U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Your Complete Guide
~ Updates and Errata ~
May 1, 1998
Naturalization Fingerprinting Procedures and Fees
As reported
last month, as of March 29, 1998, all fingerprints for naturalization msut
be done by an USCIS sponosred center. Applications filed on March 29, 1998
or thereafter must include a $25 fingerprinting fee. If you submitted your
application without a fee, the USCIS should write to you asking for the $25.
If you filed for naturalization before the March 29, 1998 cuttoff, you don?t need to pay the fee. If the USCIS sent back your prints as unacceptable, you need to write to them asking that they schedule you for fingerprinting.
Naturalization Fees to Rise
The USCIS plans to raise the
filing fee for naturaliztion to $225 dollars. The fee increase isn?t
definate but it is probable.
USCIS to End Independet Citizenship Testing
The USCIS has
annoucnced taht the policy of having non-USCIS testing services such as ETS
provide citizenship testing will end on August 30, 1998. Results of tests
taken up until that date will be valid ofr one year. For more on
pre-interview citizenship tests, see U.S. Immigration and Citizenship:
Your Complete Guide, page 121.
Ninety Day Rule for Consular Processing Eliminated
As of
September 30, 1998, a person who is in the United States unlawfully, who
is eligible for permannet residence, may apply at a U.S. consul without
having to have been outside the United Staets for 90 days. Of course, all
the rules regarding inadmissabilty apply. The old rule required a person
eligible for permannet residence who was going to an interview at a U.S.
consul, to wait 90 days if he or she had been in the United States
unlawfully. For more on consular processing for an immigrant visa, see
U.S. Immigration and Citizenship: Your Complete Guide, page 87.
New Poverty Guidelines
On February 24, 1998, the Department
of Health and Human Services published an update of their Poverty
Guidelines. These guidelines are important because they are used in
determining whether certain immigrant visa applicants are inadmissable
because they are ?likely to become a public charge.? For more on the
public charge ground for denying permanent residence, see U.S.
Immigration and Citizenship: Your Complete Guide, page 61.
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam
| Family Unit Size 100% |
Poverty Guidelines 125% |
Poverty Guidelines |
| 2 | $10,850 | $13,562 |
| 3 | $13,650 | $17,062 |
| 4 | $16,450 | $20,562 |
| 5 | $19,250 | $24,062 |
| 6 | $22,050 | $27,562 |
| 7 | $24,850 | $31,062 |
| 8 | $27,650 | $34,562 |
| Each family member above the eighth, add $2,800 (100%) or $3,500 (125%) | ||
| Family Unit Size 100% |
Poverty Guidelines 125% |
Poverty Guidelines |
| 2 | $13,570 | $16,962 |
| 3 | $17,070 | $21,337 |
| 4 | $20,570 | $25,712 |
| 5 | $24,070 | $30,087 |
| 6 | $27,570 | $34,462 |
| 7 | $31,070 | $38,837 |
| 8 | $34,570 | $43,212 |
| Each family member above the eighth, add $3,500 (100%) or $4,375 (125%) | ||
| Family Unit Size 100% |
Poverty Guidelines 125% |
Poverty Guidelines |
| 2 | $12,480 | $15,600 |
| 3 | $15,700 | $19,625 |
| 4 | $18,920 | $23,650 |
| 5 | $22,140 | $27,675 |
| 6 | $25,360 | $31,700 |
| 7 | $28,580 | $35,725 |
| 8 | $31,800 | $39,750 |
| Each family member above the eighth, add $3,220 (100%) or $4,025 (125%) | ||