Did DACA fees change?

This page is general information, not legal advice.

What changed, and when?

April 1, 2024: the price went up. A new USCIS fee rule took effect that day. Under it, the DACA request (Form I-821D) is $85 and the work permit (Form I-765) is $520 on paper or $470 online. That makes $605 on paper and $555 online.

Before that rule, a renewal cost $495 in total. From December 23, 2016, the work permit fee was $410 and the biometrics (fingerprint) fee was $85 (2016 USCIS fee rule). The 2024 rule folded biometrics into the form fees.

October 28, 2025: how you pay by mail changed. USCIS stopped taking checks and money orders for most mailed forms. Now you pay with:

• Form G-1450 for a credit, debit or prepaid card, or
• Form G-1650 to take the money from a U.S. bank account.

Only people with an approved paper payment exemption (Form G-1651) can still pay on paper. If you file online, you pay inside your USCIS account, like before.

Did fees change again in October 2026?

Not for DACA renewals. On October 16, 2026, USCIS raised some fees under the federal law known as H.R. 1. The USCIS notice lists fees for asylum, parole, TPS and some first work permits. It does not list the DACA forms. The fee schedule, updated October 16, 2026, still shows $85 for the I-821D and $520 on paper or $470 online for the DACA work permit (checked October 21, 2026).

Travel did get more expensive. Advance parole for DACA (Form I-131) is $630 on paper or $580 online. The fee schedule now also lists a $1,050 immigration parole fee under the same law. Border officers (CBP) collect it each time you are paroled back in, unless they find an exception, and it cannot be waived (USCIS fee schedule for I-131, checked October 21, 2026). So one trip can cost about $1,630 or more in fees alone. Travel also carries new legal risk since August 13, 2026. Talk to a lawyer first, and see Is it safe to travel on advance parole?

What does DACA cost in all?

Here is what you pay USCIS, as of October 21, 2026. Your own costs, like photos, copies and postage, are extra.

You renew every two years. Setting aside about $24 a month for 24 months covers the $555 online fee.

What happens if I pay the wrong amount?

USCIS rejects the packet and sends it back. Your renewal is not filed, and you lose time. When you mail a renewal, USCIS asks for a separate payment form for each request, and all payment forms in one envelope must be the same type (Five steps to file, checked October 21, 2026). For DACA that means one form for $85 and one for $520, both card or both bank. Make sure the money is in the account on the day USCIS charges it.

Is there a fee waiver now?

No. USCIS does not offer fee waivers for DACA. A very small number of people can get a fee exemption, approved before filing. The USCIS DACA questions and answers explain who may qualify.

What should I do?

1. File online if you can. It saves $50, and you pay right in your account.
2. If you mail it, fill out Form G-1450 or G-1650. Make sure the money is in the account.
3. Check the fee the week you file. Look at the USCIS form page, not an old flyer or post.
4. Need money? Mission Asset Fund lends the $555 online fee at 0% interest to people in California. See Can I get money to pay for immigration fees?

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: (650) 326-6440
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Redwood City consultations): (650) 587-1558
• For San Mateo County residents, Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194
• Anywhere in California: the state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.

Knowing the real number is the first step to getting there.

Related questions

• What does a DACA renewal cost?
• Can I get money to pay for immigration fees?
• What is happening with DACA in court?