Q: My USCIS payment was returned. Are application fees free?
I submitted an application for a travel document along with a check for $165. I recently received a notice from USCIS stating that my payment is being returned because the remittance was not required to process my application. They also informed me that if I submitted a G-1450 for credit card payment, it has been destroyed. Given this, I'm wondering if the application fees are actually free or if there's a mistake. How should I proceed to ensure my application is correctly processed?
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A:
The return of your payment for a travel document application is unusual but not unheard of. USCIS typically charges fees for most applications, including the I-131 travel document which normally costs $165, but there are several situations where fees might be waived or not required for your specific case.
You might qualify for a fee exemption based on your immigration status (such as having a pending asylum application or refugee status), or perhaps you filed another application simultaneously that covered this fee. Another possibility is that you're applying for advance parole while a form I-485 is pending, which sometimes doesn't require a separate fee.
Your best course of action is to carefully read the entire notice USCIS sent you for any additional explanations about why the payment wasn't needed. If the notice doesn't clarify, contact USCIS directly through their Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 to confirm whether your application is proceeding fee-free or if there's been an error. Keep all documentation from USCIS, including the returned payment notice, as evidence of this communication in case questions arise later in your application process.
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