post office travel money card frequently asked questions

Using the Post Office Travel Money Card: Pros and Cons

Table of Contents

What is the post office travel money card, pros of the post office travel money card, cons of the post office travel money card, user experiences and reviews, how to get and use the card, best practices for cardholders, alternatives to the post office travel money card.

T he Post Office Travel Money Card is a convenient and secure way for UK residents to manage their finances while traveling abroad. This prepaid card allows travelers to load funds in multiple currencies, offering a practical alternative to carrying cash or using credit cards overseas. It’s particularly popular among those who seek a controlled and budget-friendly travel spending method.

The Post Office Travel Money Card is a prepaid, multi-currency card that can be loaded with up to 23 different currencies. It functions similarly to a debit card but is specifically designed for international travel. The card can be used to make purchases at millions of locations worldwide where MasterCard is accepted and to withdraw money from ATMs.

• Convenience and Ease of Use : The card is straightforward to obtain and use. Travelers can easily load funds onto the card online or at a Post Office branch.
• Security Features : The card is not linked to a bank account, reducing the risk of fraud. Additionally, if lost or stolen, it can be easily replaced.
• Wide Acceptance : Being a MasterCard product, it’s accepted at a vast number of outlets and ATMs worldwide.
• Currency Exchange Rates : Users benefit from competitive exchange rates compared to traditional currency exchange services.
• Budget Control : The prepaid nature allows travelers to manage their spending effectively, avoiding the risk of debt.
• Fees and Charges : Although the card offers free purchases, there are fees for certain transactions, such as ATM withdrawals and inactivity.
• Limitations in Usage : Some countries and establishments may not accept the card, limiting its utility in certain situations.
• Reloading Issues : Adding more funds to the card can be less straightforward, especially in remote areas or during non-business hours.
• Customer Service Concerns : Some users have reported issues with customer service, particularly in resolving card-related problems quickly.
• Comparison with Other Travel Money Options : While the card has many benefits, it may not always be the best option compared to other travel money products, like credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

Feedback from users generally highlights the convenience and security of the card. However, some have noted the fees and reloading issues as drawbacks. It’s essential to consider both the positive and negative aspects to make an informed decision.

Obtaining the card is a simple process, either online or at a Post Office branch. Users need to load the card with the desired amount and can start using it immediately. For reloading, options include online transfers or visiting a Post Office.

To maximize the benefits of the card:

• Keep track of spending and remaining balance.
• Be aware of the fees for different transactions.
• Have an alternative payment method as a backup.

Other options include other brands of travel money cards, credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, and traditional cash exchange. Each has its pros and cons, depending on individual travel needs and spending habits.

The Post Office Travel Money Card is a valuable tool for travelers seeking a secure and convenient way to manage their funds abroad. While it has several advantages, potential users should also be aware of its limitations and fees.

Q: How does the Post Office Travel Money Card work? A: It’s a prepaid card that you load with currency before traveling. You can use it for purchases and ATM withdrawals anywhere MasterCard is accepted.

Q: Are there any fees associated with the card? A: Yes, there are fees for certain transactions like ATM withdrawals, and there may be inactivity fees if the card is not used for a prolonged period.

Q: How do I load money onto the card? A: You can load money online or at any Post Office branch. The process is simple and can be done in multiple currencies.

Q: What should I do if my card is lost or stolen? A: Contact the Post Office immediately to report the lost or stolen card. They will arrange for a replacement and transfer the balance from the old card.

Q: Can I use the card in any country? A: The card is accepted in most countries worldwide. However, it’s always best to check the specific country’s acceptance before traveling.

Q: How does the card compare to using a regular debit or credit card abroad? A: Unlike regular cards, the Travel Money Card is prepaid, which helps in budget management. However, some regular cards might offer better exchange rates or lower fees, so it’s worth comparing options.

Q: Is the Post Office Travel Money Card a good option for all travelers? A: It depends on individual needs. The card is excellent for those who want a secure, budget-friendly way to carry money abroad. However, for those who travel frequently or to less common destinations, other options might be more suitable.

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Post Office Travel Card Review 

Travelling is one of the most exciting and liberating experiences out there. Whether you’re jetting off to a far-off destination or just exploring your own country, having the right travel card can make the whole experience easier and more enjoyable.

Are you planning a trip? If so, you may be wondering if the Post Office Travel Money Card is a good option for you. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the Post Office Travel Money Card, how it works, and what you need to know before using it. 

By the end of this guide, you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether or not the Post Office Travel Money Card is right for your next trip.

Table of Contents

Benefits of Having a Travel Card

First and foremost, travel cards are an excellent way to earn miles and points. This can be incredibly valuable if you are a frequent traveller or want to visit somewhere far off where you’ll have to pay high airfare. Plus, you can use these miles and points to book travel, hotels, flights, vacation packages, and more. 

Another major advantage of travel cards is their versatility. As you travel, you’ll have the ability to withdraw cash from ATMs using your card, pay for purchases using your card, and even get roadside assistance on select cards. You’ll also have access to excellent trip cancellation and travel insurance. 

Plus, travel cards are typically easier to qualify for than other types of credit cards. This is because many companies view travel cards as a “safe” type of credit. However, having a travel card can also help to improve your credit score.

Post Office Travel Cards: What Are They?

The Post Office Travel card is a Mastercard prepaid card, which can be loaded with a choice of 23 currencies. ATMs are available in more than 200 countries where you can spend and withdraw money.

You can load your account with any currency before travelling and then use it abroad without having to convert your currency.

Post Office Travel offers a contactless card that can be accessed through its app.

Post Office Travel Cards Benefits and Features

Here’s a quick look at the Post Office Travel card’s main features and benefits:

• Payments for low-value items can be made quickly and conveniently using contactless technology
• Compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay
• With the Travel app, you can manage your card, top it up, transfer currencies, as well as freeze it.
• You can choose from 23 different currencies and top it up whenever you need it
• Accepted everywhere Mastercard is accepted
• Call centre assistance is available 24/7
• Whenever there is currency left over, it can be transferred into another currency by using the wallet-to-wallet feature
• If you use a local currency supported by your card to spend abroad, there are no fees 

Post Office Travel Card Costs

Travel money cards from the Post Office cost nothing to order and no fees apply when you pay for purchases using the currency you hold. Provided your available balance is in a currency accepted by the card, you can shop, dine, and drink without any charges.

When using your card in a country that doesn’t support the currency of your card, you will have to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee. Using your card in Brazil, for example, will result in a 3% foreign transaction fee since the Brazilian Real isn’t a supported currency.

Despite the card’s currency support, you’ll still have to pay ATM withdrawal fees. Each currency has a different ATM fee. 

An example would be:

• Euro – 2 Euros
• Canadian Dollar – 3 Canadian Dollars
• US Dollar – 2.5 United States Dollars
• Swiss Franc – 2.5 Switzerland Francs
• Australian Dollar – 3 Australian Dollars
• Pound Sterling – 1.5 Pounds Sterling plus 1.5% commission

Regarding fees, one final note. There is a three-year validity period on all Post Office Travel cards. After your card expires, you will be charged a maintenance fee of £2 per month.

Exchange Rates

Exchange rates fluctuate based on the demand for currencies at the Post Office. Thus, you’ll receive a particular amount of travel money depending on the current exchange rate.

For travel money cards, you can get exchange rates at Post Office branches and on the website. Be sure to remember that rates may differ whether you are purchasing online, by phone, or in person.

In addition to the margin, the exchange rate at the Post Office will probably include a markup. When you search for the rate on Google or currency websites, you’ll most likely get an accurate one. Consequently, a margin will reduce the amount you receive when exchanging EUR, USD, or another currency.

A Post Office Travel Money company profits by offering its customers a better rate than the base rate. U.K. pounds are converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of 1.23 dollars per pound, for example. 

If you exchange £400 through Post Office Travel Money, you can get 1.18 USD per pound. In this case, there is a difference of £16 or 4%. Exchange rates are better when you exchange large sums of money . 

