USCIS fee waiver (Form I-912)
Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, lets people with low income or hardship file certain USCIS forms without paying the filing fee. Form I-912 itself is free.
Who is eligible
- Means-tested benefit: you, your spouse or the head of household you live with currently receive a means-tested public benefit (for example Medicaid, SNAP, TANF or SSI).
- Income: your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file.
- Financial hardship: an emergency or long-term situation (medical costs, unemployment, eviction) makes you unable to pay.
Check the current Form I-912 instructions for the documents each basis needs.
Forms that can be waived
| Form | Name | Normal fee (paper) |
|---|---|---|
| G-325A | Biographic Information (for Deferred Action) | — |
| I-90 | Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card | $465 |
| I-129 | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | $780 |
| I-129CW | Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | — |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | $675 |
| I-131 | Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records – Refugee Travel Document | $630 |
| I-192 | Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant | — |
| I-193 | Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa | — |
| I-212 | Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission Into the United States After Deportation or Removal | — |
| I-290B | Notice of Appeal or Motion | $800 |
| I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | $1,440 |
| I-539 | Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | $470 |
| I-601 | Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility | — |
| I-694 | Notice of Appeal of Decision Under Section 210 or 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act | — |
| I-751 | Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence | $750 |
| I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization | $520 |
| I-817 | Application for Family Unity Benefits | — |
| I-821 | Application for Temporary Protected Status | $520 |
| I-881 | Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (Pursuant to Section 203 of Public Law 105-100 (NACARA)) | — |
| N-300 | Application to File Declaration of Intention | — |
| N-336 | Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings Under Section 336 | $830 |
| N-400 | Application for Naturalization | $760 |
| N-470 | Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes | — |
| N-565 | Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document | $555 |
| N-600 | Application for Certificate of Citizenship | $1,385 |
| N-600K | Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 | — |
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for a USCIS fee waiver?
Form I-912 lists three ways to qualify: you (or your spouse or the head of household you live with) currently receive a means-tested public benefit; your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; or you have a financial hardship, such as unexpected medical bills or unemployment, that keeps you from paying. You must document the basis you claim.
Is there a fee for Form I-912?
No. Form I-912 itself is free. You file it on paper together with the form whose fee you want waived; for most forms a fee waiver cannot be requested online.
Can every USCIS fee be waived?
No. Only the forms the fee schedule marks as eligible (listed below) can be waived, and fees required by Pub. L. 119-21 (2025), such as the asylum fees and certain EAD and parole fees, can never be waived. If USCIS denies the waiver, the whole filing is rejected and you have to file again with the fee.
Is there a reduced fee instead of a full waiver?
For citizenship, yes: if your household income is not more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines you can pay a reduced N-400 fee instead of $760 (paper filing only). See the N-400 fee page.
Figures are copied from the official files without changes; derived numbers (changes, backlog estimates) are explained on the methodology page. Not legal advice.