: Only citizens of the United States have the right to vote in any US election. Non-citizens can only vote in local elections. If you want to influence leadership in the community or in America over all, the voting booth is a good place to start with.
• You Can Apply for Jobs With The Federal Government: The US government is reserved only for citizens of the United States. Even though each job has its own advantages and disadvantages, employees of the federal government and their families can get better benefits and higher earnings compared to private sector workers.
• You’re Going To Play For A Green Card For Your Family Members: You can sponsor your parents and siblings from adult children for their own green cards after getting US citizenship.
• Your Children Will Automatically Become Citizens of the United States Even If They Are Born Abroad: With US citizenship, your children can become U.S. citizens even if they are not born in America. For this, you have to report your childbirth to the U.S. consulate or embassy.
• You Need Not Deal With Immigration Papers Anymore: Another benefit of getting US citizenship is that you need not renew your green card or pay any immigration filing fee. There is no need to notify USCIS every time you move.

Conclusion

To sum up, there are ways to get free US citizenship for low-income individuals in America. The government addresses the financial challenges that a majority of individuals face while applying for US citizenship. Applicants can ease their economic burden of the naturalization process by applying for fee waivers for citizenship or common reductions and turning to organizations or legal aid officers that help immigrants. By understanding their formation eligibility criteria, documentation, and low-income citizenship application procedure, you can move forward with your application without adding more stress of paying high fees. With the aforementioned guidance, tips, and resources, the path to navigating US citizenship will seem to be attainable and within your reach.

Are you interested in learning more about assistance programs and grants that can help you improve your living situation? Then check out the rest of our blogs at GrantsBuddy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The N-400 Application Fees?

The cost of the application fee for US citizenship is $760. However, you need to pay $710 if you file online. The cost comprises the biometric service fee. If you are an active-duty military or a veteran, then your application will be completely free.

How Can I Save On My US Citizenship Application?

Candidates need to submit a request for an application fee waiver or reduction when they submit their citizenship application. Once approved for a waiver, your application fee will come to $0. If you are approved for fee reduction, then you have to pay $380 for your application.

Can I Apply For US Citizenship If Unemployed?

Unemployment benefits and form N-400 will not affect the approval process of the naturation application. So if you are unemployed and declare it then you will be eligible to get a US Citizenship.

How to Find Free Citizenship Application Assistance in NYC? 

There are many places in New York City that provide free citizenship application assistance for instance NYCitizenship, MOIA Immigration Legal Support Centers, CUNY Citizenship Now Project etc.