Complete Guide to Form I-912P

If you’re applying for a fee waiver on one of the forms provided by the USCIS, there are a few things you need to know. To be eligible for the fee waiver, you must provide sufficient evidence that you’re not financially capable of paying the fees. For this purpose, the USCIS offers Form I-912 and Form I-912P. In this article, we’ll explain Form I-912P and its role in your application for the fee waiver.

What Is Form I-912P?

The USCIS, or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, is largely funded by the fees charged to applicants. This includes petition fees, application fees, and processing fees. But the agency understands that not everyone applying for a visa will be financially capable of paying said fees. For those individuals, the USCIS waives the fees.

The form to request the fee waiver on selected applications and petitions is Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. If approved, you do not have to submit the fees along with your application.

Form I-912P contains poverty guidelines for the fee waiver. Officially, the form is known as HHS Poverty Guidelines for Fee Waiver Request. This document defines the annual income below which an individual will be considered financially incapable of paying the fees. This form is only for reference; you’re not required to submit it. You’ll only need to fill out Form I-912.

The latest edition of Form I-192P is from 2020, and the figures and guidelines mentioned in the form are in effect from January 15, 2020, onwards.

Who Needs Form I-912P?

Anyone requesting a fee waiver must complete Form I-912 by referring to the guidelines in Form I-192P.

To check your eligibility for Form I-912P, you must ensure you’re eligible for Form I-912, for which the eligibility criteria are:

• The application type is covered under the Visa Waiver Program
• The applicant is below the poverty index as per the latest HHS report
• The applicant can provide sufficient documents to prove their financial condition and the inability to cover the fees

How to Complete Form I-912P?

You wouldn’t be completing Form I-912P. It’s just for reference. You’d have to fill out Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.

Form I-912 is an 11-page document that’s divided into 11 parts. If your income is under 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, then here are the sections you need to complete.

Part 1: Basis for Request

Different categories of applicants file Form I-912. Some are people living with means-tested benefits, others have a household income below the 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and the rest are facing financial hardship.

If you’re referring to Form I-912P, your total household income is less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If that’s the case, you must complete Parts 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 of this form.

Part 2: Information About You (Requestor)

In this section, you need to provide your identification details. This includes your name, A-number, USCIS online number, date of birth, and U.S. Social Security number, among others.

Part 3: Applications and Petitions for Which You Are Requesting a Fee Waiver

In this section, you must list and provide details about the form for which you’re requesting a fee waiver. Every form has a number assigned to it, which is located in the top right corner. Along with the form number, provide your full name, A-number, and date of birth.

Part 5: Income at or Below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

For this section, you’ll be asked about your employment status, information about your spouse, household size, and total annual household income. If you’re unemployed, you’ll have to provide the date on which you lost your job. If you have additional income, including unemployment benefits, you need to report it.

Part 7: Requestor’s Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

You must read the complete statement in this section and agree to it by signing at the appropriate area. If you’ve used a preparer or interpreter, sign accordingly. They must complete Part 9 and 10 of this section. Along with that, provide your contact information. If multiple people are applying for the fee waiver, everyone is required to sign in this section.

Part 10: Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Request, if Other Than the Requestor

If someone other than the requestor or the applicant has filled out this form, they must provide their contact information, declaration, and signature. If not, you can leave this section blank.

You’re not required to fill out any other section unless otherwise prompted.

Form I-912P Cost

There is no cost associated with Form I-912P. But you need to pay $455 for filing I-912, which is the filing fee at the time of writing. Along with that, you need to pay $85 in biometric fees. This is payable via money order or personal check.

Form I-912P Processing Time

The processing time varies from applicant to applicant. But this should be quicker than what it takes for your petition or application to get processed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Form I-912P is used for reference purposes if you’re filing Form I-912. It details the poverty guidelines for the 48 Contiguous states, Alaska, and Hawaii. The figures change from time to time, so make sure you have the latest Form I-912P.

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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