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Fact Sheet
REQUEST FOR FEE WAIVER FOR FORM N-400
Fees are associated with filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, with limited exceptions.
Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, lists all current fees and fee exemptions for Form N-400. If a fee exemption for
Form N-400 applies to you, you do not need to request a fee waiver or pay the filing fee.
Fee waivers are available for those who meet specific criteria that clearly demonstrate that they are
unable to pay the fees. If you do not qualify for a fee waiver, you may qualify for a reduced filing fee. A
reduced fee is not the same as a fee waiver. For additional information, see the Instructions for Form
N-400. You may request a fee waiver by filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a
written request for a fee waiver, along with your paper Form N-400. If you are requesting a fee waiver,
you cannot submit your Form N-400 online and you must file paper versions of your fee waiver
request together with your Form N-400. If you are requesting a fee waiver, do not submit a payment.
If multiple members of the same family are simultaneously submitting their Form N-400 in the same
package, all family members may request a fee waiver on one Form I-912. The primary requestor
identified on the Form I-912 must sign the fee waiver, and a parent or legal guardian may sign the
request on behalf of their child under 14 years of age.
Your request for a fee waiver must establish your inability to pay based on at least one of the following
grounds:
• You, your spouse, your child, your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled), or your sibling (if you
and the sibling are under 21) with whom you reside are receiving a means-tested benefit.
o A means-tested benefit is a public benefit that is federally, state, locally, or tribally
funded, for which a person’s eligibility for the benefit, or the amount of the benefit, or
both, is based on the person’s income and resources. Some common examples are:
▪ Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
▪ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (known as “SNAP” and formerly called
food stamps);
▪ Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);
▪ Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF); and
▪ Medicaid.
o You must submit a letter, notice, or other documentation from a benefit-granting
agency indicating the means-tested benefit being received. Documentation must be
in English and should contain:
▪ The name of the person receiving the benefit;
▪ Name of the agency granting the benefit;
▪ Type of benefit being received; and
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▪ Indication that the benefit is being received (for example, date benefit was granted,
expiration date, and date of renewal if available).
• Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you
file. See current Federal Poverty Guidelines at https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-
economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines.
o The household income is based on household size, which includes:
▪ The applicant;
▪ Any spouse and parent(s) residing with the applicant;
▪ Any unmarried child or legal ward under the age of 21 residing with the applicant;
▪ Any unmarried child or legal ward 21-24 years old who is a full-time student residing
with the applicant;
▪ Any unmarried child or legal ward who is disabled, residing with the applicant, and
cannot care for themselves (regardless of age); and
▪ Any other dependents listed on your federal tax return or your spouse or head of
household’s federal tax returns.
o You must list and provide documentation of all household members’ income.
o You may submit a recent IRS Form 1040, IRS Form W-2, copies of consecutive pay
statements (stubs) for a minimum of one month dated within the three months preceding
the receipt of the fee waiver request, a statement from your employer on letterhead
attesting to your salary/wages, or Social Security, veteran’s benefits, and pension
documentation.
o If you lack a stable address, you may submit a letter from a shelter or other
support organization attesting to your lack of income.
• You are experiencing extreme financial hardship that prevents you from paying the filing fee
due to extraordinary expenses or other circumstances. This could include unexpected medical
bills or emergencies affecting you or your dependents, unemployment, eviction, and lack of
stable address (homelessness).
o You may include a detailed description of your financial situation that renders you
unable to pay the fee and provide evidence, if available. If you cannot provide evidence
of your financial hardship, explain why you cannot provide it.
o You may provide documentation of your income, a list of your assets, including real
estate, bank accounts, and stocks, and your liabilities such as rent or mortgage, utilities,
childcare, and medical expenses. If you cannot provide evidence of income, you may
submit affidavits from religious institutions, nonprofits, or community-based
organizations verifying that you are receiving some benefit or support from them.
For additional information, see
