THREE FEE OPTIONS
$0
FULL FEE WAIVER
Form I-912
Income ≤150% poverty line
OR means-tested benefits
OR financial hardship
Income ≤150% poverty line
OR means-tested benefits
OR financial hardship
$405
REDUCED FEE
Form I-942
Income 150-200% poverty line
Income 150-200% poverty line
$760
STANDARD FEE
No form needed
Paper filing
($710 if filing online)
Paper filing
($710 if filing online)
THREE GROUNDS FOR A FULL FEE WAIVER
Meeting any ONE of the three grounds is sufficient. You do not need to meet all three.
GROUND 1 — MEANS-TESTED BENEFITS (EASIEST TO PROVE)
You or a household member currently receives qualifying benefits
Qualifying benefits: Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Federal Public Housing Assistance, or a means-tested benefit from a state or local government program.
Evidence required: a current benefit award letter showing the benefit is active. A benefit card is NOT sufficient — USCIS explicitly requires the letter.
GROUND 2 — INCOME AT OR BELOW 150% OF FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES
Your household income falls below the threshold for your household size
The 2024 USCIS I-912P income thresholds for the 48 contiguous states:
| Household Size | Annual Income Limit (150%) |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $22,590 |
| 2 persons | $30,660 |
| 3 persons | $38,730 |
| 4 persons | $46,800 |
| 5 persons | $54,870 |
| 6 persons | $62,940 |
| 7 persons | $71,010 |
| 8 persons | $79,080 |
| Each additional person | Add $8,070 |
Alaska and Hawaii have higher thresholds. Verify the current figures at uscis.gov/i-912 — poverty guidelines update annually.
Evidence required: pay stubs for the most recent 6 months, most recent federal tax return, or a letter from your employer confirming current annual income.
GROUND 3 — FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
You cannot afford the fee even though you do not qualify under Grounds 1 or 2
Less predictable than the other two grounds — adjudicated case by case. Common evidence: medical bills, dependent care costs, recent job loss, sudden income reduction, or other extraordinary expenses making the $760 fee impossible.
Evidence required: documentation of extraordinary expenses or income disruption with supporting records.
REDUCED FEE — FORM I-942
If your income is between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you do not qualify for a full waiver but may qualify for a reduced fee of $405.
File Form I-942 (Request for Reduced Fee) with your N-400 — the same process as the I-912 waiver. The 200% income thresholds are published in the current Form I-942 instructions at uscis.gov/i-942.
HOW TO APPLY — STEP BY STEP
01
Download Form I-912 and I-912P instructions from uscis.gov/i-912. The instructions explain exactly what evidence is required for your qualifying ground.
02
Complete Form I-912 fully. Do not leave any field blank — incomplete forms are denied without review of the merits.
03
Assemble your evidence based on your qualifying ground. Ground 1: benefit award letter. Ground 2: pay stubs + tax return. Ground 3: documentation of hardship.
04
Submit Form I-912 with your N-400 in the same package. Do not send them separately. USCIS adjudicates the fee waiver as part of your N-400 application.
05
If approved: your application proceeds. If denied: USCIS notifies you and gives you the opportunity to pay the standard fee. Your application is not rejected — you can pay and continue.
FOUR MISTAKES THAT GET FEE WAIVERS DENIED
Submitting a benefit card instead of a benefit award letter
USCIS explicitly states benefit cards are not acceptable. You must submit a current award letter showing the benefit is active.
Filing Form I-912 separately from the N-400
Submit both in the same package. Separate submissions cause processing issues.
Leaving fields blank on Form I-912
USCIS denies incomplete forms without reviewing the merits. Complete every field.
Submitting income above 150% without additional hardship documentation
If your pay stubs show income above the threshold but you still face hardship, you need Ground 3 evidence — not just income documentation.
Public charge note: USCIS has clarified that naturalization applicants are generally not subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility. Requesting a fee waiver for Form N-400 does not affect your immigration status. Confirm current policy at uscis.gov before relying on this guidance as immigration law can change.
AFTER YOUR FEE IS RESOLVED
LEGALIAI walks you through all 16 parts of the N-400, generates your document checklist, and prepares you for the 2026 civics interview. The most accessible citizenship prep available. $9.99 in 8 languages.
START YOUR N-400 — $9.99FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I apply for a fee waiver if I receive SNAP food stamps?
SNAP alone is not a qualifying means-tested benefit for the automatic Ground 1 waiver. However, SNAP recipients often have household incomes that qualify under Ground 2 (150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines). Check your household income against the current I-912P figures at uscis.gov/i-912.
Is there a military fee exemption for N-400?
Yes — this is separate from the fee waiver. Active-duty military and certain veterans file N-400 with no USCIS filing fee under a military exemption. No Form I-912 is required. Check current military naturalization requirements at uscis.gov/military.
How long does it take for USCIS to adjudicate a fee waiver request?
USCIS adjudicates the fee waiver as part of your N-400 application — there is no separate timeline for the waiver itself. Your N-400 processing time includes the fee waiver review. A denied fee waiver does not restart your clock — you pay the fee and the original filing date is preserved.