VAWA fee exemptions in 2026: the no-fee I-360 and the forms that follow
A VAWA Form I-360 has no government filing fee. Under 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6), VAWA self-petitioners and their derivatives also pay no USCIS fee for a list of related forms, including the green card application and the work permit. Fees for other VAWA-related requests can be waived.
Current as of October 2026. We re-check this page every quarter and after any change in the law.
This post is dated October 26, 2026. The fee rules it describes come from the USCIS fee rule published January 31, 2024 (89 FR 6194, with the regulation text at 89 FR 6386), as amended by an interim final rule of August 11, 2026 (91 FR 51924). We read the current text at 8 C.F.R. 106.3 on the eCFR and in USCIS Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26.
Every dollar figure below is a government filing fee, meaning what the government charges to file a form. None is a legal fee.
The I-360 itself: no fee
There is no government filing fee for a VAWA Form I-360, under 8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(17)(ii), Form G-1055 and the Form I-360 instructions. You do not ask for a waiver. There is simply nothing to pay.
The forms that follow: 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)
Under 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6), VAWA self-petitioners and derivatives (as defined in INA 101(a)(51)(A) and (B)), and others self-petitioning under INA 204(a)(1), pay no government filing fee for these forms when they relate to the VAWA benefit:
| Form | What it is for | Fee for VAWA self-petitioners |
|---|---|---|
| I-131 | Travel document | None |
| I-212 | Permission to reapply after removal | None |
| I-290B | Appeal or motion, for benefit requests before adjustment, or a motion on the I-485 or an ancillary form | None |
| I-485 | Green card application | None |
| I-601 | Waiver of inadmissibility | None |
| I-601A | Provisional unlawful presence waiver | None |
| I-765 | Work permit: initial, renewal and replacement under 8 C.F.R. 274a.12(c)(9), (c)(14) and INA 204(a)(1)(K) | None |
| I-824 | Action on an approved application or petition | None |
For comparison, a person who is not exempt pays a government filing fee of $1,440 for Form I-485 at age 14 and over, under 8 C.F.R. 106.2 (as of August 13, 2026). A VAWA self-petitioner filing a related I-485 pays nothing to USCIS for it.
Everything else: a waiver is available
For a VAWA-related request that is not on the list above, the government filing fee may be waived under 8 C.F.R. 106.3(a)(3)(iii). A waiver is a request. You have to ask for it, and USCIS decides it.
One newer item: the August 11, 2026 interim final rule added a $25 government fee for Form I-936, the request for a waiver of electronic filing, at 8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(64). For VAWA filers that $25 fee can be waived under 8 C.F.R. 106.3(a)(3)(ii)(H).
What we do not print
- Court-side fees. Immigration court has its own fee schedule. We have not confirmed how the court-side green card fee applies to VAWA self-petitioners or VAWA cancellation applicants, so we do not print a figure for it. See VAWA in immigration court.
- Processing times. USCIS posts them at uscis.gov/processing-times.
Our legal fee is separate from every government fee. For a VAWA I-360 self-petition it is a flat $9,000 legal fee, depending on the complexity of the case, confirmed in writing before work begins. See fees.
Check the form page on the day you file
Fee rules change by Federal Register notice. Form G-1055 and each form's USCIS page show the current fee. If a page says a fee applies and you believe you are exempt under 106.3(b)(6), stop and ask before you send money or send a package without it.
Who the exemption covers
The 106.3(b)(6) list reaches VAWA self-petitioners and their derivatives as defined in INA 101(a)(51)(A) and (B), and others self-petitioning under INA 204(a)(1). That includes abused spouses, former spouses within the 2-year window, abused children and abused parents of adult citizens, and the children included on a spouse's petition.
Why it matters
Money is one of the ways an abuser holds on. If you have been told you cannot afford to file without them, the government side of that is not true for the I-360 and the forms in the table. The filing location changed on October 7, 2026; see our post on the new addresses. For a private call about your case, phone (718) 484-7510.
Read next: fees, the green card after VAWA, or the work permit.
Common questions
Do I pay the I-485 fee if I adjust status through VAWA?
Not at USCIS. Under 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6), VAWA self-petitioners and their derivatives pay no government filing fee for Form I-485 related to the benefit. Others pay a government filing fee of $1,440 for an I-485 at age 14 and over under 8 C.F.R. 106.2, as of August 13, 2026.
Is the legal fee also free?
No. A government filing fee is what USCIS charges. A legal fee is what a lawyer charges for the work. This post is only about government fees. Our legal fee for a VAWA I-360 self-petition is $9,000, depending on the complexity of the case, confirmed in writing before work begins; see the fees page.
What about forms filed in immigration court?
We have not confirmed how the court-side fees apply to VAWA applicants, so we do not print a figure for them. Ask at the consultation.
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