Quick Answer: How Much Does Form I-751 Cost?
The current USCIS filing fee for Form I-751 is $750 when filed on paper and $700 when filed online.
There is no separate $85 biometrics fee under the current USCIS fee structure.
Certain conditional permanent residents filing based on qualifying battery or extreme cruelty pay $0. Other applicants who cannot afford the filing fee may qualify to request a USCIS fee waiver, depending on their income, qualifying benefits, or financial hardship.
Because USCIS fees can change, check the current USCIS Fee Schedule before filing.
For a broader overview of eligibility, filing steps, evidence, and what happens after filing, see our complete Form I-751 guide.
Form I-751 Fees at a Glance
The amount you pay for Form I-751 depends on how you file and whether a fee exemption or approved fee waiver applies to your situation.
Last checked against the USCIS Fee Schedule: September 2, 2026
| Your situation | Current treatment |
|---|---|
| Form I-751 filed online | $700 |
| Form I-751 filed on paper | $750 |
| Separate biometrics fee | $0 |
| Child included on the same qualifying I-751 | No separate Form I-751 or separate I-751 filing fee for the child |
| Child required to file a separate I-751 | Separate applicable I-751 fee |
| Qualifying battery/extreme-cruelty filing | $0 |
| Approved financial fee waiver | $0 |
A $0 fee exemption is different from a financial fee waiver. For example, certain battery or extreme-cruelty filings are fee-exempt under the USCIS Fee Schedule, while other applicants may need to request and qualify for a fee waiver based on their financial circumstances.
Note: The fees listed above are USCIS government filing fees. If you choose to use ImmigrationDirect to help prepare your Form I-751, a separate ImmigrationDirect service fee applies. The ImmigrationDirect service fee is separate from any USCIS filing fee you may be required to pay.
What Is the Current Form I-751 Filing Fee?
The current USCIS filing fee for Form I-751 is $750 for paper filing and $700 for online filing. The amount you pay depends on how you submit the petition.
USCIS fees can change, so check the current USCIS Fee Schedule before filing to confirm the latest amount.
Does It Cost Less to File Form I-751 Online?
Yes. The current USCIS fee is $700 for an online Form I-751 filing, compared with $750 for a paper filing. This means eligible applicants can currently save $50 by filing online.
The lower amount reflects USCIS’s online filing fee structure. However, online filing availability, fees, and payment requirements can change, so confirm the current amount in the USCIS Fee Schedule before submitting your petition.
For more information about the differences between filing methods, see Can You File Form I-751 Online? Online vs. Mail Filing Guide.
Is There a Separate I-751 Biometrics Fee?
No. Under the current USCIS fee structure, Form I-751 does not have a separate $85 biometrics fee.
Biometric services are included in the Form I-751 filing-fee structure. However, USCIS may still require you to attend a biometrics appointment after filing.
Not being charged a separate biometrics fee does not mean USCIS will waive or skip biometrics for your case.
Do You Pay Extra for Children on Form I-751?
It depends on whether the child is included on the parent’s Form I-751 or must file a separate petition.
| Child filing situation | General fee effect |
|---|---|
| Child included on the parent’s qualifying Form I-751 | No separate Form I-751 or separate I-751 filing fee for the child |
| Child must file a separate Form I-751 | A separate applicable Form I-751 filing fee applies |
Whether a child can be included depends on when the child obtained conditional permanent resident status and the circumstances of the filing.
For eligibility details, see Form I-751 for Children: Who Can Be Included?
Does an I-751 Waiver Have a Different Filing Fee?
Filing Form I-751 without your spouse does not automatically make the filing free. The fee depends on the filing basis that applies to your situation and whether you separately qualify for a financial fee waiver.
| Filing basis | General fee treatment |
|---|---|
| Joint Form I-751 filing | Standard applicable filing fee |
| Individual filing after the qualifying spouse’s death | Standard applicable fee unless a financial fee waiver is approved |
| Divorce or annulment waiver | Standard applicable fee unless a financial fee waiver is approved |
| Extreme-hardship waiver | Standard applicable fee unless a financial fee waiver is approved |
| Qualifying battery or extreme-cruelty waiver | $0 — fee-exempt |
USCIS specifically states that a qualifying spouse or child filing an I-751 waiver based on battery or extreme cruelty is not required to pay the filing fee. Other individual or waiver filing bases are not automatically fee-exempt.
