An advance parole fee waiver is available only for two Form I-131 categories: humanitarian parole and travel documents filed by Temporary Protected Status holders. If you are filing advance parole alongside a pending Form I-485 adjustment of status, which is the most common reason people apply, the filing fee cannot be waived.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Policy Manual – Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver Sending a Form I-912 with an ineligible I-131 will get the whole package rejected, so confirm your category before you assemble anything.
Who Qualifies for a Waiver on Form I-131
USCIS publishes a list of the forms and categories that accept fee waivers. Form I-131 sits on that list under two headings only: humanitarian parole, and travel documents for TPS recipients.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Policy Manual – Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions Standard advance parole based on a pending I-485 is not eligible. Employment authorization (Form I-765) filed with the same adjustment package still accepts a fee waiver, which sometimes creates the mistaken impression that advance parole does too. It does not.
A separate group pays nothing regardless of income. Approved trafficking victims (Form I-914), certain crime victims (Form I-918), and members of the Ms. L. Settlement Class and their qualifying family members are exempt from the fee by statute.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule If you are in one of those categories, no Form I-912 is needed.
The $1,020 Parole Fee Cannot Be Waived
The filing fee itself is $630 on paper or $580 online.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule Under the Laken Riley Act (Pub. L. 119-21), a second charge now applies: a $1,020 immigration parole fee owed each time parole is actually granted, which includes each re-entry on an advance parole document.4Federal Register. Certain DHS Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 Fiscal Year 2026 Adjustments for Inflation It is collected at the moment parole is granted, not at filing.
No fee waiver reaches this $1,020 charge. Even applicants who successfully waive the I-131 filing fee still owe it, unless a specific statutory exception applies (Ms. L. Settlement Class members, for instance).3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1055 Fee Schedule Factor this into the total cost when you plan travel. As of February 5, 2026, USCIS is processing applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 with these rules in effect.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
The Three Financial Criteria
If your I-131 category is eligible, you qualify by showing one of three things.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver You only need one, but you can claim more than one if they fit.
A Means-Tested Benefit
You or a member of your household currently receives a benefit granted based on income, such as Medicaid, SNAP, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Current receipt creates a presumption that you cannot afford the fee.
Household Income at or Below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Your total household income falls at or below 150% of the HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2026, the thresholds in the 48 contiguous states are:7U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines Detailed Tables
- 1 person: $23,940
- 2 persons: $32,460
- 3 persons: $40,980
- 4 persons: $49,500
- 5 persons: $58,020
- 6 persons: $66,540
Alaska and Hawaii use higher thresholds. A one-person household qualifies at $29,925 in Alaska and $27,540 in Hawaii.7U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines Detailed Tables For each additional household member beyond six, add $8,520 in the contiguous states, $10,650 in Alaska, or $9,795 in Hawaii.
Financial Hardship
Even with income above the 150% threshold, you can qualify by showing a specific circumstance that prevents you from paying: large medical bills, an eviction, sudden job loss, or another extraordinary expense consuming income that would otherwise cover the fee. This is the most subjective criterion, and it turns on documentation.
Documentation That Actually Works
Incomplete evidence is the most common reason fee waivers get denied. Match your documents to the criterion you are claiming.
For a means-tested benefit, submit an official letter or notice from the granting agency. It must show your name, the type of benefit, the agency, and evidence that you are currently receiving it. A recent letter or one showing effective dates works. An expired letter does not.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Policy Manual – Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions
For income, provide evidence of your household’s total income: federal tax returns, W-2 forms, or recent pay stubs. If you have no income because you are unemployed or homeless, submit a detailed written description of your situation with supporting documents such as termination letters, unemployment insurance receipts, bankruptcy filings, or an affidavit from a community organization currently supporting you.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Policy Manual – Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions
For hardship, document the specific circumstance draining your finances: medical bills, eviction notices, or proof of income loss. The picture you build should show that your actual disposable income cannot cover the fee even if your gross income looks sufficient.
Any document not in English needs a complete English translation with a signed certification from the translator stating they are competent to translate the language and that the translation is accurate, along with the translator’s signature, date, and contact information.
Filing Form I-912 with Your I-131
You are filing two forms: the Form I-131 travel document application and the Form I-912 fee waiver request. Download the current editions from uscis.gov; USCIS rejects outdated versions.
On Form I-912, mark the criterion you are claiming and reference each piece of evidence you attach. Each person requesting a waiver files their own I-912 with a complete set of documents. As an alternative to the form itself, USCIS accepts a signed written letter that includes the same information and supporting evidence.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Policy Manual – Chapter 4 – Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions
Submit the waiver request together with the I-131. USCIS will not accept a fee waiver filed after the underlying application has already been received.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
Two submission options exist. You can mail paper Form I-912 with paper Form I-131 to the appropriate USCIS Lockbox listed in the I-131 instructions, or, for certain eligible forms, upload a completed PDF of Form I-912 through your USCIS online account.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver When mailing, place the Form I-912 and its evidence on top of the Form I-131 so the fee waiver request is the first thing a processor sees, and use a mailing method with tracking.
If USCIS Denies the Waiver
A denial usually takes down the underlying I-131 with it. You will receive a Form I-797 notice explaining the reason.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver There is no grace period to pay the fee after denial. You would refile the complete I-131 package with the filing fee and restart the processing clock.
If the waiver request involved false documentation or misrepresentation, USCIS will deny the underlying application outright, and a fraud finding on a fee waiver can carry into your broader immigration case. Submit only genuine documents and accurate financial information.