Guides
DACA Renewal Fees: Online, Paper Filing, and Help Paying
Standard DACA renewal filing fees are $555 online or $605 on paper. The difference comes from the I-765 fee; I-821D costs $85 in either case. [USCIS]
Online vs. paper: the fee breakdown
| Form | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| I-821D | $85 | $85 |
| I-765 (c)(33) | $470 | $520 |
| Total | $555 | $605 |
Verify in the current USCIS fee schedule
These are the ordinary renewal fees, not a quote for your individual circumstances. A separate application or legal service may have a separate cost. Ask a provider to distinguish government fees from its own service charges.
What you can do now
Before paying, check the current USCIS fee and payment instructions for your filing method. [USCIS]
Check payment methodsIf the cost is a barrier, check the assistance resources below and ask a local nonprofit what help is currently available.
Find help with the costAsk an immigration attorney or accredited representative about questions specific to your application.
Find nonprofit legal help
What makes up the DACA renewal cost?
The standard DACA renewal filing fees total $555 online: $85 for Form I-821D plus $470 for Form I-765 under category (c)(33). Paper filing totals $605: $85 plus $520. These totals cover the government filing fees for those forms, not legal representation or other applications.
Check the current fee schedule and the instructions for your forms before submitting. USCIS says it will reject a form if the correct fee is not submitted. Use the DACA category when checking I-765: fees for other employment-authorization categories are not interchangeable.
How to pay: online and paper applications
Online filings use the USCIS online payment process, which supports cards and ACH debit. Start from your USCIS account and follow its payment instructions; USCIS says you cannot pay the filing fee by going directly to Pay.gov. This website does not accept payments or collect bank or card details.
For paper-filed forms, USCIS now requires electronic payment unless you qualify for an exemption. Use Form G-1450 for an authorized card payment or Form G-1650 for an ACH payment from a U.S. bank account. Personal or business checks, money orders and cashier’s checks are no longer the standard payment method. Follow the current instructions, including the rules for paying for multiple forms.
For a paper package with multiple benefit requests, USCIS instructs you to complete a separate payment authorization for each request and use the same payment type throughout: G-1450 or G-1650, not both. G-1651 is an exemption from electronic payment requirements, not an exemption from paying the fee. Follow its eligibility instructions if you need to request a paper-payment exception.
Can USCIS waive the DACA renewal fee?
USCIS says ordinary fee waivers are not available for DACA. It allows fee exemptions only in very limited circumstances, and must approve the exemption before you submit the DACA request without fees. Read the eligibility and evidence requirements before relying on this option. Assistance from a nonprofit is separate: it helps pay a fee rather than eliminating it.
Help paying for a DACA renewal
Before applying for assistance, ask whether it is a grant, a loan you must repay, or help preparing your forms. Confirm who is eligible, what the support covers, whether funds are available, and how payment reaches USCIS. A program listing is not a promise of funding.
Find a nonprofit legal services provider near you
A financing option to check
Mission Asset Fund lists a 0% interest loan for the $555 online DACA fee, available in California only. This is a loan you must repay, not a grant. Its application entry was live when checked on October 18, 2026; remaining funds and individual approval are unknown. Confirm eligibility and terms directly with MAF. Mission Asset Fund
Informed Immigrant also lists ways to seek local or institutional help. Confirm each program directly: a directory can contain old fee amounts or closed applications, and it does not establish current funding availability. See its renewal and funding resources
Plan the payment and filing date together
Keep your EAD expiration date, expected filing costs and any assistance-program response time together when planning. Do not treat a funding application as a DACA renewal filing. Use the calculator to see the recommended window, and seek individualized advice if it has passed.
Calculate your renewal filing windowTools and next steps
Sources
- USCIS Fee Schedule (G-1055)
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- USCIS Filing Fees
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- USCIS DACA Fee Exemptions
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