Exchange Rates for In-Branch Travel Money

According to the Post Office, in-branch exchange rates are determined by many factors, including branch location, competitor pricing, convenience, etc. The company will always strive to offer the best possible rate within these parameters. Online orders/distribution is the cheapest method for many retailers, as they can use centralised packing costs. Because of this, online exchange rates are always better than branch rates.

Comparing Post Office Travel Money Rates to Other Providers

There are several new services that it’s worth comparing directly to Post Office Travel Money.

Online-Only Banks

There have been several purely mobile banks launched in recent years both in the UK and across Europe. With services like Monzo, N26, Revolut, Monese, or Bunq, consumers can access a wide range of banking options. 

Each of these modern financial institutions provides services such as money transfer agencies and international travel cards, and it makes sense to compare them with Post Office Travel Money.

For example, Monzo facilitates international money transfers through the popular exchange company Wise. For example, when sending a thousand pounds to a Swedish account using Monzo/Wise, the recipient receives 12,103 Swedish crowns versus 11,546 with Western Union, a difference of around 5%.

Other Currency Providers

It may also be possible to transfer money at a better rate in some countries. Using Xendpay, you could send 500 pounds to Saudi Arabia, and the beneficiary would receive 2,289 Saudi Riyals instead of 2,158 Saudi Riyals with Post Office Travel Money.

Supported Currencies

Prepaid travel cards from Post Office can be loaded with any of the following 23 currencies:

• CAD – Canadian dollar
• JPY – Japanese yen
• USD – US dollar
• AUD – Australian dollar
• CHF – Swiss franc
• AED – UAE dirham
• CNY – Chinese yuan
• DKK – Danish kroner
• PLN – Polish zloty
• CZK – Czech koruna
• ZAR – South African rand
• GBP – Pound sterling
• TRY – Turkish lira
• HKD – Hong Kong dollar
• THB – Thai baht
• HRK – Croatian kuna
• SGD – Singapore dollar
• HUF – Hungarian forint
• SEK – Swedish kronor
• SAR – Saudi riyal
• NOK – Norwegian krone
• NZD – New Zealand dollar

Sending Money With the UK Post Office

Many Post Office branches and their website offer Post Office Travel Money. They offer convenient and quick foreign exchange services. They are useful for local currency exchanges because they are so widely available. Post Office services like international money transfers and travel cards offer additional options for sending and spending overseas.

How to Get and Use a Post Office Travel Card?

Post Office travel cards are only available to UK residents over 18 years old.

Ordering Your Card

To order a Post Office Travel card, you can do one of three things:

• You can order through the Post Office Travel app
• Visit the Post Office website to apply online
• Get your card at your local Post Office. It will be necessary to bring photo identification, like a passport or driver’s licence

Your card should be available immediately if you apply at a branch. Your card will be delivered within two to three days after you apply online or via the app.

Card Activation

It’s necessary to activate your travel card before you can use it. You’ll find detailed instructions in your welcome letter.

Using Your Card

ATMs and online sites that accept MasterCard accept Post Office travel cards, too. If you are buying something in person, you’ll need your PIN to verify your purchase and possibly your signature if the Chip and PIN system is not widely available in the country.

In some countries, contactless payments are also allowed for small amounts, although the rules and limitations vary.

According to its terms and conditions, you should not use your Post Office card in certain situations. 

Some of them include:

• Tolls on the road
• Petrol pumps with self-service
• Deposits for car rentals or hotels
• Airline or cruise ship transactions

Adding Money to Your Card

With the Post Office Travel app, you can add money to your card easily. Additionally, you can add money at a local branch or on the Post Office website.

Buying Back Currencies

Having unused currency on your card gives you a few options. You may be able to withdraw cash at your local Post Office branch or ATM, but there may be a fee.

Wallet-to-wallet transfers are also available in the app. You can transfer unused balances from one currency to another. In preparation for your next trip to Europe, you can convert unused USD into EUR.

Each currency listed above can be topped up for between fifty pounds and five thousand pounds on your card. Your card can hold up to ten thousand pounds, as well as carry out transactions of up to thirty thousand pounds annually.

Different currencies have different limitations on cash withdrawals. For example, in a single transaction, you may withdraw up to 450 euros or 500 dollars.

App Overview

On Google Play and the App Store, you can download the Post Office Travel app for free. With the app, you can activate and order your card, check your balance, add money to it, and more. 

In addition to transferring leftover currency between wallets, it’s possible to convert it to another currency you prefer by using the new wallet-to-wallet feature.

Furthermore, you can book airport parking, purchase travel insurance through the app, and use other features.

Contacting the Post Office 

If you need assistance, you may reach the contact centre by dialling 0344 335 0109 in the United Kingdom or 0044 20 7937 0280 from abroad. Customer service is available each day of the week at any time of the day.

In addition, you can reach Customer Services at the Post Office in the following ways:

• Postal mail at PO Box 3232, Cumbernauld, G67 1YU, Post Office Travel Card
• Send an email to [email protected]

Post Office Travel Card: FAQs

Here are some common travel card problems you might encounter.

When I lose or damage a card, what do I do?

Post Office currency cards are easy to replace if lost or damaged. Your card will be blocked, and another one will be sent to you. App users can also freeze their cards.

How should I deal with a declined or blocked card?

The first thing you need to do is ensure that you have enough money in your account via the app. If you don’t have enough money in your account to purchase your item, call the customer care centre.

If I forget my PIN, what should I do?

Call the customer service centre if you cannot remember your travel money card PIN. If you need a new one, they can issue it for you.

My card is about to expire. What should I do?

A new card should automatically be sent to you. You can call the contact centre if it hasn’t arrived after the expiration date, and they’ll issue you another.

Post Office Prepaid Travel Card Summary 

Travel cards from the Post Office are handy if you want to keep your money safe while you’re away from home. The convenience of not carrying cash around with you and not having to change money during your trip will make your trip much more enjoyable.

Because it’s a contactless card, you can pay in local currencies quickly and easily. This helps you budget because you can only spend what’s on it.

If you travel frequently or take multi-destination holidays, the card is convenient since you can store 23 currencies on it. A card that supports a variety of currencies might be more useful if you love exploring far-flung areas.

The exchange rate is a drawback to take into account. Post Office rates may be competitive (compared to airport exchange rates, for example), but they will likely include a margin or markup. ATMs also charge fees when you use your card.

Comparing other travel money cards could help you find a better deal, so make sure to shop around.

by Matt Woodley

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•   Australia
•   Deutschland
•   Magyarország
•   New Zealand
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•   United Kingdom
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•   繁體中文 (香港)

Post Office Travel Card review

The Post Office Travel Card is a prepaid travel card you can load in cash or online, to switch to the currency you need for spending and withdrawals. It’s not linked to your regular bank account, and can be managed from your smartphone, for secure spending across 23 currencies.

Before you order a Post Office Travel Card check out this full review - we’ll look at what the card can do , how to order your card and how much it’ll cost .

And to help you compare we’ll also touch on Post Office Travel Card alternatives like Wise and Starling, which may offer cheaper and more flexible options for taking travel money abroad.

TL;DR - it's a solid prepaid card

• The card supports most major currencies for holidays, including Euros (Europe), Lira (Turkey) and UAE Dirhams (Dubai)
• Several top-up methods , with the option of doing so online or in-store
• Only convert what you want to spend; good for holiday budgeting

However, there are some downsides.

• There are better exchange rates available with other travel cards
• You'll get a worse exchange rate (a.k.a "buy-back rates") when converting leftover foreign currency to pounds

Find out more about the card on the Post Office website or click the button below to purchase a card. Order a card

Not sure yet? Continue reading to decide whether this is the right prepaid card for you.

What's in this guide?

What is the post office travel money card, how does it work.

• Fees & limits

How do I get a Post Office Travel Money Card?

What happens when the card expires, what are the alternatives.

The Post Office Travel Money Card is a prepaid card you can top up in cash or from your bank account, in any of 23 supported currencies.

Once you have funds on your card you can use it as you would a regular debit card, for contactless and mobile payments, and cash withdrawals. There’s no fee to spend currencies you hold on your card, although other transaction fees do apply depending on how you use the account.

