Form I-912 – Request for Fee Waiver

According to USCIS rules, you must use Form I-912 – Request for Fee Waiver to request a fee waiver (or submit a written request) for certain immigration forms and services based on a demonstrated inability to pay.

To file your completed Form I-912, attach it and all supporting documentation to the application or petition for which you are requesting a fee waiver. For example, if you are requesting a fee waiver for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, you must mail your Form N-400, Form I-912, and supporting documentation to the address listed in the Form N-400 Instructions.

Do not submit your Form I-912 without a completed application or petition. You cannot submit Form I-912 after having sent the application or petition for which you are requesting the fee waiver. For example, if you are requesting a fee waiver for Form N-400, you cannot submit Form I-912 after we receive your Form N-400.

Keep in mind, that according to immigration rules, you cannot file online if you are requesting a fee waiver. You must file paper versions of Form I-912 and the form for which you are requesting a fee waiver.

Also keep in mind that your Form I-912 must be signed. USCIS will reject your Form I-912 if it is not signed either by you or an elected representative. Remember if you are under 14 years of age or consider mentally incompetent you also cannot sign.

How do I fill out Form 912?

If you submit documentation containing information in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Under current fee waiver regulations, USCIS may only approve fee waivers for certain forms or certain types of requests on a form. You may file Form I-912 to request a fee waiver for any of the following benefit requests or services:

• Biometric services fee, except for the biometric services fee required for Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, filed under 8 CFR 212.7(e);
• Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card;
• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, if you are applying for E-2 CNMI investor nonimmigrant status under 8 CFR 214.2(e)(23);
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, if you are applying for humanitarian parole;
• Form I-191, Application for Advance Permission to Return to Unrelinquished Domicile;
• Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant, but only if you are exempt from the public charge grounds of inadmissibility;
• Form I-193, Application for Waiver for Passport and/or Visa, if you are exempt from the public charge grounds of inadmissibility;
• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, if your underlying application was fee exempt, the fee was waived, or it was eligible for a fee waiver;

Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, if you are applying for lawful permanent resident status based on:

• An eligibility category that is exempt from the public charge grounds of inadmissibility of section 212(a)(4) of the INA, such as the Cuban Adjustment Act, the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act;
• Continuous residence in the United States before Jan. 1, 1972 (“Registry”);
• Asylum status;
• Special Immigrant Juvenile status or similar categories;
• Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, if you are applying for any benefit request specified by section 245(l)(7) of the INA or applying for E-2 CNMI investor nonimmigrant status under 8 CFR 214.2(e)(23);
• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, if you are exempt from the public charge grounds of inadmissibility in section 212(a)(4) of the INA;
• Form I-694, Notice of Appeal of Decision Under Sections 245A or 210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, if your underlying application or petition was fee exempt, the fee was waived, or was eligible for a fee waiver;
• Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence;
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, unless you are filing under category (c)(33), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals;
• Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits;
• Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status;
• Form I-881, Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal;
• Form N-300, Application to File Declaration of Intention;
• Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings;
• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization;
• Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes;
• Form N-565, Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document;
• Form N-600, Application for Certification of Citizenship; and
• Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322.

You may also apply for a fee waiver for any application or petition that is related to your status as a:

• Battered spouse of an A, G, E-3, or H nonimmigrant (such as Forms I-485, I-601, and I-212);
• Battered spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen under INA 240A(b)(2);
• T nonimmigrant (such as Forms I-192, I-485, and I-601);
• Temporary Protected Status recipient (such as Forms I-131, I-821, and I-601);
• U nonimmigrant (such as Forms I-192, I-485, and I-929); or
• VAWA self-petitioner (such as Forms I-485, I-601, and I-212).

You may not file Form I-912 if you are requesting consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). There are no fee waivers for DACA. Fee exemptions will be available in limited circumstances.

Instructions for Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver

You do not need to file Form I-912 for applications and petitions that do not require a filing fee. Other USCIS applications and petitions have fee exemption requirements for certain types of benefit requestors.

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