N400 and Fee Waiver
- Thread starter dusty99
- Start date
Since I got no response from my previous post, I assume no much experience to share out there. I will start sharing my experience. Giving some background, my wife and I are full time students (graduate) and we decided to apply for a Fee waiver following the instructions of form I-912.
Last Thursday, April 14th my wife received an email from USCIS saying that in 7-10 days she will receive the Receipt Notice (Form I-797) and indicates that her application was successfully submitted. I haven't received anything yet, but according to the I-912 if a fee waiver is granted for an applicant his/her spouse will normally qualify for a fee waiver too. I think that it took to USCIS about 5 business days to grant the fee-waiver request. I hope to received my email soon.
Last Thursday, April 14th my wife received an email from USCIS saying that in 7-10 days she will receive the Receipt Notice (Form I-797) and indicates that her application was successfully submitted. I haven't received anything yet, but according to the I-912 if a fee waiver is granted for an applicant his/her spouse will normally qualify for a fee waiver too. I think that it took to USCIS about 5 business days to grant the fee-waiver request. I hope to received my email soon.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
"Successfully submitted" doesn't mean approved. It just means the form has been adequately filled out and there is accompanying evidence with it. What was the exact wording of the letter she got, regarding the "success". Did it explicitly mention the waiver approval?
Some people are lucky with fee waivers and others are not. I initially applied with a fee waiver, they kept my application for three weeks and then sent it back saying that I hadnt met the 90 days requirement, (I was off by three days!) and that I didnt include the right amount.
By then my family had come up with funds for me to file so when I resent it I included a money order. If you are seriously in financial need then I guess it wont be a problem but for the most part most people try not to apply with a fee waiver. It may also delay your application. Trust USCIS doesnt take five days for fee waivers. I am yet to hear of anyone who got an answer within five days but it isnt impossible.
By then my family had come up with funds for me to file so when I resent it I included a money order. If you are seriously in financial need then I guess it wont be a problem but for the most part most people try not to apply with a fee waiver. It may also delay your application. Trust USCIS doesnt take five days for fee waivers. I am yet to hear of anyone who got an answer within five days but it isnt impossible.
April 1st was a Friday (depending on time of day it went in the mail it might not have been touched until Sat.) the official estimate is 3 business days for mailing, so it might have arrived at a USCIS Lockbox on the 6th or 7th, add in another weekend and it really did take 5 or 6 business days to get the e-mail. Not bad.
She received in the email saying that her USCIS application/petition has been received and routed to the National Benefits Center for processing and also a Receipt Number NBC*00******* that she can use to check the status of her application. As soon as I got the letter I will check about the waiver but according to the USCIS website, it is sent by mail.
The email says that her USCIS application/petition has been received and routed to the National Benefits Center for processing and also gave a Receipt Number NBC*00******* that she can use to check the status of her application. As soon as I got the letter I will check about the waiver but according to the USCIS website, it is sent by mail.
I agree in the sense that if you are no able to pay the fee, you should apply for a fee waiver. We had no choice. However, the main disadvantage is that you cannot track it.
I can give you info on how my parents case proceeded...
Applied end of Nov (around thanksgiving).. it was actually early Jan before we received any info from them.. it was the same letter saying that it takes them xx days to process the fee waiver... about 1 week after that we received the Receipt notice and Fee waiver approval.. everything after this point is standard processing.. the interesting part is that we did not receive the receipt notice until the fee waiver was approved.. the receipt was dated from the original receipt date of end of Nov.. 2 weeks after that was fingerprint notice (for mid Feb).. interview was end of March with oath this month..
Applied end of Nov (around thanksgiving).. it was actually early Jan before we received any info from them.. it was the same letter saying that it takes them xx days to process the fee waiver... about 1 week after that we received the Receipt notice and Fee waiver approval.. everything after this point is standard processing.. the interesting part is that we did not receive the receipt notice until the fee waiver was approved.. the receipt was dated from the original receipt date of end of Nov.. 2 weeks after that was fingerprint notice (for mid Feb).. interview was end of March with oath this month..
Wow, seems like it was approved then. You are very lucky! Good luck with the rest of the process.
They had delays due to various factors. Holiday time of year when many folks take vacation and bad winter storms causing extra delays.
To be honest, I am still worried. I will be happy when I get the same email my wife received. As I mentioned before the I-912 instructions says that if a fee waiver is granted for an applicant his/her spouse will normally qualify for a fee waiver too. But, I think that they give a priority to women. I am considering a plan B if my application is sent back to pay the fee.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
No, you're in the process of spamming.
Ha! No, they dont give priority to women! As far as you show proof that you need the financial help they will approve it. My refusal might have had much to do with the fact that I was 3 days or so off from meeting the 90 day requirement at the time they got my application. So, hang in there, you will get your NOA, and then the crazy journey will really start
Cheers man!
Hi Guys,
Last Thursday, May 5th, my wife and I had our fingerprints appointment. I was concerned on the way the lady took my fingerprints. Today my wife status shows that her application was placed in line for interview scheduling, but mine is still on Initial Review. I was reading a couple of threads about to call the FBI and ask for the results of the fingerprints, any experience to share? I will wait a couple of days to do that, but maybe I will require a 2nd FP. To be honest, I think that the lady who took my FP had hard day, but it could cause me a delay, how much? That is the question!!!
Last Thursday, May 5th, my wife and I had our fingerprints appointment. I was concerned on the way the lady took my fingerprints. Today my wife status shows that her application was placed in line for interview scheduling, but mine is still on Initial Review. I was reading a couple of threads about to call the FBI and ask for the results of the fingerprints, any experience to share? I will wait a couple of days to do that, but maybe I will require a 2nd FP. To be honest, I think that the lady who took my FP had hard day, but it could cause me a delay, how much? That is the question!!!
Help with a sample letter for fee waiver
Im trying to get help on what you letter said to immigration for the waiver. Im trying to help my husband stay in the country. We wasted our savings a lawyer which is not doing anything to help. I doing on my own so he can get a fee waiver in hopes to get approve so he can start working. Please help. Just a sample letter so I can have an idea. And also how long did it take to get a fee waiver approval. Trying to send it out this week.
Thank you.
Im trying to get help on what you letter said to immigration for the waiver. Im trying to help my husband stay in the country. We wasted our savings a lawyer which is not doing anything to help. I doing on my own so he can get a fee waiver in hopes to get approve so he can start working. Please help. Just a sample letter so I can have an idea. And also how long did it take to get a fee waiver approval. Trying to send it out this week.
Thank you.