FAQs About Paying Immigration Filing Fees

If you are a foreign national submitting an immigration-related petition or application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or a U.S. consulate (run by the Department of State, or DOS), you will probably need to pay a processing fee—or more likely a combination of fees. Here are some commonly asked questions about fee obligations and payments.

How Long Will It Take for USCIS to Process My Payment?

The usual USCIS turnaround after receiving an application is about one week to process the payment. But longer waits definitely happen, particularly during times of transition, such as USCIS implementing a new fee structure. In any case, it's worth keeping an eye on USCIS's action with regard to your payment, and taking follow-up action (such as contacting USCIS) if you wait longer than normal.

Can I Get My Money Back If USCIS or the DOS Denies the Application?

No, you can't get your money back if your case is not approved. These are considered processing fees; you pay for the privilege of having your petition or application considered.

But there are situations where you might not have to pay a fee for a follow-up application—for example, if USCIS spells your name wrong or makes another mistake in issuing your green card. In that case, you would not have to pay the fee to obtain a replacement card.

And, there are very limited situations where you might receive a refund, such as if USCIS charged an incorrect amount. Or, you might never be charged at all if USCIS rejects your application entirely (sends it back without processing it, due to major errors like incorrectly chosen forms or missing signatures).

What If Fees Change After I Submit the Form?

Both USCIS and DOS raise their fees fairly regularly, though not on a set schedule. The DOS posts a list of its Fees for Visa Services here. And here's the USCIS Fee Schedule. Always check for the latest amounts before filing your application and submitting the fee.

In an unexpected change, Congress added fees on top of the USCIS fees via the 2025 "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), including a new fee for asylum applications.

You might, in some cases, have to add different amounts together—such as a basic fee to file the primary form, and an extra fee for an I-765 work permit request or an I-131 travel document (Advance Parole) request. Or you might be asked to pay a lump fee even though you are filing different forms.

As long as your application is accepted for processing—that is, the U.S. government doesn't send it back to you because you forgot something—you don't have to worry that the agency will ask you for extra money if the application fees later go up.

By What Method Should I Pay USCIS Fees?

Do not send cash! Paying by personal check or money order has also been phased out (per a change in USCIS policy).

Currently and going forward, you can choose between two digital payment options: either by credit card (using USCIS Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions) or by completing and signing Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, to effect a transfer from a U.S. bank.

By What Method Should I Pay Consular Fees?

If you are applying for a visa through a U.S. embassy or consulate, it will send you instructions for making the fee payments. For example, for an immigrant visa (U.S. lawful permanent residence) you will need to provide DOS with a bank routing number and a checking or savings account number from a U.S.-based bank. You would do this by logging into the CEAC portal and entering the information.

Keep track of whether your receipt eventually displays a transaction ID—seeing "In Process" status alone is not enough. If the payment shows as "In Process" without a transaction ID, check back regularly to verify the payment was completed. It could take two or three days, according to the DOS. Your Affidavit of Support Fee payment should appear on your bank statement as "NVC AOS FEE" and your Immigrant Visa Fee payments as "NVC IV FEE".

What If I Can't Afford a USCIS Fee?

It is possible in some cases to apply for a "fee waiver" from USCIS. When available, these are normally limited to applicants whose:

• total annual household income is at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
• have significant financial hardship, such as medical expenses or unemployment, or
• are receiving a means-tested public benefit (such as Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, housing assistance, or SSI).

For applications for naturalized U.S. citizenship, there is also a fee reduction option. If your household income is between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you can request to pay a lower fee by submitting Form I-942 with your Form N-400 application for citizenship. (USCIS will not accept the fee reduction request after filing.)

Not all applications allow for fee waivers, however. You'll need to read the relevant instructions carefully. You will definitely not be allowed to apply for a fee waiver if you are in a category of applicants that can be found inadmissible based on likelihood of becoming a "public charge" (requiring need-based public assistance or welfare). Assuming you're in another category, see for instructions the USCIS information on filing a fee waiver. There is, for example, a fee waiver to applicants for naturalized U.S. citizenship.

Another complicating factor is when there's a combination of fees for one application. You might be able to ask for a waiver of the USCIS-based fee, for instance, but never of an OBBBA fee.

In any case, you should request a waiver only as a last resort. Submitting a fee waiver request can slow down your application's processing. And if you make a mistake and submit it despite being in a category of applicant that is subject to public-charge inadmissibility, the information you provide about your financial need could convince USCIS that you actually show every sign of becoming a public charge.

The DOS does not offer fee waivers for any of its applications.