Use your Post Office card to buy travel money before you head off on holiday, or top up as you go online.

As pictured, you can also manage, view and freeze your card in the Post Office app for security.

• Top up your card in cash at a Post Office or online by purchasing one of 23 different currencies
• If you choose to top up in GBP and convert later, you’ll be charged an administration fee of 1.5%, from a minimum of 3 GBP up to a maximum of 50 GBP
• Exchange rates are shown in the Post Office app, and may include a markup on the market exchange rate - but rates often improve if you top up more
• It’s free to spend currencies you hold. You can also spend unsupported currencies, but a foreign transaction fee of 3% will apply

It’s worth noting that the Post Office exchange rates are shown in the Post Office app before you convert your funds. They may include a markup, which is an extra fee added into the rate applied to switch to the currency you need.

Another thing worth noting is that the exchange rate gets better for higher top up amounts - meaning you’ll pay a smaller markup the more you add to your card.

Using a markup is pretty common but does make it tricky to see what you’re really paying for your foreign currency transactions.

Spending limits and card fees

Before you order a Post Office Travel Card it’s good to know a bit about the fees and limits that apply to card usage.

When you transact with your Post Office Travel Money Card, there are also fees to pay.

While these do vary slightly by currency, they’re roughly similar.

It’s easy to get your Post Office Travel Card online or in person by calling into a Post Office near you. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

• Head to the Post Office website
• Select "Order Your Card >"
• Top up in your preferred currency - there’s a minimum top up of 50 GBP, through to a maximum of 5,000 GBP
• Input personal details following the prompts
• Delivery of your card will take 2-3 days by post
• Head to your local Post Office branch
• Show a valid form of ID (driving licence, passport or EEA ID card)
• Apply in branch and load your card

The expiry date for your card will be printed on the back of the card - usually it’s valid for 3 years from the point you order it.

Once your card has expired you’ll pay a monthly inactivity fee of £2 per month if you don’t redeem your balance within 12 months of the card expiring. This fee continues until there’s no remaining balance, at which point your account will be closed.

If you’re not sure whether the Post Office Card is right for you, check out a few alternatives to see which gives you the best balance of cost and convenience.

The Wise card allows you to hold and exchange 50+ currencies, and spend in 170+ countries. It's a fully-fledged debit card, meaning it works at home just as well as it does abroad.

There’s no markup on the exchange rate, and they are super transparent about the fees (usually around 0.4% for foreign spending) they'll charge you.

Starling card

The Starling debit card is a good option for international spending as there are no foreign transaction fees and no ATM fees .

You can sign up entirely online for an account with no monthly fees which you can manage from your phone, with instant notifications and a whole range of banking features. Get a Starling Card

Frequently Asked Questions

Post Office is a trusted institution and will keep customer funds safe according to all applicable legal requirements.

When it comes to travel money, the Post Office works in partnership with First Rate Exchange Services, which is a registered business and holds a Money Services Business License in the UK.

You can hold up to 23 different currencies:

• Australian dollars
• Canadian dollars
• New Zealand dollars
• Croatian kuna
• Turkish lira
• South African rand
• Swiss francs
• Polish zloty
• Pounds sterling
• Chinese yuan
• Czech koruna
• Danish kroner
• Hong Kong dollars
• Hungarian forint
• Japanese yen
• Norwegian krone
• Saudi riyal
• Singapore dollar
• Swedish kronor

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Help and support Travel Insurance FAQs

Common questions about our cover and optional add-ons.

• About our travel insurance
• Flight cancellations, delays and missed departures
• Medical Assistance Plus and Flight Delay Assistance Plus
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Buying travel insurance 

Can i buy travel insurance at my local post office branch.

Yes, you can buy our travel insurance at over 3,800 Post Office branches. If your nearest branch can’t issue travel insurance, you can buy travel cover online . Or call 0330 123 3690 (1)

I don't live in the UK. Can I take out a Post Office Travel Insurance policy?

We’re sorry, but no. Our policies cover UK residents only (including those in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man).

My partner and I live at separate addresses. Can we still buy family cover?

Family cover is available on Post Office Travel Insurance single-trip and annual multi-trip policies.

It covers a person and their husband, wife, civil partner or Common Law Partner (who must be residing with them). It also covers any dependent, adopted or fostered children or grandchildren aged under 18.

Family cover is not available on our backpacker policies.

Is there an age limit for single-trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance policies?

There’s no upper age limit for single-trip policies. For annul multi-trip policies you need to be 75 or under.

Is there an age limit for backpacker travel insurance policies?

Yes, you must be aged between 18 and 60 years of age when your policy starts.

Backpacker policies are only available on our economy level cover.

Covid-19 cover and trip durations

Does post office travel insurance include coronavirus cover.

All new Post Office Travel Insurance policies include a degree of cover against Covid-19 related disruptions, such as cancellation, curtailment and medical costs in some circumstances.

You can find out more about what's covered for coronavirus on our policies on our travel insurance Covid-19 FAQs page.

We also offer a trip disruption cover option that provides protection in other scenarios. These include missed departures or changes in testing and quarantine rules.

How long can I travel for on my Post Office Travel Insurance policy?

It depends on the level of cover.

Policies sold from 31 March 2022 to 27 March 2024

Single-trip travel insurance covers you for trips of up to:

• 365 days (for persons aged up to and including 70 years)
• 90 days (aged 71 to 75)
• 31 days (aged 76 and above).

Annual multi-trip policies cover you for: 

• 17 days per trip (with economy and standard cover levels)
• 31 days per trip (premier cover).

If you pay the appropriate extra premium, this can be extended to:

• 31, 45 or 60 days (economy, standard) 
• 45 or 60 days (premier)

You can take as many trips as you like as long as you’re not away for more than 183 days in the policy year.

Our backpacker travel insurance policy covers you for trips lasting anything from 31 days to 18 months.

Policies sold from 28 March 2024

Trip durations for policies sold from 28 March 2024 are the same as for those sold before that date.

The maximum trip duration annual multi-trip policies will cover is 31 days. This can be extended to 45 or 60 days with optional trip extension upgrades.

How long must a UK trip be to be covered by my travel insurance?

For your Post Office Travel Insurance policy to cover you for trips in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the following rules apply.

• For multi-trip policies, 1 nights’ pre-booked accommodation must be in place, and can’t be a stay with family or friends, or your stay must be at least 100 miles from your home, or you must have at least 1 sea crossing

For example, if you fly from Scotland to Cornwall to stay with friends and family in their home or second home and your baggage was lost or damaged on the way it wouldn’t be covered. Similarly, if you have a second home of your own this doesn’t class as pre-booked.

This doesn’t apply to trips taken overseas, outside your country of residence.

Having flight problems?

This section covers flight disruptions that are not related to Covid-19. If your question relates to the impact of coronavirus on your trip and whether it’s covered, please check our travel insurance Covid-19 FAQs .

Are flight cancellations covered on my policy?

There’s no cover for flight cancellation on your Post Office Travel Insurance policy if you have not already started your trip. If the airline cancels your flight before you arrive at your departure point you should always discuss this with your airline or travel provider to see what options are available to you.

Regulation EU261

This is a regulation that protects passengers in the event of inconvenience caused by long flight delays or cancellations of European flights. It allows up to £520 compensation per passenger in the event of such disruptions.

Entitlements are only in force if the delay or cancellation is within the airline’s control and has not been deemed an “extraordinary circumstance.”

However, if you’re delayed at the airport on your outbound or inbound journey, several of our cover levels provide cover for the delay, any missed departure it causes and, if the delay is of a longer duration, abandoning your trip if you decide to do so. Please read the answers below for details.

What flight delay scenarios aren’t covered?

We will be unable to process claims for delayed flights if:

• You don’t arrive at your departure point in the recommended time for your scheduled departure
• You claim for delays having already made a claim for missed departure
• You’ve travelled against a non-essential travel advisory from the FCDO – and the cause of the delay is related to that advice
• You claim for a delay less than 4 hours
• You haven’t provided written confirmation from your travel provider of the duration of and reason for the delay
• You were aware of the strike/industrial action (or any other listed peril) prior to buying your travel insurance policy or booking your trip
• You haven’t provided any written confirmation of the vehicle breakdown/traffic delays

While at the airport my departure from the UK was delayed. Is that covered?

