Mario Godoy

Immigration Application Fee Waiver for Financial Hardship

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is primarily funded by application and petition fees. There is a fee waiver for financial hardship to process immigration applications for qualified applicants.

USCIS recognizes that some applicants cannot afford to pay the immigration filing fees. USCIS has established a fee waiver process for certain forms and benefit types. They will approve a fee waiver only if you clearly demonstrate that you are unable to pay the filing fees. USCIS carefully considers the merits of each fee waiver request before making a decision. The waiver is for people that may not have the financial means to pay for their application because of low income, disability, or other financial hardships.

The request form for an immigration application fee waiver is I-912 “Request for Fee Waiver.” This request can be submitted with your immigration forms. The form can be found here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-912.

Fee Waiver Eligibility

The eligibility requirements to request an immigration application fee waiver are:

You must provide documentation showing that you qualify for a fee waiver based upon one of the following criteria:

You, your spouse, or the head of household living with you, are currently receiving a means-tested benefit.
Your household income is at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file. Check the current Federal Poverty Guidelines for this year at Form I-912P, HHS Poverty Guidelines for Fee Waiver Requests.
You are currently experiencing financial hardship that prevents you from paying the filing fee, including unexpected medical bills or emergencies.

Note: Anyone who is requesting a fee waiver cannot submit an immigration petition or application online. You must file paper versions of the fee waiver request and the form for which you are requesting a fee waiver.

Immigration law can be confusing, and it changes frequently. It is important to have legal guidance from a knowledgeable attorney. The immigration attorneys at Godoy Law Office in Chicago and Lombard can help you with your immigration case. If you need help with an immigration issue, please contact our office or call us at 855.554.6369.