For help identifying the filing basis that applies to your situation, see Joint Form I-751 vs. I-751 Waiver: Which Applies?
I-751 Fee Exemption vs. Fee Waiver: What’s the Difference?
A fee exemption and a fee waiver are not the same thing.
A fee exemption applies when USCIS has already set the filing fee at $0 for a specific filing category. A fee waiver applies when a filing normally has a fee, but the applicant asks USCIS to waive it because they cannot afford to pay.
| Fee exemption | Financial fee waiver |
|---|---|
| USCIS sets the filing fee at $0 for the qualifying category | The standard filing fee normally applies |
| Based on the type of filing | Based on the applicant’s financial circumstances |
| Form I-912 is not required simply to receive the listed $0 exemption | Generally requires Form I-912 or another fee-waiver request USCIS permits |
| Example: qualifying I-751 filing based on battery or extreme cruelty | Example: household income at or below the USCIS fee-waiver threshold |
For Form I-751, a qualifying battery or extreme-cruelty filing is fee-exempt. Other applicants may instead need to request a financial fee waiver and show that they meet USCIS’s fee-waiver requirements.
Who Can Request an I-751 Fee Waiver?
Some Form I-751 applicants who cannot afford the filing fee may request a USCIS fee waiver. USCIS generally considers three financial bases for a fee-waiver request.
You or Your Household Receive a Means-Tested Benefit
You may qualify if you, your spouse, or the head of household living with you currently receives a means-tested benefit that meets USCIS requirements.
You must provide evidence showing the qualifying benefit and follow the documentation requirements in the current Form I-912 instructions.
Your Household Income Is at or Below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
You may qualify if your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
The income limit depends on your household size and, in some cases, where you live. Because the poverty guidelines are updated periodically, use the current USCIS and federal income figures when preparing your request.
The 2026 income limits are shown in the next section.
You Are Experiencing Extreme Financial Hardship
USCIS may also consider a fee-waiver request based on extreme financial hardship.
This financial-hardship standard for requesting a USCIS fee waiver is different from the Form I-751 extreme-hardship waiver of the joint filing requirement.
This can include extraordinary financial circumstances such as significant unexpected medical expenses, a substantial loss of income, an emergency, or other circumstances that affect your ability to pay the filing fee. You must provide evidence explaining and supporting the hardship.
Meeting one of these general categories does not automatically guarantee USCIS will approve the fee-waiver request. USCIS reviews the information and supporting documents submitted with each request.
2026 Income Limits for an I-751 Fee Waiver
You may qualify to request a Form I-751 fee waiver based on income if your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
For 2026, the income limits for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia are:
| Household size | 150% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,940 |
| 2 | $32,460 |
| 3 | $40,980 |
| 4 | $49,500 |
| 5 | $58,020 |
| 6 | $66,540 |
| 7 | $75,060 |
| 8 | $83,580 |
For households with more than eight people, the applicable income limit increases for each additional person.
These figures apply to the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Alaska and Hawaii have different poverty guidelines.
Your household size and income must be determined according to USCIS fee-waiver rules. Meeting the income threshold is one possible basis for requesting a fee waiver and does not replace the need to provide the required supporting information.
Income limits change annually. Check the current Federal Poverty Guidelines before filing your fee-waiver request.
How to Request an I-751 Fee Waiver
If you believe you qualify for a financial fee waiver, submit the fee-waiver request with your Form I-751 using the process USCIS requires.
Steps to Request a Fee Waiver
- Confirm Form I-751 is eligible for a fee waiver: Form I-751 is one of the USCIS forms for which certain applicants may request a financial fee waiver.
- Complete the current Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver: USCIS may also permit another written fee-waiver request in certain circumstances, but Form I-912 is the standard method.
- Choose the fee-waiver basis that applies to you: This may be based on a qualifying means-tested benefit, household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or extreme financial hardship.
- Include supporting documents: Provide the evidence USCIS requires for the fee-waiver basis you selected, such as benefit, income, or financial-hardship documentation.
- Submit the fee-waiver request with Form I-751: Follow the current USCIS filing instructions for submitting Form I-751 with a fee-waiver request.