If you bought our standard, premier, max or extra cover levels, you’re covered if you arrive at the airport and your flight is delayed due to one of the following – including if this will impact a further connecting flight or flights to your final destination:

• Industrial action
• Bad weather not including anything listed as a natural catastrophe
• Technical fault of transportation including bird strikes
• Shortage of crew

If a flight you’re booked on is delayed for 4 hours or more for one of these reasons and you have a standard, premier, max or extra policy, you can claim for each 4-hour delay, up to a maximum of 12 hours, upon your return to the UK. Please check the policy wording for the delay benefit amount depending on the level of cover chosen.

If it’s a premier policy, you can also make use of Flight Delay Assistance Plus if you’ve registered for it. This means that, upon a delay of 1 hour or more, you can receive either a lounge access voucher or a £25 payment into your PayPal account. (For policies sold from 31 March 2022 to 27 March 2024 the amount was £50.)

All flights must be registered in advance. Please check your emails for confirmation and the link/web address needed to register your flights.

You must plan to leave enough time between arriving at your connection point and departing for the next leg of your journey, which should be at least the minimum time recommended for transfer by your transport provider.

If your flight delay totals 12 or more hours and you abandon your trip you can make a claim – see the question on abandoning your trip below.

What if delayed departure leads to me abandoning my trip?

If you’re a standard, premier, extra or max policy holder, we provide abandonment cover if you arrive at the airport and your flight is delayed by 12 hours or more due to:

If that happens, and you aren’t offered an alternative flight within 12 hours or provided with a refund, and you hold one of the cover levels listed, then cover is provided for your unused travel and accommodation costs.

This policy is designed to provide a refund of your unused travel and accommodation costs, at the point we are satisfied that these expenses cannot be refunded elsewhere. If your trip has been booked or paid for via one or more of the following, you must contact them to discuss a refund before claiming from us: a tour operator; an airline; any other travel, accommodation, or service provider; a credit or debit card provider or other payment providers such as PayPal.

There is no cover for delay or abandonment for trips taken solely within the UK

Am I covered if I miss a departure from the UK?

If you have our Standard, Premier, Extra or Max level cover and are delayed on your way to your departure point in the UK due to one of the following reasons, and this causes you to miss your pre-booked transportation (such as an outbound flight), we’ll cover it:

Delay or cancellation of public transport due to:

• Bad weather not including anything listed as a natural catastrophe 
• The vehicle you are travelling in is involved in an accident, breaks down, or is delayed by an incident that causes traffic jams or road closures
• The flight you are travelling on is diverted 

Please note:  Public transport includes flights

You’ll be covered up to the sum insured for either additional travel and accommodation costs to get you to your destination. Or, if the only reasonable alternative transport means you’ll lose more than 50% of your trip, you can claim for unused travel and accommodation costs.

Am I covered for travel delay outside of the UK?

You are at the airport abroad, and there is a delay in your flight leaving to return to the UK.

On Standard, Premier, Extra and Max policies, there’s cover if you arrive at the airport abroad and your flight back to the UK is delayed or cancelled due to:

• Mechanical fault of transportation including bird strikes

If you’re delayed by at least 24 hours beyond your original return date, there is cover for additional transport costs to return you home when these aren’t paid for by your travel provider, up to the limit for your level of cover.

We’ll pay a delay benefit for each full 4-hour delay up to a maximum of 12 hours for the sum insured for your level of cover.

If your trip has been booked or paid for via one or more of the following, you must contact them to discuss a refund before claiming from us: a tour operator; an airline; any other travel, accommodation, or service provider; a credit or debit card provider or other payment providers such as PayPal.

Am I covered if I miss a departure from outside the UK?

What if you are delayed on your way to the airport abroad and miss your pre-booked return flight home, or you have no travel documents and are delayed in obtaining them, so are unable to make your flight?

If you are delayed on your way to the airport and subsequently miss your return flight home, stranding you abroad, for  Standard, Premier, Extra and Max policy holders, we provide cover for delay or cancellation of public transport due to:

We’ll also cover if you’re delayed travelling home if:

• The vehicle you’re travelling in is involved in an accident, breaks down or is delayed by an incident that causes traffic jams or road closures
• Your flight gets diverted
• Your travel documents are lost or stolen while you’re outside the UK

Please note: Public transport includes flights

You’re also covered if you arrive at the airport and a delay to your flight for one of these reasons will impact a further connecting flight/s to return back home to the UK.

You must have a pre-booked return journey for cover to apply. And you must plan to leave enough time between arriving at your connection point and departing for the next leg of your journey, which should be at least the minimum time recommended for transfer by your transport provider.

Medical Assistance Plus

Does my policy include medical assistance plus.

If you bought your Post Office Travel Insurance on or after 3 July 2023 it includes Medical Assistance Plus.

How much does Medical Assistance Plus cost?

Nothing. Medical Assistance Plus is included in all policies sold from the 3 July 2023, no matter the type or level of Post Office Travel Insurance you’ve purchased. It applies whether you bought your insurance on the Post Office website, in branch, via our contact centre, on the app, or even through a comparison website.

How do I access the Medical Assistance Plus service?

Within 48 hours we'll send you an email with a unique link to launch the service. This has all of your details. Just enter your date or birth to validate and the service will launch for you.

If you’re traveling within 48 hours of purchase you can launch the service directly from our Medical Assistance Plus page on the Post Office website, then choose to continue in browser or open in app on your mobile device.

As an extra reminder, we’ll also send you a reminder SMS message the day before you travel (for single-trip and backpacker insurance) or the day before your start date of your policy (for annual multi-trip insurance). This will include links to launch the Medical Assistance Plus service.

What illnesses and situations can I use Medical Assistance Plus for?

Medical Assistance Plus is for outpatient medical care only. This includes any non-emergency medical services, including:

• GP (general Practitioner)
• Orthopaedist
• Paediatrician
• Gynaecologist

If an online or in-person consultation concludes that in-patient care is required, your medical case will then be handed over to the Emergency Medical team in the UK to be managed for wherever you are.

When shouldn’t I use the Medical Assistance Plus service?

If you require immediate emergency care, you should go directly to a hospital or an emergency clinic.

You can get further support by calling our emergency medical assistance line any time, 24/7.

If your policy number starts with TA or TC call 0208 865 3074 . If you’re calling from abroad dial 44 in place of the first zero.

There is no cover for trips taken within the UK.

Are there any limitations to the service?

This service is not available for trips taken in the UK, only for international travel. The service allows up to 3 separate medical events per person and for each medical event up to 3 appointments per person listed on the policy.

I’m having trouble registering my policy for the service. What should I do?

If you’re having difficulty registering your policy, please check:

• Your policy number is entered correctly
• You’ve entered all the verification details needed

If you’re still having trouble, please go to the “Contact us” section in the app. Here you can get help from our customer care team.

How can I contact Medical Assistance Plus customer support?

The customer care team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year and offers multi-lingual support.

The customer care team can provide assistance via phone, email, WhatsApp, and live chat – available online or via app.

What languages can I receive my medical care in?

The global network has over 20,000 doctors in 75 countries, including the most popular destinations such as the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Thailand, and Nepal.

The doctors in the network speak a wide range of languages, so travellers can find one locally who speaks either their native language or one in which they are comfortable conducting a consultation.

When browsing for doctors in the app, simply filter your search by your preferred language. When scheduling video consultations, you can also select your preferred language when you make the appointment request.

If you’re unable to find a doctor who speaks your preferred language, please head to the “Contact Us” section in the app to get assistance from our customer care team.

Will I have to pay for any support or treatment I receive while I'm away?

No, Medical Assistance Plus is covered by your Post Office Travel Insurance policy. There are no upfront fees or extra payments required. You automatically get access to Medical Assistance Plus, no matter what type or level of insurance you’ve purchased from us. All appointment charges are covered by your travel insurance policy under Medical Assistance Plus. You won’t need to pay any excess fees for this service. For any online appointments or where the appointment was held at your accommodation, where a prescription is issued, you’ll need to pay for any medication and claim upon your return home.

