Is there a fee waiver for the EB-1?

For the EB-1, the short answer is that there is no automatic fee waiver. The fees for this category are set by USCIS and, in most cases, must be paid normally throughout the process.

The U.S. system does allow for a fee waiver in certain situations, upon demonstration of financial hardship. In practice, however, this mechanism is more commonly associated with other types of requests, such as adjustment of status, and typically does not extend to employment-based immigration petitions under the EB-1, which centers on the evaluation of merit and the exceptional achievements of the applicant.

Since fee schedules and waiver rules change over time, it is not advisable to assume a specific amount or a waiver without checking. The safe approach is to confirm which fees apply to your case and whether any waiver possibility exists directly at the official source.

• There is no automatic fee waiver for the EB-1.
• Fee waivers based on financial hardship are rare in this category.
• Current amounts should be confirmed with USCIS.

Before filing, it is worth verifying the current fees on the USCIS website and, if you have questions about eligibility for any waiver, reviewing your situation with a specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.