Can I get my USCIS filing fee waived, and how do I qualify?

Form I-912 lets you ask USCIS to waive a filing fee you genuinely can't afford. There's no fee to file I-912 itself, and it's attached to — not filed separately from — the application it covers.

Who currently qualifies

As of a recent policy update, there are only two ways to qualify — a prior third option (having a family member on a means-tested public benefit like Medicaid or SNAP) was removed and no longer applies on its own:

• Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or
• You can document a genuine financial hardship (such as high medical bills, sudden job loss, or other extraordinary expenses relative to your income)

You only need to meet one of these two, not both.

Which forms are actually eligible

Not every form can be waived. Commonly eligible: I-485 (green card), N-400 (citizenship), I-765 (work permit, in most cases), and I-90 (green card renewal/replacement).

Commonly NOT eligible: I-130 (family petition), I-140 (employment petition), I-751 (removing conditions, except in certain abuse-based situations), and I-129F (fiancé petition).

If your specific form isn't listed here, check that form's own instructions — USCIS maintains the authoritative list, and it can change.

One important, easy-to-miss catch

A 2025 law created new add-on statutory fees for certain filings (like an asylum-related fee) that legally cannot be waived, even with an approved I-912 — you'd still owe those specific amounts separately. An approved fee waiver only covers the regular USCIS filing fee, not these newer fixed fees.

How to file

Submit Form I-912 together with your main application, plus documentation proving your income or hardship (like tax transcripts, pay stubs, or a written statement with supporting proof). Everyone requesting the waiver — including family members applying together — must sign it themselves.

If it's denied

USCIS will tell you in writing and explain how to resubmit your application with the fee instead. A denied fee waiver doesn't affect your underlying eligibility for the immigration benefit itself — it only means you'll need to pay.