No excess will be applied for any prescription charges. If your appointment takes place at a clinic and they have a dispensing chemist, you won’t need to pay for your prescription and all charges will be covered by your policy at the point of appointment.

If there’s no dispensing chemist at the clinic, you’ll either be given a prescription or the prescription will be sent to a chemist by the treating doctor and you’ll need to pay for any medication and claim upon your return home.

If your medical situation needs to be handed over from an outpatient case to an inpatient case and requires hospital admission, you will be handed over to our emergency medical assistance team in the UK. For any inpatient cases, no excess will apply.

Is my electronic prescription valid anywhere in the world?

You’ll be able to check with your doctor if they can prescribe a valid prescription in your current location. Make sure with the selected doctor before your consultation if they can provide a prescription based on your electronic prescription.

There’s no cover for trips made in the UK and you should see your GP practise you’re registered with in the UK for any appointments or prescriptions.

Flight Delay Assistance Plus

Registering your flights, how do i register a flight.

We'll send you an email with details of how to register for the service online as soon as you buy our premier travel insurance. If you arranged your policy in a Post Office branch or don't have an email address, all the information you need will be in your policy confirmation pack.

To register your flight you’ll need to set up self-service for your account and add your flight details there.

Can all flights be registered?

Flight Delay Assistance Plus is built to track almost all major commercial airline flights, but there are limitations against airlines/airports that do not report data regularly. You can register any flight where the airline accurately reports the announcement to FlightStats. If you try to register a flight that does not meet these conditions, the system will inform you of this and you will not be able to register.

Where the flight is departing from an airport with a lounge that's part of the  LoungeKey network you’ll be offered the choice of a lounge voucher, or PayPal payout in the event of a delay Not every airport has a lounge and if this is the case the PayPal option will be selected for you.

Can I register more than one person?

Yes, you can include up to four additional passengers who are named on your Post Office Travel Insurance policy when you register. Make sure the names you register match exactly those included on your flight booking or boarding passes and travel insurance.

Why has my flight registration failed?

Registering your flights could fail for two reasons:

• You’re attempting to register less than 24 hours before your scheduled departure time
• Not all airlines provide timely and accurate flight tracking data which is necessary for us to trigger compensation and issue your benefit

As such, we restrict registrations for airlines that do not provide reliable tracking data. This is done to ensure the best possible experience for customers.

Can I cancel a flight registration?

Yes, you can cancel a flight registration up to two hours before your scheduled departure time. Please do this via the link in your registration confirmation email.

LoungeKey lounge access

What is loungekey.

It's a global network of  over 1,100 airport lounges .

How will I know if free lounge access is available to me?

During your flight registration you’ll be provided with the lounge access option at the "Select Your Benefit" stage. If you have selected this option and a qualifying delay is met, we'll send an SMS text and email message with a PDF voucher attached, so you'll need a mobile device with you that can accept them. These messages are sent if:

• You register the flight online at least 24 hours before its scheduled departure time
• There's an announcement about a minimum one-hour delay (either a single delay or an accumulation of multiple shorter delays amounting to two or more hours)
• You selected lounge as your benefit option

How will I receive free LoungeKey access?

You'll need a mobile device that can receive SMS texts and emails with PDF attachments. If your flight's delayed by one hours or more, we'll automatically send you:

• A text notification, which includes a link to your PDF LoungeKey voucher
• An email with a PDF attachment containing your free LoungeKey voucher
• The SMS and emails will also contain the vouchers for any other passengers you registered

Please see our  terms of use .

How do I find the lounge at the airport?

We'll let you know how to locate your lounge when we email your access information. The voucher itself will also contain a link to the lounge finder and access information.

Other lounge access questions

Are children welcome in the lounges.

Not all lounges are open to younger passengers. You can check out the lounge policies at  your departure airport .

Why can't I gain access to a lounge?

There are a number of reasons why you might not be able to access a lounge, even if you have a valid voucher:

• If the lounge is closed when the delay occurs – during the night, for instance
• If the lounge is at full capacity
• If the passenger names on the boarding passes don't exactly match those on the LoungeKey voucher
• If you or a member of your group doesn't meet the lounge terms and conditions, such as dress code or minimum age

How can I find out about lounge policies and other services?

Although lounges at different airports have their own policies and services, most have free Wi-Fi. Discover more about the lounge at your departure airport.

About PayPal

What is paypal.

PayPal is a payment platform for payments and money transfer. It’s a secure way to send and receive money online.

PayPal allows any individual with an email address to securely send and receive payments online without having to enter your financial details.

You can use PayPal to shop online, or to send money quickly to anyone with an email address or transfer money to your bank account. You can also use PayPal on the high street where the number of shops accepting PayPal is growing.

Once you’ve linked your card or bank account to your PayPal account, you won’t need to provide all of your card details every time you shop online. PayPal remembers all your financial details, so you don’t have to, and they do not share them with sellers.

PayPal is available worldwide and in all major currencies.

How does PayPal work?

If you’ve selected PayPal as your benefit during the registration journey, in the event that you experience a qualifying flight delay, we’ll compensate you with a PayPal payout to use at your leisure.

We’ll pass your email address to PayPal, who will then instantly credit your wallet with your compensation.

If you don’t have a PayPal account linked to the email address you used for registration, PayPal will send you a link to register for an account.

Do I need to have an existing PayPal account?

You don’t need to have an existing PayPal account. A wallet will be credited with your compensation and an email will be sent to you with a link to PayPal to register and create an account. Your PayPal account will need to be linked to the email address you used to register your flight.

How can I get in contact with PayPal?

You can contact PayPal by text, email, on the phone or via the PayPal help page .

About PayPal payouts

How much will i receive.

We’ll provide a compensation payment of £25 per passenger into your PayPal account.

Will additional passengers receive a payout?

All eligible additional passengers that were registered will also receive a PayPal payout, but the payout will be made to the main customer.

Will I be notified before the PayPal payout is sent to me?

Yes, we’ll send you an email and SMS to let you know the PayPal payout has been issued.

What we share with PayPal

When will my information be shared with paypal.

We’ll pass your email address to PayPal when we trigger the PayPal payout request. 

What information will be shared with PayPal?

We’ll send PayPal the email address you used to register your flight. They will use your email address as the account to credit with the payout. PayPal will also send out communications to this address to confirm the payout.

Do you cover mobile or smart phones within a travel insurance policy?

Mobile and smartphones are covered under the personal possessions of our travel insurance policies up to £100.

If you need more cover for your phone, you could add our gadget cover add on for an extra premium and increase the cover up to £1,000 per policy for theft, damage or loss during your trip

Cover for mobile phones is now up to the single-article limit:

Economy: £150

Standard: £250

Premier: £400

If you need more cover for your phone, you could add our gadget cover add on for an extra premium and increase the cover up to £2,000 per person per policy for theft, damage, or loss during your trip.

What gadgets do you cover within the gadget cover extension?

Mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, computers, laptops, smart watches, drones, games (including handheld) consoles, all accessories of these items, plus wearable activity trackers. Cover is up to £1,000 per policy.

Mobile phones, smart phones, laptops (including custom-built), tablets, digital cameras, games consoles, video cameras, camera lenses, Bluetooth headsets and speakers, satellite navigation devices, e-readers, head/earphones, smart watches and wrist-worn health and fitness trackers. Cover is up to £2,000 per person, per policy.

Claims and emergency medical assistance

How do i make a claim on my travel insurance policy.

The easiest way is to make a claim online . It’s secure and available 24/7. There’s a handy checklist of everything you’ll need. And, for some claims, you’ll get a decision straight away. You can also call us 0333 333 9702 (1).

What should I do if I need emergency medical assistance while on a trip my policy covers?

Please call the emergency medical assistance line that’s correct for your policy as soon as possible. It’s open 24/7. The number to call is 0203 865 3074 .

How do I renew or cancel the renewal of my Travel Insurance policy?

