Do I have to pay fees to apply for a U visa, T visa or VAWA?

This page is general information, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office. Fees change. We read the federal fee rules on October 21, 2026.

Why are survivor cases free?

The USCIS fee rule published January 31, 2024, which took effect April 1, 2024, makes the main survivor petitions free and exempts many related forms. The rule is in 8 CFR 106.2 (the fee list) and 8 CFR 106.3 (exemptions and waivers).

Two words matter:

• Exempt means you never owe the fee. You do not need to ask.
• Waivable means you owe the fee unless you ask USCIS to waive it and it agrees.

What does a U visa cost?

$0 to file. Form I-918, Supplement A (family) and Supplement B (police certification) have no fee.

People seeking or holding U status are exempt from fees for these forms tied to the U case or the U green card (8 CFR 106.3(b)(5)):

• I-131 travel document
• I-192 waiver (normally $1,100)
• I-193 passport or visa waiver
• I-290B appeal or motion (for requests before the green card, and green card motions)
• I-485 green card application
• I-539 extension of status
• I-601 waiver
• I-765 work permit
• I-824 action on an approved petition
• I-929 petition for a family member

More on the forms: How to apply for a U visa step by step.

What does a T visa cost?

$0 to file. Form I-914 and its supplements have no fee (8 CFR 106.2). USCIS says T applicants and T nonimmigrants are exempt from fees for all forms through the green card (USCIS T visa page).

The exempt list for T cases (8 CFR 106.3(b)(2)): I-131, I-192, I-193, I-290B (same limits as U), I-485, I-539, I-601, I-765 and I-824.

More: What is a T visa and who counts as a trafficking survivor?

What does VAWA cost?

$0 to file Form I-360 as a VAWA self petitioner. Others pay $515 for that form.

VAWA self petitioners and their children on the petition are exempt from fees for (8 CFR 106.3(b)(6)):

• I-131 travel document
• I-212 permission to reapply after removal
• I-290B (before the green card, and green card motions)
• I-485 green card application
• I-601 and I-601A waivers
• I-765 work permit, for first, renewal and replacement cards in categories (c)(9), (c)(14) and the VAWA work permit under section 204(a)(1)(K)
• I-824

Conditional green card holders who file Form I-751 alone because of abuse pay no fee for that waiver (8 CFR 106.2).

VAWA cancellation of removal in immigration court: the related work permit (I-765 under (c)(10)) and I-824 are exempt (8 CFR 106.3(b)(8)). The court application itself has its own fee, which a judge can waive.

More: Can I get a green card if my spouse or parent abuses me?

What if a form I need is not on the free list?

Ask for a fee waiver. Any USCIS fee tied to a VAWA, T or U case can be waived if you cannot pay (8 CFR 106.3(a)(3)(iii)).

You show you cannot pay in one of three ways (8 CFR 106.3(a)(1)):

1. You get a means tested benefit (like CalFresh or Medi-Cal in California) when you file
2. Your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines
3. You face extreme financial hardship

Use Form I-912 or a written request with proof. There is no appeal if USCIS says no. If it is denied, USCIS rejects the whole filing and you refile.

What about SIJS and asylum?

These are humanitarian cases too, but they are not all free.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS):

• The regular $515 I-360 fee is waived for SIJ petitioners (8 CFR 106.2).
• A separate $250 SIJ fee set by the 2025 federal budget law (H.R. 1) applies to filings, and the law gives no waiver. A lawsuit, CHIRLA v. Mullin (N.D. Cal.), challenges it; we found no ruling as of October 21, 2026.
• SIJ green card applicants are exempt from fees for the I-485, I-765, I-131, I-601, I-601A and I-824 (8 CFR 106.3(b)(1)).

See How to get the California court order your child needs for SIJS.

Asylum (2026):

• Form I-589: $100, cannot be waived
• Annual asylum fee: $105 each year the case is pending
• First asylum work permit: $570
• Asylum work permit renewal: $275 plus the regular I-765 fee ($520 paper or $470 online)

See New immigration court and asylum fees in 2026.

What costs are left?

Even when USCIS charges nothing, a case can cost something. Plan for:

• Record checks. A VAWA case asks for police clearances. In California, the DOJ record check for immigration use costs $32 plus the Live Scan fingerprint fee, which varies by location. Use form BCIA 8016 VISA, not the "Record Review" form, which cannot be used for immigration (CA DOJ). The DOJ mails the result to you only.
• FBI record. An FBI Identity History Summary costs $18 (FBI).
• Copies of documents, like birth or marriage certificates from your home country.
• Translations of papers not in English.
• Passport photos for work permits and travel forms.
• Postage with tracking.
• Lawyer or representative fees. Nonprofits often charge little or nothing. Ask before you start.

How long do these cases take?

Long. U visa cases can take years because only 10,000 main U visas are given each year. Check current estimates for Forms I-918, I-914 and I-360 on the USCIS processing times page. We do not print a number here because the estimates change often.

Watch for fee scams

• USCIS never charges for Form I-918, I-914 or a VAWA I-360.
• USCIS fees go to USCIS, not to a person or a store.
• A notario cannot file for you or give legal advice. Only lawyers and DOJ accredited representatives can.

See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Cost checklist

Questions people ask

Do I pay for fingerprints (biometrics)? There is no separate biometrics fee for U and T petitions under the current fee rule.

My lawyer charges a fee. Is that legal? Yes, lawyers may charge for their time. That is different from a USCIS fee. Ask for the total in writing, and look for free help first.

If I get a green card later, is that free too? For U, T and VAWA green card applications, the I-485 is exempt.

What about citizenship later? The N-400 is not on the survivor exempt list. It costs $760 on paper or $710 online, with a reduced fee and fee waivers available.

Who can help?

Anywhere in the U.S.:

• Free or low cost legal help: the DOJ list of free legal service providers and the DOJ roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. 24/7.
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888, or text 233733. 24/7.

Bay Area (San Mateo and Santa Clara counties):

• CLSEPA: (650) 326-6440, 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
• Bay Area Legal Aid: advice line 1-800-551-5554.
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, LIBRE program: (650) 517-8936 for attorney appointments. Limited help with U visas and VAWA.
• Tahirih Justice Center, Bay Area: 650-270-2100.

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service. More options: Free legal help in the Bay Area.

If you are in danger right now, call 911.

Money should not be the thing that keeps you from safety. For these cases, it mostly is not.