Guide to Form I-492P

Not everyone was blessed with an amazing financial situation. In fact, many people have low incomes, making it hard or even impossible for them to afford more than the necessary to live. In such a situation, paying the entire fee for your various applications to immigration agencies can feel like a burden, since you may not have all the cash for it and can’t think of a way to obtain the money. Luckily, in situations such as this, using Form I-942P may help you out a lot, especially if you’re just about to file Form I-942.

What Is Form I-492P?

Form I-492P is known as the Income Guidelines for Reduced Fees. Basically, when someone wants to file Form I-942, they will only be granted a fee reduction if their income meets the requirements. That means that the amount you earn should be less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file. If the income is higher than that, then you will not be eligible for the fee reduction.

This form can be used in order to guide you as you’re trying to complete Form I-942, Reduced Fee Request. So, by using Form I-492P, one can determine whether they will be granted a fee reduction.

Difference Between Form I-492P and Form I-492

It’s important not to confuse Form I-492P for Form I-492 and vice versa because they are different things. Basically, Form I-492 was introduced as a means to help people reduce a filing fee when applying to become U.S. citizens. More often than not, this form is for people who were unable to receive a fee waiver and still want to be able to somehow reduce the costs they have to deal with. Of course, the form only helps certain types of people obtain a fee reduction, respectively those with lower incomes.

Having said that, the Form I-492 applicant must have an income that is higher than 150 percent, yet not higher than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Those who qualify can get a $320 reduction, as well as a $85 reduction for the biometric fee. With all that in mind, it’s easy to figure out that this is a form that you will have to complete and submit.

It has to be submitted in the same package with your N-400 Application for Naturalization. It should also include all the supporting documentation such as the payment method and evidence.

Form I-492P is a different story even though it’s linked to Form I-492 This form allows an applicant to check whether they meet the requirements for obtaining a fee reduction based on their income and the size of their household, as well as the HHS Poverty Guidelines.

It’s basically a guide for applicants, and not a form to be submitted to the USCIS. The version of the form may change so it’s something that needs to be checked by all applicants before submitting their I-492. Form I-492P is not a form that has to be completed or anything of the sort, so it’s essential to know the difference.

Of course, it’s important to point out that the I-942 doesn’t have a filing fee of its own. It’s submitted after you completed and submitted Form N-400, which is the one requiring the fee in the first place. So, when you submit your Form N-400, Form I-942 needs to be sent if you are also sending a Form N-400. Also, when you submit Form I-492P, it has to be sent with the $85 biometrics fee and the $320 reduced fee.

Additionally, there is no online version of the Form I-942, so you would have to file a paper Form N-400 with a paper Form I-942 if you wanted to request a fee reduction. At the same time, I-492P can be easily found online and consulted until you make sure you are eligible to receive the fee reduction. You don’t have to wait for any physical paper in order to check out your eligibility for the reduction, which is also another difference worth noting.

Who Needs Form I-492P?

Anyone who files Form I-492 needs to use Form I-492P. The latter is needed when figuring out whether you will be granted a fee reduction based on how much you earn. When you file Form I-942, you will be required to write the income of your household in order to determine if you’re eligible to receive the fee reduction. As such, Form I-492P can stop you from filing a petition that will give you no benefit in the end, in case your income is higher than the required percentage.

It’s important for all applicants to read the instructions carefully when preparing their I-942. This will help them do the right thing and not make mistakes along the way, which is why Form I-492P is an important thing to check out before submitting your naturalization fee reduction form.

How to Use Form I-492P

In order to use the Form I-492P, you need to check the guidelines listed on the official USCIS website. The poverty guidelines are adjusted every year so it’s essential to be up to date with them. All you have to do is check the table and determine the documented household income based on the size of the household and the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

48 Continental U.S. States

Hawaii

Alaska

Conclusion

Form I-492P can be a huge help for whoever is trying to become a naturalized citizen and cannot afford to pay the entire fee and wants a reduction. It can be used to guide you and find out if you are eligible to have your fee reduced, considering that only households that earn less than a certain percentage will be approved for the reduction.

So, if you’re someone who cannot pay the entire fee and you were not approved for a fee waiver, a fee reduction may be what you should be turning to. It’s going to prevent you from having to pay too much when you can’t afford it.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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