When you buy an annual multi-trip policy, it’s your reassurance of continuous cover for all the trips you’ll take in a year. For reassurance that extends beyond that, your policy can be renewed automatically or manually. You can also make sure your policy doesn’t renew if you don’t need it to. Whatever you choose, we’ll write to you around 28 days before your current policy’s end date with details of any changes we’ll make should you wish to renew it and a quote for the next year’s cover.

Automatic renewal: if you buy an annual multi-trip policy, it will be set to renew automatically at the end of its term to keep you covered. If you prefer to opt out of this, you can do so then or any time during the policy. You can also turn auto renewal on later. Just call our contact centre. If you’ve declared medical conditions for anyone listed on the policy, it can’t be set to auto renew.

Manual renewal: if you’ve opted out of auto renewal, you can opt in manually later, such as when we send your renewal reminder or by calling our contact centre to set this up. It’s easy to renew through your online account or by calling our contact centre. If you miss the renewal date, you can still take out a new policy later. You’ll need to start a new quote, as the renewal quote is only valid until your current policy’s expiry date. This may also mean a gap in your cover until the new policy starts.

Turning off auto-renewal: if your policy’s set to renew automatically but you change your mind later, you can turn it off at any point during the life of the policy. You can do this yourself in your online account or call our contact centre team. If you’re within the last 8 days of your policy, you’ll need to call our contact centre to do so. The later you do this the greater the chance a renewal payment will be taken by the bank. If this happens before your renewal cancellation is processed, we’ll make sure your payment is refunded.

What if I have a complaint about my travel insurance?

For complaints about the sales literature or information about your policy, how it was sold to you on the phone or online, or the Medical Screening Service, please call 0330 123 1382 (1), e-mail [email protected] or write to:

Post Office Travel Insurance 67 Hope Street Glasgow G2 3AE

Please head any written correspondence 'COMPLAINT' and include copies of supporting material.

For complaints about a claim or assistance you received while travelling, please email [email protected] or write to:

Quality Department Collinson Insurance Services Limited Sussex House Perrymount Road Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 1DN

If you’re still not satisfied or don’t get a final answer from us within eight weeks of us receiving your complaint, you may have the right to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for consideration. You can contact the FOS here:

Financial Ombudsman Service Exchange Tower Harbour Exchange Square London E14 9SR

Call: 0800 0234 567 or 0300 1239 123 (1) Email: [email protected]

• Other sections:

Need more help and support with travel insurance?

If you didn’t find what you need these other pages may help.

For emergency assistance, to make a claim, complaint or manage your policy online: Visit our travel insurance support page

For questions about the coronavirus cover on our policies: Visit our travel insurance Covid-19 FAQs page

(1) Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calling a standard geographic number starting with 01 or 02 from your fixed line or mobile and may be included in your call package dependent on your service provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information on mailing potentially hazardous material may be found in Publication 52 , Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail on the Postal Explorer home page.

Section 451.22 of Pub 52 - Cremated Remains, are permitted to be mailed provided they are packaged as required in Packaging Instruction 10B . The identity of the contents should be marked on the address side. Mailpieces sent to domestic addresses must be sent via Priority Mail Express only.

If mailed to an international address, the individual country listing in the International Mail Manual (IMM) must show that cremated remains are permitted and Priority Mail Express International service must be available for that country.

Postage prices for international mail are based on weight, shape, dimensions, and destination country. Each country has different maximum weight and size dimensions.

The International Price Calculator is available in the upper left frame of the Postal Explorer home page. Select the country, follow the prompts and provide the information on your package, and the available options to the country you choose will be shown.

Notice 123 – Price List is also a handy reference tool for all domestic and international shipping.

Additionally, you can find other information about restrictions and extra services in the Individual Country Listings .

To determine customs requirements you can use the Customs Form Indicator which is also in the left frame of the Postal Explorer home page.

Notice 123 – Price List is a handy reference tool for all domestic and international shipping. On the Quick Reference pages are graphics showing the domestic and international minimum and maximum sizes for letters, flats, and packages. Along with the graphics are the accompanying prices.

Controlled substances and prescription drugs are mailable only by "registered distributors" with the Drug Enforcement Administration such as medical practitioners, pharmacists, etc. who may mail such substances to the patients under their care.

Publication 52 , Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, section 453 , Controlled Substances and Drugs, may be of some assistance to you.

It is worth noting that the majority of mail sent by the public is transported via commercial passenger airlines. You may have seen airline ramp agents loading tubs and sacks of U.S. Mail into the cargo hold of the passenger airline.

The sending of hazardous materials domestically is strictly limited in scope and quantity. Publication 52 , Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, must be used to determine if (a) the item is mailable, (b) quantity limitations, (c) packaging and labeling requirements, and (d) if a specific class of mail must be used.

Many mailable hazardous materials must be shipped via ground transportation only – meaning it cannot fly on commercial airlines.

The mailing of hazardous materials internationally is even more restrictive because only commercial airlines are used. Only certain items in Hazard Classes 6.2, 7, and 9 are permitted, and the item has to be permitted by the destination country as well.

Again, only Publication 52 will provide the accurate descriptions and mailability of any potentially hazardous items.

While it is theoretically possible to send a suitcase through the postal system (as long as it meets the size requirements for a parcel) you cannot insure the suitcase, only the contents.

The suitcase would be subjected to the rigors of mail processing equipment here in the United States and overseas if sending internationally. If the suitcase has wheels and handles, it is possible that these could be damaged in equipment. The choice would be yours.

Anyone can use Media Mail, but the contents of Media Mail are restricted for all mailers. The Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) requirements for Media Mail can be found in section 173.3 .

Media Mail is often referred to as "book rate." It is generally used for books (at least eight pages), film (16 mm or narrower), printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, and computer-readable media. Advertising restrictions apply. Packages must measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth. Mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area. Media Mail has no minimum weight; the maximum weight is 70 pounds.

Please note that Media Mail packages may be opened for inspection at either the originating or destination Post Office.

International mail does not have Media Mail rate like domestic does; however, they do have a product call "M-bags" which are defined as direct sacks of printed matter sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address. The standards for M-bags can be found in Section 261 of the International Mail Manual.

The maximum weight of an M-bag is 66 pounds unless lower limits apply by country. Each M-bag that weighs 11 pounds or less is charged the applicable 11-pound price as the minimum charge.

The contents for M-bags are restricted and, regardless of physical closure, M-bags are not sealed against inspection.

The most current source of information about restrictions to APO/FPO/DPO destinations is found in the Postal Bulletin . Each issue has a section devoted to listing the current restrictions for Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail. It can be found under Pullout Information>>Other Information>>Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail.

It is important that every business use the right services for their needs. Send Postal Explorer an email and be sure to include the name, address, phone number, and contact person at the business and we'll make sure that a representative in your area contacts you at their earliest opportunity.

The Postal Service supports e-commerce Internet applications through Application Program Interface (APIs) for Rate Calculators and more.

For a Developers Tool Kit go to: www.usps.com/webtools and click on "Get Started with Price Calculator" under "View API Technical Documentation."

The APIs will automatically compute postage and zone information and return the result to your web shopping cart program.

That depends. With commercial mail you must meet volume requirements. First-Class Mail minimum volume is 500 pieces, and USPS Marketing Mail is 200 pieces for each mailing.

You must ask yourself some questions. How much work do you want to do? The finer you sort the mail, the bigger the discount. How many mailings will you do each year? Will the commercial mail application fee and the annual mailing fee, still enable you to realize a savings? Is it important to you to receive your mail back if it is undeliverable for any reason?

The Business Mail 101 internet site will provide basic information for preparing a commercial mailing including information about:

• Is commercial mail right for your business?
• The minimum volume required for a commercial mailing.
• The difference between First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail.
• How to sort commercial mail.
• How size and weight affects prices.
• How to pay for postage.
• How to apply for a mailing permit.
• And much more.

Business Mail 101 can be accessed from the Postal Explorer home page by selecting "Business Mail 101" in the top drop-down under Publications.

