53Fee Waivers

This part explains what to do if you can’t afford to pay a USCIS fee. You may qualify for a complete or reduced fee if:

• You receive need based government benefits, • Are low-income, or • Have a qualifying financial hardship.

There is also a new partial fee waiver available for the N-400 Form only.

Why Does USCIS Charge Fees?Most of USCIS funding comes from the fees it charges to process applications and petitions.

Can USCIS Help Applicants Who Cannot Afford to Pay USCIS Fees?Yes. USCIS knows some people cannot afford to pay the fees. They have a fee waiver program for some USCIS forms and benefits, including:

• N-400, Application for Naturalization (Citizenship), • I-90, Green card replacement and renewal, • I-751, Removal of conditions on permanent resident card, and• N-565, Application to replace or correct a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization.

You may qualify for a fee waiver if you can show that you cannot pay the filing fees.

Can USCIS Help Applicants With Other Forms?Yes. You can find a complete list of applications and petitions USCIS will consider for a fee waiver at www.uscis.gov/i-912.

What Kinds of Requests For Fee Waiver Will USCIS Approve?You will qualify for a complete fee waiver if you can prove that you or your household:

• Receives need-based state or federal benefits, • Is low-income, or• Has a special financial hardship

Need-Based State or Federal BenefitsYou may qualify if you or a qualified family member(s) receives need-based public benefits such as:

• SSI (Supplemental Security Income),• SNAP (Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program),

7 – Fee Waivers

54 Fee Waivers

• ANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families),• Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8),• Medicaid.

The instructions for Form I-912 defines who is a qualified family member.

Can I Qualify with Medicare or SSDI?No. Medicare and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) are not need-based benefits. That means you can have high income and still receive these benefits.

How to Prove You QualifyMail your completed Form I-912. You must also send a letter that shows you receive the benefit now. The letter must be dated within the last 6 months. It must be in English and list all of this information:

• Name of agency providing the benefit,• Name of person receiving the benefit,• Date the benefit started,• Date the benefit will end (if applicable),• Proof you are receiving the benefit now.

Low-Income HouseholdUSCIS will ask you to list your income and the income of everyone in your household. If the total income is less than the HHS Poverty Guidelines for the current year on Form I-912P, you will qualify for a fee waiver. You will have to provide proof of income, such as federal tax returns or other proof that proves your inability to pay the filing fee, such as a months worth of pay stubs.

Financial HardshipUSCIS may allow you a fee waiver if you had an unexpected situation, such as emergency medical bills, natural disaster, homelessness, or sudden unemployment. To prove you qualify based on financial hardship, take the following documents to an authorized immigration law expert:

• Copy of federal tax returns for the most recent tax year (for each person in the household who works and files taxes) with all attached schedules, such as W-2s and 1099s,

• Copies of paystubs for the past 1 or 2 months or a statement from your employer on business letterhead showing earnings,

• Copies of child support or spousal support (alimony) documents,• Copy of Unemployment Benefits, • Copy of receipt of Workers Compensation, • Social Security Administration Benefit Verification Letter,• Copies of all recent utility bills (gas, electric, internet, cable, phone),• Copy of lease, rental agreement or mortgage payments,• Copy of last 3 bank statements for checking and savings account(s),• Proof of all other expenses (including medical bills, insurance, loans and credit card payments)

55Fee Waivers

How do I Apply for a Fee Waiver?See if USCIS will accept a Fee Waiver for your application or petition by checking www.uscis.gov/forms.

If yes, complete Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.

Download this form free from: www.uscis.gov/forms, or

Call: 800-870-3697

File your completed form and supporting documents along with the application or petition you are filing.

What Happens if USCIS Rejects Your Fee Waiver Request?No matter the reason you applied for a fee waiver, if USCIS rejects your request, they will mail your application back and tell you to pay the filing fee. If you can provide additional proof or explain why they should reconsider your request, you can submit your fee waiver request again. Contact an authorized immigration law expert for help to submit your request again.

Reduced Fee for Form N-400, Naturalization ApplicationIf you do not qualify for a full fee waiver for naturalization (to become a U.S. citizen), you may qualify for a reduced fee if your household is low income.

This reduced fee option is NOT for other applications. It is only for the N-400, naturalization application. Also, it is only if you qualify as low-income based on Form I-942P Income Guidelines.

How do I apply for the Reduced Fee?If you are under 75 years old

Send a personal check or money order for the reduced fee of $405 with your naturalization application.

If you are 75 or older

Send a personal check or money order for the reduced fee of $320 with your naturalization application. (You do not have to pay the $85 biometrics fingerprinting fee.)

Also send your completed USCIS Form I-942 with the supporting documents to show you qualify.

You can show you qualify for a reduced fee if your household income is between 150% – 200% of the poverty guidelines. Check your family income against Form I-942P, Income Guidelines for Reduced Fees, to see if you qualify.

If you qualify for the reduced fee, provide your federal tax returns as proof of your income. If for some reason you did not file taxes, you can submit other proof of income, such as paystubs or a letter from your employer on business letterhead stating the amount of wages paid to you.

56 Fee Waivers

Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee

Note: Version current as of time of publication. Always check www.uscis.gov/forms for the most up to date information.

57Fee Waivers

58 Fee Waivers

59Fee Waivers

60 Fee Waivers

61Fee Waivers

62 Fee Waivers

63Fee Waivers

64 Fee Waivers

65Fee Waivers

Poverty Guidelines Form I-942P, Income Guidelines for Reduced Fee150% or less, you qualify for full fee waiver (Form I-912) 200% or less, you qualify for reduced fee for N-400

Note: Version current as of time of publication. Always check www.uscis.gov/forms for the most up to date information.

66 Fee Waivers

Form I-864P, Affidavit of SupportUsed to determine the minimum income needed to sponsor most family based immigrants to show they have adequate means of support and not likely to rely on the U.S. government for financial support.

Note: Version current as of time of publication. Always check www.uscis.gov/forms for the most up to date information.