Form I-912: Request for Fee Waiver
Form I-912 asks USCIS to waive the filing fee for certain forms when the applicant cannot afford to pay, based on public benefits receipt, low household income, or financial hardship.
This is the genuine USCIS PDF, unmodified. Source: USCIS official page.
What is I-912?
USCIS may waive its filing fee for eligible forms when the requestor demonstrates inability to pay in one of three ways: receiving a means-tested public benefit (such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or TANF), having household income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or facing a financial hardship such as high medical bills or unemployment.
Not every USCIS form is fee-waiver eligible, and the list of eligible forms is set by USCIS policy. The I-912 is filed together with the underlying application; if the waiver is denied, the whole package is rejected and must be refiled with payment, which can matter when deadlines apply.
Who files I-912?
- Applicants receiving a means-tested public benefit, documented with a current benefit letter
- People whose household income is at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Applicants facing a demonstrated financial hardship, such as medical expenses or job loss
- One request can cover family members filing eligible forms together, as described in the instructions
How to fill out I-912
- Confirm on uscis.gov that the form you are filing is eligible for a fee waiver.
- Pick the basis for your request: means-tested benefit, household income, or financial hardship, and complete that section fully.
- Gather documentation: benefit award letters, federal tax returns or income proof, or evidence of hardship expenses.
- Sign the request; every applicant covered by it must sign where required.
- File the I-912 on top of the underlying application in one package at that form’s normal filing location, with no fee payment included.
Quick fill I-912 on this page
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Frequently asked questions
Which USCIS forms can have their fees waived?
Only certain forms are eligible, generally humanitarian and status-related filings such as naturalization and TPS applications. Fee waiver eligibility rules and the covered forms list are published on uscis.gov and change with fee rule updates, so check before filing.
What is the easiest way to qualify?
If you or a qualifying family member currently receives a means-tested public benefit, submitting a recent benefits award letter is usually the most straightforward basis. USCIS generally does not need further income analysis once that is documented.
What happens if my fee waiver is denied?
USCIS rejects the entire filing and returns it. You must refile the application with the correct fee or a corrected waiver request. Build in time for this possibility if you are working against a deadline such as a TPS registration window.