Can I get money to pay for immigration fees?

This page is general information, not legal advice. For the full list of programs, see Help paying DACA and citizenship fees in the Bay Area.

Can USCIS waive or lower my fee?

For some forms, yes. For DACA, no.

• Citizenship (Form N-400): you can ask for a fee waiver ($0) (8 CFR 106.3) if you get an income based benefit like Medi-Cal or CalFresh, if your household income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you are in serious financial hardship. Use Form I-912. Or you can pay a reduced fee of $380 if your household income is at or below 400 percent of the poverty guidelines. Both must be filed on paper (USCIS N-400 page).
• DACA: no fee waivers. A very small number of people can get a fee exemption approved before filing.
• Other forms: the Form I-912 page (USCIS) lists which forms can be waived. Check it for your form.

If USCIS denies a fee waiver, you cannot appeal. A legal clinic can help you decide which way to ask.

Where can I borrow the money?

Mission Asset Fund (MAF), 0% interest loans. MAF, a San Francisco nonprofit, lends the exact USCIS online fee at 0% interest to people in California. Its page lists DACA renewal, citizenship, advance parole for DACA, green card renewal and some family petitions.

• You take free money classes and apply online.
• Once approved, MAF loads a virtual card with your fee in about a week. The card is good for 60 days, so be ready to file online.
• You pay it back monthly. MAF reports payments to the three credit companies, which can help you build credit.

Self-Help Federal Credit Union lists DACA and citizenship loans, but they charge interest (15 to 16 percent APR on its page). You will pay back more than the fee.

Can I get a grant I don't pay back?

Maybe, if you are a Dreamer in the Bay Area working toward a green card or citizenship. MAF's Bay Area DACA/Dreamer Legalization Grant gives up to $5,000 for USCIS fees, lawyer fees, medical exams, expert evaluations and interpreters. You must already be working with a lawyer or a nonprofit legal provider. A plain DACA renewal alone does not qualify. See Who qualifies for the Bay Area grant?

Is there a state or county fund?

We searched again and could not find a California, San Mateo County or Santa Clara County fund that pays DACA or citizenship fees today (checked October 21, 2026). The state's old DACA and citizenship fee program ended in 2023. California does pay nonprofits to give free legal help, which can save you lawyer fees. For San Mateo County residents, the county can give you a letter proving you get public benefits, to send with a citizenship fee waiver request. It takes 1 to 2 weeks. Call (650) 363-4194.

What about asylum and immigration court fees?

These are newer, and the rules are different.

• Asylum fees cannot be waived. The federal law known as H.R. 1 set a $100 asylum application fee and an annual asylum fee, now $105 for each calendar year your case is pending (Federal Register, October 1, 2026). The immigration court's own guidance says these asylum fees, and the TPS fee, cannot be waived (EOIR PM 25-36, checked October 21, 2026).
• Many other court fees can be waived. An immigration judge can waive fees like the $730 fee for Form EOIR-42A or the $1,690 fee for Form EOIR-42B if you show you cannot pay.
• Pay the annual asylum fee on time. USCIS sends a notice, and you have 30 days from the date it was sent (8 CFR 106.2).

We found no loan or grant program that pays asylum fees. MAF's loan list does not include them. Ask a legal clinic right away if you cannot pay. Full details: New immigration court and asylum fees in 2026.

How do I protect my money?

• Pay USCIS only through your USCIS account, or with Form G-1450 or G-1650 by mail.
• No real grant asks you to pay first. Never pay with a gift card, wire transfer or crypto.
• A notario is not a lawyer. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Who can help?

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

• Mission Asset Fund (California): loans and the Bay Area grant. programs@missionassetfund.org
• For San Mateo County residents: San Mateo County Immigrant Services, (650) 363-4194; Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, (650) 326-6440; Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, (650) 558-0915; Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Redwood City), (650) 587-1558, consultations by appointment
• Coastside Hope (Half Moon Bay): income based scholarships for USCIS fees, for people who live or work on the Coastside. 650-726-9071, extension 229.
• Anywhere in California: the state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.

Ask each one: "Do you know of any money right now to help pay my USCIS fee?" A fee should not be the thing that stops you.

Related questions

• What does a DACA renewal cost?
• Who qualifies for the Bay Area grant?
• Did DACA fees change?