Immigrants & Immigration

Note: On July 4, 2025, a new law raised some immigration fees and limited when fee waivers can be used. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has published a policy memo with its updated fees. As of July 14, 2025, USCIS has not yet updated its website, but some of the new fees may already be in effect. Be sure to check the latest fee information on the USCIS and EOIR websites before you file.

You must pay a fee to file a case with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Check the form or the fee schedule to see how much the fee costs. If you don't have money to pay the fee, you may be able to file for free. You can ask to file for free by using a fee waiver A document that lets someone file court papers for free or at a reduced cost. .

USCIS only accepts fee waivers for certain types of forms or services. Review the I-912 Form instructions to check whether your form or service is eligible for a fee waiver.

If your form is eligible for a fee waiver, you can qualify if you show with documents that any of the following bases apply:

• You are receiving a means-tested benefit, or someone in your household is receiving a means-tested benefit. If you are applying based on someone in your household, it can be your spouse, your child, your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled), or your sibling (if you are both under 21) that receives the benefit.  Examples of means-tested benefits are Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and Supplemental Security Income A federal program that gives money to low-income elderly, blind and disabled people on a monthly basis (SSI).
• Your household income is at or below 150% percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or
• You are currently experiencing extreme financial hardship and cannot pay the filing fee Fee charged for filing court documents . For example, if you have large medical bills, or you lost your job. 

You need to provide all the documents required in the application for each basis you are relying on. If you qualify under more than one basis, you can choose to apply using just one, as long as you fully document it.  For example, if you receive SNAP (food stamps), and you have high medical bills, you can choose to apply based on your SNAP.

Note: if you are requesting a fee waiver, you cannot file your paperwork online. You must mail paper forms for both the fee waiver request and the application for which you need the waiver A document that gives up a legal right or excuses a requirement . If your fee waiver application is rejected, you will have to resubmit your immigration benefit application with payment for the fee. 

Please note that USCIS recently changed its guidelines for obtaining a fee waiver. If you have any questions, speak with an immigration lawyer Someone who represents clients in courts or who gives legal advice .