How to Fill Out Form I-912: Request for a Fee Waiver

Where to File

When you’re ready to submit Form I-912, be sure to attach it—along with all required supporting documents, to the application or petition you’re seeking a fee waiver for.

For example, if you’re requesting a fee waiver for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, you must mail Form N-400, Form I-912, and all your supporting documentation together to the address listed in the N-400 instructions.

Do Not Send Form I-912 by Itself
You must submit Form I-912 together with a completed application or petition. USCIS will not accept your fee waiver request if it’s submitted after they’ve already received your application.
So, if you’ve already sent in Form N-400, you cannot submit Form I-912 afterward—it must go in the same package.

How to Submit Form I-912

You have two ways to request a fee waiver, depending on the form:

1. Paper Filing
   
   • For any form that qualifies for a fee waiver, you can mail a completed paper Form I-912 along with your application or petition.
     
2. Online Filing (Limited to Certain Form I-765 Categories)
   
   • If you’re filing Form I-765 online and belong to an eligible category, you can upload your completed Form I-912 with your Form I-765 directly through your USCIS online account using the PDF upload option.

Before You Begin

• Type or print your answers legibly using black ink.
• If completing the form digitally, be sure to save it in a non-editable format before printing or emailing it.
• If additional space is needed, use Part 10 – Additional Information, or attach extra sheets. Include your name, A-Number (if applicable), the page number, part number, and item number related to your response on each sheet. Don’t forget to sign and date each one.

Answer all questions honestly and accurately. If a question does not apply, enter “N/A” or “None” as appropriate.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Part 1 – Basis for Your Request

Select the basis for your fee waiver request. You don’t need to complete all sections—just the ones relevant to your situation. Guidance on which parts to complete based on your situation is provided in Parts 4, 5, and 6.

Also, include your current immigration status—whether immigrant or nonimmigrant.

Part 2 – Information About You

If you’re a parent or legal guardian applying on someone’s behalf, indicate this.

Provide the following:

• Full legal name, including both last names (if applicable).
• Other names you’ve used, including maiden names.
• Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if you have one.
• USCIS Online Account Number, only if you’ve previously filed forms online (usually starts with “IOE”).
• Date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format.
• U.S. Social Security Number, if applicable.
• Marital status.

Part 3 – Applications and Petitions for Which You’re Requesting a Fee Waiver

List each form for which you’re requesting a fee waiver. Include the form numbers and how many individuals (including family members) are requesting the waiver.

Part 4 – Means-Tested Benefits

If you or a qualifying family member receives a means-tested public benefit, complete this section. Examples include:

• Medicaid
• SNAP (formerly known as food stamps)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Provide supporting documents from the agency granting the benefit. These benefits must be based on income and resources and can be funded federally, by the state, or locally.

Note: Programs like Medicare, Social Security retirement or disability, and student financial aid are not considered means-tested benefits.

Part 5 – Income at or Below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines

To qualify under this section:

• Your household income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time of filing.
• The guidelines are updated annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Check the latest chart on the USCIS website.

You’ll need to provide:

• Your current employment status.
• If unemployed, the date unemployment began and any unemployment benefits received.
• Total number of people in your household and how many of them have income.
• Your head of household’s name (if not yourself).
• Annual household income from all sources. If you’ve filed taxes, use line 11 from Form 1040.
• If no tax return is available, use your W-2s or other income records from the past 12 months.
• Explanation and supporting documents if you have no income or financial support.

Part 6 – Financial Hardship

If your income is above the federal poverty limit but you’re facing exceptional financial hardship, explain your situation here. Examples include:

• High medical bills
• Unemployment
• Eviction notices
• Loss of income
• Natural disaster recovery
• Domestic abuse or human trafficking

Provide detailed documentation to support your claims. You should also list your assets, including:

• Cash
• Bank accounts
• Stocks or bonds
• Any easily liquidated property (excluding retirement accounts unless they are your sole income source)

Also, list your monthly expenses and liabilities.

Part 7 – Requestor’s Statement, Contact Information, and Signature

• Indicate if you completed the form yourself or with help from an interpreter or preparer.
• Provide your contact information.
• Sign and date the form—typed or stamped names are not accepted.

Part 8 – Interpreter’s Contact Information and Signature

If you used an interpreter, they must:

• Provide their full name and contact info.
• Sign and date the form.

Part 9 – Preparer’s Information (If Not the Requester)

If someone other than you filled out the form (like an attorney or accredited representative), they must complete this section and sign the form. If the preparer is an attorney, they may also need to submit Form G-28 or Form G-28i.

Part 10 – Additional Information

Use this section to:

• Explain answers or include extra information.
• Add more space for any part of the form.
• Remember to label each additional page clearly with your name, A-number, page number, part number, and item number.

Final Tips

Make sure to review the instructions for Form I-912 carefully. A complete list of the required supporting documents is included in the official USCIS instructions (linked in the video description). There, you’ll also find details on how your fee waiver request will be processed.

Thank you for using this guide—we hope it helps make the process easier and clearer!