Some USCIS Filings Can Request a Fee Waiver With Form I-912
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says you can use Form I-912 to request a fee waiver for certain immigration forms and services based on a demonstrated inability to pay; USCIS will approve a fee waiver only if you clearly show that you are unable to pay the filing fees. You qualify under one of three criteria: you, your spouse, your child, or your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled) are currently receiving a means-tested benefit; your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file; or you are currently experiencing extreme financial hardship that prevents you from paying the filing fee.
USCIS also says fees required by H.R.-1 cannot be waived, and there are no fee waivers for DACA; Form I-912 must be filed together with the application, and you cannot submit it after USCIS has received the application. This article follows only USCIS's I-912 page and its additional fee waiver information page; it does not assess individual cases or give legal advice.
Which filings can be waived
USCIS explains (USCIS, I-912 Fee Waiver): Under current regulations, USCIS may only approve fee waivers for certain forms or certain types of requests on a form. Eligible requests include:
- I-90: Replace or renew a green card.
- I-751: Remove the conditions on a conditional green card.
- I-765: Employment authorization, except DACA category (c)(33).
- I-485: Only for certain bases for a green card, such as categories exempt from the public charge ground (for example, the Cuban Adjustment Act), continuous residence in the U.S. since before Jan. 1, 1972 (Registry), or asylum status.
- Naturalization and citizenship documents: N-400 naturalization, N-565 replacement naturalization or citizenship document, N-600, N-600K certificates of citizenship, and others.
- Others: I-131 for humanitarian parole, I-821 for first-time TPS applicants (biometric services fee only), and others; the forms and conditions on the USCIS page control.
- Certain statuses: Applications tied to a request as a battered spouse of an A, G, E-3 or H nonimmigrant, a battered spouse or child of a permanent resident or U.S. citizen, a T nonimmigrant, a TPS recipient, a U nonimmigrant, or a VAWA self-petitioner can also request a fee waiver.
Fees that cannot be waived
- H.R.-1 fees: H.R.-1, signed on July 4, 2025, created additional fees for certain immigration forms, and these fees cannot be waived or reduced; you may still request a waiver of the separate DHS regulatory fee, but the H.R.-1 fee must be paid separately along with Form I-912.
- Forms involved: For example, I-131 when requesting an EAD upon approval of a new parole period, I-765 categories (a)(12), (c)(8), (c)(11), (c)(19) and (c)(34), and I-821 initial registration (the DHS fee waiver covers only the $30 biometric services fee).
- DACA: You may not file Form I-912 for DACA, and there are no fee waivers for DACA; USCIS says fee exemptions will be available in limited circumstances.
The three criteria
- Receiving a means-tested benefit: Examples USCIS accepts include Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, SSI, Section 8 housing assistance, WIC and LIHEAP; Medicare, unemployment benefits, Social Security benefits, SSDI, and student financial aid and loans do not count.
- Using a family member's benefit: You may use a spouse's benefit only if you live together and are not legally separated; a child under 21 may use a parent's benefit if they live in the same household; a parent may use a child's benefit if they live together; you must provide proof of the relationship and of living together. The I-912 page's list also includes siblings, but the additional information page does not; USCIS decides.
- Proof of the benefit: You need a letter, notice or other official document showing the recipient's name, the agency granting the benefit, the type of benefit, and that it is currently being received; if the document has no expiration date, it should be dated within 12 months of when you file Form I-912; a benefit card alone does not count unless it shows this information.
- Household income at 150%: Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file; check the current amounts on USCIS's Poverty Guidelines page; household income must include the head of household's income.
- Extreme financial hardship: For example, unemployment, family medical expenses, natural disasters, eviction or homelessness; you must describe your financial situation in detail and provide evidence such as bank statements, pay stubs or proof of unemployment, utility bills, rental agreements and medical bills.
How to request it
- File together: Attach Form I-912 and all supporting documents to the application you want the fee waived for; for example, for an N-400 fee waiver, mail the N-400, Form I-912 and supporting documents to the address in the N-400 instructions.
- Two options: For every eligible form, you may mail a paper Form I-912; for certain forms, you may upload a completed PDF of Form I-912 through your USCIS online account.
- A written request also works: Instead of Form I-912, you may write a letter requesting a fee waiver, with all necessary information and evidence.
- Foreign-language documents: Include a full English translation, with the translator's signed certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate.
- Does receiving benefits hurt?: USCIS says receiving public benefits does not negatively affect the review of the fee waiver request.
When requests get rejected
- No signature: USCIS will reject an unsigned Form I-912; for applicants under 14 or mentally incompetent, an eligible representative signs.
- Missing pages or mixed editions: If you mail a printed form with missing pages or pages from a different edition, USCIS may reject it.
- Not eligible: If USCIS finds you are not eligible, it may reject the fee waiver request together with the application.
- Other common reasons: The form is not eligible for a fee waiver, no box is checked in Part 1, no evidence is provided, foreign-language evidence lacks a certified English translation, or Form I-912 is filed without the application.
- If it is denied: First read the denial notice (Form I-797); if you still don't understand why, you may email lockboxsupport@uscis.dhs.gov.
To ask USCIS to speed up a case, see USCIS Expedite, Contact Center or Online, Usually With Proof; for green card renewal with I-90 and conditional green cards with I-751, see Green Card Due in 6 Months, File I-90, Conditional Use I-751.
What this article did not check
- Poverty guideline amounts: See USCIS's Poverty Guidelines page; this article does not copy the amounts.
- Public charge: USCIS's information page separately discusses how receiving benefits is considered for admission; the detailed rules are in the USCIS Policy Manual, and this article does not cover them.
- Fees for each form: See the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055); this article did not check it.
FAQ
Can I use Medicare to qualify for a fee waiver?
No. USCIS says Medicare, unemployment benefits, Social Security benefits and SSDI are not means-tested benefits.
Can I submit Form I-912 after mailing my application?
No. USCIS says you cannot submit Form I-912 after it has received the application; file them together.
Does receiving government benefits affect the fee waiver review?
USCIS says receiving public benefits does not negatively affect the review of the fee waiver request.
Can I get a fee waiver for DACA?
No. USCIS says there are no fee waivers for DACA and you may not file Form I-912 for it; fee exemptions will be available in limited circumstances, as described on USCIS's DACA fee exemption page.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-02.
- USCIS, I-912, Request for Fee Waiver (page updated 2026-06-05):https://www.uscis.gov/i-912
- USCIS, Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver (page updated 2026-10-14):https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/additional-information-on-filing-a-fee-waiver