Quick Service Guides (QSG) provides a 2-page summary of the standards for each type of commercial mail. All of the Quick Service Guides are available on Postal Explorer.

After you have had an opportunity to explore Business Mail 101 you can then contact your local Business Mail Entry unit with any specific questions you might have. Be sure to ask Business Mail Entry for any commercial mail classes they may have scheduled for new mailers. A lookup tool for your local Business Mail Entry is available in the top drop-down of Postal Explorer under "Business Solutions."

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a simplified mailing process that permits a mailer to reach potential customers in nearby neighborhoods based on a geographic ZIP Code area.

EDDM allows you to design flats-size mailpieces and deposit your mail at a local Post Office, using a simplified address format, for delivery to the carrier routes you choose.

If you wish to mail to areas outside your local Post Office delivery area there is a commercial version of this service that you can use with your mailing permit or you can hire a letter shop or mailing service to prepare and enter your mailings using their mailing permit

Learn more about EDDM mail at: www.usps.com/business/every-door-direct-mail.htm

Track a package at usps.com by clicking on Tracking in the left frame of the website and adding the tracking number. For other questions regarding tracking, contact the USPS Help Desk .

The current cost to mail a one-ounce letter can be found in Notice 123 – Price List . Click on the link for First-Class Mail International under International Retail Prices.

Customs officials use the shipment's declared value, along with the description of the items, to determine applicable duties and taxes. These charges are not assessed by the Postal Service and are dependent on the destination country's customs requirements.

The Forever Stamp will always equal the price of the current one-ounce First-Class Mail stamp regardless of its price when you purchased it. Additional stamps would only be needed if the letter exceeds one ounce

See the first page of the current Price List for First-Class Mail prices.

For a complete list of the non-denominated stamps along with corresponding pictures and their value, see Quick Service Guide 604a , Nondenominated Postage.

The maximum weight for a First- Class Mail letter is 3.5 ounces. The maximum weight for a First-Class Mail large envelope (flat) and First-Class Package Service - Retail is 13 oz.; after that it is classified as Priority Mail and you would pay Priority Mail prices.

Retail Ground prices are only available when shipping to Zones 5-8 (furthest from you). Zones 1-4 (closest to you) have the same prices as Priority Mail, therefore, only Priority Mail prices are shown.

Information about qualifying for nonprofit prices is available in Publication 417, Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail Eligibility . You can access this publication on the Postal Explorer home page. Please note that having IRS-exempt status does not automatically qualify mailings for nonprofit prices. Organization type and content of the piece plays a big part in USPS approval for nonprofit privileges.

With commercial mail you must meet volume requirements. First-Class Mail minimum volume is 500 pieces, and USPS Marketing Mail is 200 pieces for each mailing.

If you do not currently hold a mailing permit, you must ask yourself some questions. How much work do you want to do? The finer you sort the mail, the bigger the discount. How many mailings will you do each year? Will the commercial mail application fee and the annual mailing fee still enable you to realize a savings? Is it important to you to receive your mail back if it is undeliverable for any reason?

• How to obtain address lists.
• How to apply for nonprofit prices.

Business Mail 101 can be accessed from the Postal Explorer home page by selecting "Business Mail 101" in the left frame.

After you have had an opportunity to explore Business Mail 101 you can then contact your local Business Mail Entry unit with any specific questions you might have. Be sure to ask Business Mail Entry for any commercial mail classes they may have scheduled for new mailers. A lookup tool for your local Business Mail Entry is available in the left frame of Postal Explorer under "Postal Links."

Postage meters may be purchased or leased through an approved USPS vendor. Quick Service Guide 604c , Postage Meters and PC Postage Systems, provides basic information. The lease/purchase terms and agreement are between you and the vendor, however, the use of the meter must comply with all Domestic Mail Manual requirements in section 604.4 .

For specific delivery issues, please contact your local Post Office directly as they would be best suited to resolve any problems. If you are unable to do so, you may contact the USPS.com Help Desk at: www.usps.com/help/contact-us.htm

Packaging provided by the USPS must be used only for the class of mail stated. Regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be obliterated, any matter mailed in USPS-produced packaging is charged the appropriate Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail price. ( Domestic Mail Manual 125.1.1 )

Additionally, only USPS-produced Flat Rate packaging is eligible for flat rate prices. Each envelope or box is charged a flat rate price regardless of the actual weight (up to 70 pounds). Lower weight limits apply to international destinations. ( Domestic Mail Manual 123.1.5 )

Domestic mail is mail transmitted within, among, and between the United States of America, its territories and possessions, Army Post Offices (APOs), fleet Post Offices (FPOs), and the United Nations, NY. The current list of "territories and possessions" can be found in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) section 608.2

• American Samoa (Manua Island, Swain's Island, Tutuila Island)
• Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of the (Rota Island, Saipan Island, Tinian Island)
• Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of
• U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix Island, St. John Island, St. Thomas Island)
• Wake Atoll (Wake Island)

Although, most territories and possessions on the list do not require a customs form, Priority Mail weighing 16 ounces or more sent from the United States to certain ZIP Codes, must bear customs Form 2976-A. The current ZIP Code list can be found in DMM 608.2.4.1

Please contact the USPS.com Help Desk at: www.usps.com/help/contact-us.htm or for Click-N-Ship at 800-344-7779, option 3.

Please contact the Click-N-Ship Help Desk at: 1-800-344-7779 - option 3 . The hours of operation are:

• Monday thru Friday: 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM ET
• Saturday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET
• Sundays/Holidays: Closed

In addition, there is a Click-N-Ship® email account that customers can use for questions, concerns, or issues. The Click-N-Ship® email account is: [email protected] . Your email will be responded to within 24-36 hours.

When sending an email to the Click-N-Ship email account, please be sure to include the following information:

• Account Number
• Label Number
• Transaction Number
• First/Last Name
• Brief explanation of the issue or concern
• Your preferred contact information

For domestic mail: if the appropriate time has passed (see chart below), go to www.usps.com/help/claims.htm to start the claims process.

For international mail: international claims require coordination with a foreign postal administration and are handled differently than domestic claims. The process begins with filing an inquiry that only the U.S. sender can initiate.

Inquiries can be initiated for Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) items, Priority Mail Express International items, registered items, and insured and ordinary parcels. Inquiries are not accepted for ordinary letters, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, or M-bags. Customers must wait a reasonable amount of time for an international item to be delivered in the foreign country before initiating an inquiry.

Go to: www.usps.com/help/claims.htm and click on "International Shipments" to begin the inquiry process.

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What is a travel money card?

How does a travel money card work?

Why use a travel money card, how to compare travel money cards, how to get a travel money card, are travel money cards worth it.

A travel money card, also called a prepaid travel card, is a type of card that can hold foreign currencies. It’s intended for overseas travel, and you can use one to withdraw foreign cash from ATMs and to make purchases in a local currency. 

Think of a travel money card as a debit card that uses local currency. Before you use a travel money card, you’ll preload a set amount of a specific international currency onto the card at the day’s exchange rate. For example, if you’re travelling to Italy and France for two weeks, you’d load Euros (€‎) onto the card and use it instead of your regular debit or credit card during your trip. 

You can continue reloading money onto the card via an app or website as you spend your funds. So, if you blow through your Euros in Rome, you can top off your card’s balance before arriving in Paris. 

Available currencies

The available currencies will depend on the card, but you’ll generally find the following options: 

• United States Dollars (USD)
• Europe Euros (EUR)
• Great British Pounds (GBP)
• Japanese Yen (JPY)
• New Zealand Dollars (NZD)
• Hong Kong Dollars (HKD)
• Canadian Dollars (CAD)
• Singapore Dollars (SGD)
• Thai Baht (THB)
• Vietnamese Dong (VND)
• Chinese Renminbi (CNY)
• Emirati Dirham (AED)

Know that the number of currencies available will also vary. For example: 

• The CommBank Travel Money Card offers 13 currencies.
• The Westpac Travel Money Card has 11 currencies.
• The Qantas Travel Money Card has ten currencies. 

