Paying USCIS Immigration Fees: Waivers, Reduced Fees and Loans

Published by the Modern Lending Solutions editorial team. Last reviewed: October 30, 2026.

Short answer: check the exact fee on the USCIS fee schedule first, then see whether your form is eligible for a fee waiver (Form I-912) or, for naturalization, a reduced fee. USCIS takes payment by card or bank account through its own forms and online account, never through a person on the phone or by email. If you still need to borrow, compare the total cost of a card and a loan.

Find the current fee

USCIS says it adjusts its fees from time to time and lists every fee on its fee schedule, Form G-1055, with a fee calculator for the exact amount for your form (USCIS). USCIS published a new edition of the schedule on October 28, 2026 (G-1055). Check it on the day you file, because a wrong fee gets the form rejected (USCIS).

One example of how fees differ by filing method: on October 30, 2026, the USCIS naturalization page listed the Form N-400 fee as $760 on paper or $710 online (USCIS N-400).

Fee waiver: Form I-912

For forms that are eligible, you can ask USCIS to waive the fee with Form I-912 or a written request (USCIS I-912). You need documents showing one of these (USCIS):

You, your spouse, your child, or your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled) are currently receiving a means-tested benefit, such as Medicaid, SNAP, TANF or SSI.
Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file.
You are in extreme financial hardship, such as from unexpected medical bills or emergencies, that prevents you from paying.

File the I-912 together with the form it is for. You cannot send it after USCIS has received that form (USCIS I-912). USCIS says it grants a waiver only if you clearly show you cannot pay, and if it finds you are not eligible, it may reject both the waiver request and the form it came with (USCIS).

Who cannot get a waiver

A waiver is only available if the form you are filing is eligible for one; the fee schedule shows which forms are (USCIS).
USCIS cannot waive or reduce the fees added by the law known as H.R. 1 (Pub. L. 119-21). For forms covered by it, you pay that fee separately even if you ask to waive the regular fee (USCIS).
For the means-tested benefit route, USCIS does not count Medicare, unemployment benefits, Social Security, SSDI or student aid as means-tested benefits (USCIS).
A college student 21 or older cannot use a parent's means-tested benefit, though the student may qualify on income or hardship (USCIS).

A fee exemption is different from a waiver: some forms or groups have no fee at all, and those are listed on the fee schedule (USCIS).

Reduced fee for naturalization

For Form N-400 only, USCIS offers a reduced fee of $380 if your documented household income is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You must file on paper, and you should not request both a reduced fee and a fee waiver (USCIS).

How USCIS takes payment

Inside the United States, you pay online by credit, debit or prepaid card or bank (ACH) debit, or, when filing by mail, with Form G-1450 for a card or Form G-1650 for a bank account. USCIS no longer accepts checks or money orders for paper filings unless you qualify for an exemption (USCIS). Online payments go through your USCIS online account and Pay.gov (USCIS).

Red flags: notarios and fake payment requests

Someone asks you to send fee money to a person, or to pay by phone or email. USCIS says it will never do this, and it does not accept money transfer services, payment apps or gift cards for fees (USCIS).
A notario publico offers immigration legal help. USCIS says a notario is not authorized to give legal services; only an attorney or an accredited representative of a Department of Justice recognized organization can (USCIS).
Someone offers to speed up your case for money or promises a quick result, or sends email from an address that does not end in .gov (USCIS).
A loan offer that asks for a fee up front; see the advance-fee scam guide.

USCIS says you do not need a representative to file forms (USCIS). If you suspect immigration fraud, USCIS points you to the FTC or your state consumer protection office (USCIS); the FTC takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Example: borrowing a $760 fee

This example finances $760, the paper N-400 fee shown above, over 12 months at the Federal Reserve's August 2026 averages: 11.90% APR for 24-month personal loans and 22.36% for credit card plans (G.19). Your rate and fee may differ.

Option	Monthly payment	Interest	Total paid
Personal loan at 11.90%	$67.49	$49.88	$809.88
Credit card at 22.36%	$71.26	$95.12	$855.12

$67.49 x 12 = $809.88, and $71.26 x 12 = $855.12. A loan origination fee would add to the loan cost; the origination fee calculator shows how. If you do not have a Social Security number, the ITIN loan guide covers applying with an ITIN.

Questions to ask before you pay

Is this the current fee on the USCIS fee schedule for my form and filing method?
Is my form eligible for a fee waiver, or for the N-400 reduced fee?
Am I paying USCIS directly, through its forms or my USCIS online account?

This guide explains USCIS fee rules in general terms. It is not legal advice; for advice on your case, use an attorney or an accredited representative.

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Disclosure: Modern Lending Solutions is not a lender, loan broker or agent for any lender or loan broker, and does not make credit decisions. Any compensation we receive is paid by participating lenders, only for advertising services. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.

How to Pay Immigration Fees: Waivers, Reduced Fees and Borrowing