Review the current USCIS Form I-912 instructions before filing because fee-waiver requirements and filing procedures can change.
Do not include the Form I-751 filing fee if you are requesting a fee waiver. If you submit the filing fee with the fee-waiver request, USCIS may process the payment and not consider the fee-waiver request.
Can You File Form I-751 Online With a Fee Waiver?
Generally, you should not file Form I-751 online if you are requesting a USCIS fee waiver.
USCIS states that, for most applications, a fee waiver cannot be requested through online filing. Instead, you generally need to submit Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or another written fee-waiver request USCIS permits, together with the paper Form I-751.
Check the current Form I-751 and Form I-912 instructions before filing because USCIS filing methods and fee-waiver procedures can change.
For more information about filing methods, see Can You File Form I-751 Online? Online vs. Mail Filing Guide.
What Happens If USCIS Does Not Approve Your Fee Waiver?
If USCIS does not approve your fee-waiver request, your Form I-751 may be rejected if the required filing fee is not included.
A rejected USCIS filing generally does not retain its original filing date. This can be especially important for jointly filed Form I-751 petitions, which generally must be submitted during the 90-day period before conditional permanent residence expires.
Do not assume that submitting a fee-waiver request automatically protects your filing date or gives you additional time to pay if the request is not approved.
If you are relying on a fee-waiver request, avoid waiting until the final days of your filing window when possible.
For timing requirements, see When to File Form I-751: 90-Day Filing Window Explained.
How to Pay the Form I-751 Fee in 2026
How you pay the Form I-751 fee depends on how you file.
- Filing online: Pay through the USCIS online filing system using an available electronic payment method, such as a bank account, credit card, debit card, or prepaid card.
- Filing by mail with ACH: Use Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, to authorize payment from a U.S. bank account.
- Filing by mail with a card: Use Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for an eligible credit, debit, or prepaid card payment.
- Paper-based payment: USCIS generally accepts checks or other paper payments only when a filer qualifies for an applicable paper-payment exemption and follows the current USCIS instructions.
Always check the current USCIS payment instructions before submitting Form I-751 because accepted payment methods and requirements can change.
What Happens If You Pay the Wrong I-751 Fee?
USCIS may reject Form I-751 if the required filing fee is missing or incorrect.
Before filing, confirm the current amount instead of relying on an older article, downloaded form packet, or another applicant’s payment amount.
Use the official USCIS Fee Calculator or current USCIS Fee Schedule to verify the fee that applies to your filing method and situation.
FAQs About Form I-751 Fees
Is there still an $85 biometrics fee for Form I-751?
No. There is no separate $85 biometrics fee under the current USCIS fee structure. USCIS may still require you to attend a biometrics appointment after filing.
Should I include the Form I-751 filing fee when requesting a fee waiver?
No. If you submit Form I-912 or another fee-waiver request USCIS permits, do not include the Form I-751 filing fee. If you submit payment with the fee-waiver request, USCIS may process the payment instead of considering the fee-waiver request.
Is a divorce-waiver Form I-751 free?
No. A divorce or annulment waiver does not automatically make the Form I-751 filing fee $0. The standard applicable fee generally applies unless you separately qualify for a financial fee waiver.
Can someone else pay my Form I-751 filing fee?
Yes, depending on the payment method. For example, when USCIS permits payment by card for a mailed filing, another person can provide their card information and authorize the payment using the required USCIS payment form. Make sure the payment is properly authorized and follows the current USCIS instructions.
Is the Form I-751 filing fee refundable?
Generally, no. USCIS filing fees are payment for processing a benefit request and are generally not refunded because Form I-751 is later denied or withdrawn. Before submitting payment, confirm that you are using the correct form, filing method, and current USCIS fee.
Ready to Prepare Form I-751?
If you have confirmed that Form I-751 applies to your situation and understand the filing fee or fee-waiver path that applies, ImmigrationDirect’s Form I-751 preparation service can guide you through the form using a step-by-step questionnaire based on the information you provide.
A separate ImmigrationDirect service fee applies in addition to any USCIS filing fee.
ImmigrationDirect is a private company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by USCIS or any U.S. government agency. You may obtain blank USCIS forms and instructions directly from USCIS. Start Preparing Form I-751
