Form I-912: Request Fee Waiver for USCIS Forms

Form I-912 (Fee Waiver Request) is the request to waive filing fees when submitting applications to USCIS. Key points: • Filing the I-912 form itself is FREE • Can save $1,440+ on the I-485 filing fee • Applicable to many immigration forms When you submit documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you usually need to pay a fee. But if you cannot afford to pay — you can request a waiver of this fee. This is what Form I-912 is for.

You may request a fee waiver if you meet at least one of these conditions: 1. You or your family receive public benefits For example: SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Section 8 housing, WIC, and other means-tested assistance programs. 2. Your household income is very low If your household income does not exceed 150% of the federal poverty level — you likely qualify for the waiver. 3. You have serious financial hardship For example: large medical bills, job loss, eviction, fire, divorce, or other emergencies that prevent you from paying the fee.

Here are the main forms that can have fees waived with I-912: • I-90 — Green Card Replacement • I-485 — Adjustment of Status (asylum, refugees, special categories) • I-751 — Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence • I-765 — Employment Authorization (except DACA) • I-821 — Temporary Protected Status (TPS) • N-400 — Application for Naturalization • N-600 — Certificate of Citizenship Important: Some forms do NOT qualify for I-912. Check the list at uscis.gov/i-912 before filing.

Qualifying for I-912: ✔ SNAP (food stamps) ✔ Medicaid ✔ SSI (Supplemental Security Income) ✔ TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) ✔ Section 8 Housing ✔ WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) ✔ CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) ✔ Other income-based assistance programs NOT qualifying: ✘ Medicare ✘ Unemployment benefits ✘ Social Security (SSDI) ✘ Student grants and loans Important: To verify, you need a letter from the agency providing the benefit. The letter must include: your name, agency name, type of assistance, confirmation that you are currently receiving it. Document must be less than 12 months old.

Yes! If public benefits are received by someone in your household (not personally you), this can still help if you live together: • Spouse receives benefits → you can also request the waiver • Your child under 21 receives benefits → you can use this as basis • You receive benefits → your child under 21 can also benefit Important: All must live at the same address (same household).

Step-by-step process: 1. Complete Form I-912 (or write a letter explaining your eligibility) 2. Gather supporting documents proving your eligibility 3. Sign the form 4. Submit TOGETHER with your main application — as one mail package ⚠️ IMPORTANT RULES: • Cannot file I-912 separately — only together with the main application • Cannot file after USCIS has already received your documents • Do not include payment with Form I-912 — money will not be refunded and form will be ignored

If receiving public benefits: • Letter from benefit agency showing: - Your name - Agency name - Type of assistance - Confirmation you are currently receiving it • Document must be less than 12 months old If low income: • Recent tax return (Form 1040) • W-2 forms • Pay stubs for last 3 months If financial hardship: • Income documents • Expense documents (rent, medical, childcare, etc.) • Written explanation of situation If no income (unemployed/homeless): • Written explanation of circumstances • Letter from shelter, church, or nonprofit • Medical bills or bankruptcy documents • Termination notice

To avoid denial, make sure: ✔ Form is signed ✔ You stated the reason for requesting the waiver ✔ You attached supporting documents ✔ All foreign language documents are translated into English (with translator certification) ✔ I-912 is filed together with the main application ✔ You did NOT include payment with Form I-912 (otherwise money won't be refunded and form will be ignored) Common mistakes: • Filing I-912 separately from the main form • Filing after USCIS has already received the application • Missing supporting documents • Expired documents (>12 months old) • Unsigned form

What to do if denied: • Check the denial notice (Form I-797) — it should state the reason • If still unclear — write to: lockboxsupport@uscis.dhs.gov • You can refile with corrected documents • Fix the stated issues and refile Important: Denial of I-912 does NOT mean denial of your main application — you will just need to pay the fee or refile I-912.

Under the new law, some additional fees cannot be waived. However, standard USCIS filing fees can still be waived via Form I-912. If your form is affected by this law — check the official fee schedule (Form G-1055) at uscis.gov. Recommendation: Always check current information on the official USCIS website before filing.