USCIS Fee Waiver: Who Qualifies and How to File Form I-912
USCIS filing fees can be a significant hurdle for many applicants — but those who cannot afford them may be able to qualify for relief. Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, allows eligible applicants to ask USCIS to waive required fees based on demonstrated financial need. The form is free to file and must be submitted alongside your underlying immigration application.
What Is Form I-912?
Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, is the official USCIS form used to request a waiver of immigration filing fees for certain applications and petitions. USCIS does not charge a fee to submit Form I-912 itself.
This is not a standalone filing. You must attach Form I-912 directly to the application or petition for which you are requesting a waiver. For example, if you want to waive the N-400 naturalization fee, you mail Form I-912 together with your Form N-400.
One Form I-912 can cover multiple forms filed at the same time. If you are submitting Form I-485 and Form I-765 together as a package, a single Form I-912 is sufficient for both.
It is also worth knowing what Form I-912 cannot do. Fee waivers apply only to USCIS regulatory fees. Additional USCIS fees may apply to certain applications — and not all fees are waivable. (See the July 2025 update below.)
Who Qualifies for a Fee Waiver
To qualify, you must demonstrate that you are unable to pay the required USCIS filing fee. USCIS evaluates fee waiver requests based on three criteria. You only need to satisfy one.
Means-Tested Benefits
The most direct path to approval is showing that you or a member of your household currently receives a means-tested public benefit. A means-tested benefit is a public benefit where eligibility — and often the benefit amount — depends on a person's income and financial resources. USCIS accepts benefits that are federally, state, or locally funded. Common qualifying programs include:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamps)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Other state or local income-based benefit programs
Your supporting documentation must show: the recipient's name, the name of the granting agency, the type of benefit, and confirmation the benefit is currently active. A recent benefit letter or agency notice with effective dates typically satisfies this requirement.
Low Income
If no household member receives a qualifying benefit, USCIS may still approve a fee waiver if your household income falls at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updates these thresholds annually. The applicable amount depends on household size and state of residence.
For income-based requests, USCIS typically expects federal income tax returns as supporting documentation. If you do not have tax returns, pay stubs or other evidence of household income may be acceptable along with a written explanation.
Financial Hardship
Even if your income exceeds 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, USCIS may still grant a fee waiver if you demonstrate that extraordinary expenses or circumstances genuinely prevent you from paying the required fee. Common qualifying hardship situations include:
- Medical expenses for yourself or a family member
- Unemployment or sudden loss of income
- Homelessness or eviction
- Marital separation or divorce
Hardship-based requests require specifics. You must describe the situation in detail and include exact dollar amounts for expenses, debts, and income losses. Vague hardship claims are unlikely to be approved.
Forms That Are Eligible for a Fee Waiver
Fee waivers are available only for certain USCIS forms, and some forms are waivable only for specific applicant categories. The following overview groups the most commonly requested fee waivers by category. For the complete, current list, consult the Form I-912 instructions at uscis.gov/i-912.
⚠️ July 2025 Update: On July 4, 2025, Congress enacted H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), which added new statutory fees for certain immigration forms. These fees cannot be waived using Form I-912. However, if your form has both a statutory fee and a separate USCIS regulatory fee, you may still request a waiver of the regulatory portion. Check the current fee schedule at uscis.gov/i-912 to confirm which fees apply to your specific form before filing.
Green Card and Adjustment of Status
- Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence — available only for certain applicants, including those adjusting based on asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Cuban Adjustment Act, Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, Registry, or provisions exempt from the public charge grounds of inadmissibility under INA §212(a)(4)
- Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
- Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Document — only for humanitarian parole applicants
Naturalization and Citizenship
- Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
- Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Naturalization Decision
- Form N-565, Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document
- Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
- Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship Under Section 322
Status and Work Authorization
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization — fee waiver is not available for DACA applicants filing under category (c)(33)
- Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status — available only for certain benefit request categories
Other Eligible Forms
Additional eligible forms include Form I-817 (Family Unity Benefits), Form I-881 (Suspension of Deportation), Form I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion — only when the underlying application was fee-exempt or eligible for a waiver), and Form EOIR-29 (Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals).
Special Categories — Fee Waiver Available for Any Eligible Form
Some applicants may request a fee waiver for any application or petition related to their immigration status, regardless of which form they file. These groups include:
- VAWA self-petitioners, and battered spouses or children of lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens
- T nonimmigrants (victims of human trafficking)
- U nonimmigrants (victims of certain crimes)
- Battered spouses of certain nonimmigrant visa holders (A, G, E-3, or H)
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants
Affordable Immigration Support
How to File Form I-912
Generally, Form I-912 requires a paper submission. Attach the completed Form I-912 and all supporting documentation to the application or petition you are requesting a waiver for. Use the mailing address listed in the instructions for your underlying form.
Do not file Form I-912 separately or after USCIS has already received your underlying application. The fee waiver request must arrive in the same submission package.
Frequently Asked Questions About Form I-912
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