The value of your exchange

The value you exchange currency for will depend on when you load your funds. Rates change from day to day, but you’ll lock in the rate used at the time you exchange currency. So, you’ll know the exact worth of the foreign currency in Australian dollars every time you use your preloaded card. 

On the one hand, a locked-in rate protects you from volatile currencies with fluctuating values. However, if the rate drops, you could be stuck with devalued foreign funds. So, while you can’t predict the future, try to coordinate the load when the exchange rate is most valuable — even if that means waiting a few days. 

• Provides access to multiple currencies. Most options allow you to convert Australian dollars into several different currencies simultaneously. That means you can have secure access to a handful of foreign funds during your next multi-country adventure. 
• Saves on ATM fees. Credit card holders won’t usually be charged the standard 3% foreign transaction fee or pay extra for in-network ATM withdrawals, loading, and topping up their cards. However, these are just generalisations — each credit card company or bank will have its own fee structure.
• Exchange rates are locked. You’ll pay for the local currency using the exchange rate available when you load funds, which locks in the rate. Having dependable value for your funds goes a long way for peace of mind, especially when travelling. 
• Fewer risks when lost. Losing a prepaid card while travelling is undoubtedly a hassle. However, a lost or stolen credit card can mean more risks, like thieves potentially accessing your personal banking details and account funds. Since a lost travel money card is unlikely to result in a stolen identity and fraud , some travellers find it a safer choice while abroad.
• Helps with budgeting. Trying to keep to preloaded funds may help you stick to a budget while on vacation. Plus, you see the value of money in the local currency, which can help you manage your finances while travelling. 
• May come with rewards and perks. Some travel money cards earn frequent flyer points or come with other special travel perks, like overseas customer service. For example, the Qantas Travel Money Card earns Qantas points, and the Westpac Travel Money Card offers airport lounge access to the cardholder and one companion access when a flight is delayed. 

Disadvantages

• There are delays when reloading. If you need to top up your balance, you may need to wait up to a few days before funds are available to use. 
• Other fees. Some travel money cards may levy typical credit card fees for reloading funds, emergency card replacement, account maintenance, closures, inactivity and more. For example, Travelex and the Australia Post Travel Platinum Mastercard charge a $10 account closing fee. 
• Limited acceptance. Travel money cards are less common than other payment options, so you may need help using one for all purchases. So, it’s always a good idea to carry emergency cash. 
• May lack the rewards or perks you’re used to. Travel money cards may come with some, but these extras are usually less robust than the offerings on rewards credit cards . 

Before you choose a travel card, consider a few key features. 

One of these is the number of currencies available and the ability to load multiple currencies onto one card. That benefit can help you save and make it easier to manage your money while travelling overseas .

Another thing to look for is reduced or waived fees for loading or reloading funds, account keeping, account closing, and emergency card replacements. Be sure to check for any potential fees when accessing leftover foreign funds you didn’t use on your trip, as there may be an unloading fee.

Travel perks, such as airport lounge access or the ability to earn rewards, are also great features to look for. Digital wallet compatibility, allowing you to use a virtual version of your card, can also be helpful.

Of course, security features are also important. Look for a card with a PIN to use at ATMs and the ability to lock the card instantly if lost or stolen.

Finally, options to quickly load or reload funds and notifications when your balance is low can be beneficial. And, since you’re travelling overseas, 24/7 customer support is essential to ensure you have access to help when you need it.

To get a travel money card , you can go through your bank, an airline, a foreign exchange retailer or a payment merchant. For example, Westpac, CommBank, ANZ, NAB, Qantas, Travelex, Mastercard or Australia Post all offer travel money cards. 

How to apply

Prepaid travel card eligibility is comparable to the requirements for a debit card. For example, CommBank requests that cardholders have a minimum age of 14, be registered with NetBank, and provide a valid email and residential address. 

You can apply directly on the provider’s website once you choose your favourite prepaid travel money card. Make sure to submit your application at least a few weeks before your trip in case of delays. 

» MORE: How old do you have to get a credit card?

How to activate

After you receive the card: 

• download the provider’s app and familiarise yourself with how it works
• register your account
• activate the card
• convert your money to the chosen currency. You might want to start with a smaller amount for the first part of your trip and reload while overseas or make one big transfer. 

While overseas, you’ll likely alternate between paying in local cash and pulling out your travel card. Your goal is to find the best travel card that allows you to pay for items with minimal fees and maximum protections flexibly. 

The right travel money card supports a stress-free trip, but you don’t have to use one when travelling overseas — your bank card or credit card could also be a suitable option. 

If you’re deciding between a travel money card and a travel credit card , it’s important to understand the differences in how they work. 

• Travel money cards are preloaded with foreign currencies, while travel credit cards spend borrowed money. Travel money cards are generally easier to obtain as they don’t require good credit or income thresholds. With a travel money card, you can withdraw funds from an ATM without incurring interest or cash advance fees . 
• Travel credit cards don’t usually hold foreign currency but offer perks such as international buyer protections, free insurance , airport lounge access and frequent flyer travel points . 

Be sure to consider other important features — such as security, reduced fees and travel perks — to decide if a travel money card is worth it for you. 

Frequently asked questions about travel money cards  

Most Australian banks — including Westpac, CommBank, ANZ and NAB — have some travel products, whether a travel money card or a travel credit card. 

About the Author

Amanda Smith is a freelance reporter, journalist, and cultural commentator. She covers culture + society, travel, LGBTQ+, human interest, and business. Amanda has written stories about planning for retirement for…

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What Is a Travel Credit Card?

Using a travel rewards credit card can help you get your next flight on a discount, hotel upgrades, or even cover the full cost of a trip.

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Frequent flyer credit cards earn points or miles that can upgrade your travel and help you score free flights.

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A card lock is essentially an on-off switch that allows you to temporarily freeze or block your credit card and most debit cards.

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Faqs and top travel tips.

Money can be the most confusing thing about travelling overseas. But it doesn’t have to be. We’ve put together these frequently asked questions and top travel tips to simplify the whole business.

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Frequently Asked Questions on the USCIS Fee Rule

On Jan. 31, 2024, USCIS published a  final rule  that, for the first time since 2016, adjusts certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. With the final rule, we can recover our operating costs more fully and support timely processing of new applications. Unlike many other federal agencies, we are almost entirely fee funded. About 96% of our funding is from filing fees, and only about 4% is from congressional appropriations.

This final rule goes into effect on April 1, 2024.

We consolidated the questions and answers below from questions that stakeholders submitted through our national engagement and other channels. You can also view the PowerPoint presentation (PDF, 469.54 KB) from this national engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why does USCIS need a new fee schedule?

A. The fee schedule from 2016 no longer covers the operational costs of adjudicating USCIS immigration and naturalization benefits in a timely way. We need higher fees to cover the cost of doing business and better avoid the accumulation of future backlogs.

Q. What about funding from Congress?

A. We receive 96% of our funding from filing fees, not from congressional appropriations.

Fortunately, Congress provided much-needed support in fiscal year 2022, appropriating $275 million specifically to reduce current backlogs and advance our humanitarian mission. Congress also supported our refugee and asylum activities with appropriations of $133 million in FY 2023 and $145 million in FY 2024.

We will require continued congressional support to eliminate our current backlogs. We intend for the new fee rule to allow us to keep pace with incoming cases and prevent backlogs from growing.

We also continue to require congressional funding to sustainably and fully address the increased volume of cases associated with recent border crossers. This includes the need to hire additional USCIS personnel to better manage the number of cases we now receive.

Q. How did current backlogs accumulate in the first place?

A. As described in our  Fiscal Year 2022 Progress Report (PDF, 1.08 MB) , immigration filings decreased dramatically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and revenue temporarily dropped by 40%. A hiring freeze and workforce attrition reduced the agency’s capacity to complete cases, even as incoming caseloads rebounded to pre-COVID levels.

We lifted our hiring freeze in March 2021, and we are working to fill current vacancies by recruiting and training new staff— we are hiring !

We have continued to deliver improved services even in advance of the new fee rule. To stay on a strong fiscal footing and continue improving our delivery of timely decisions, we need the resources that this fee rule will provide.

Q.  How will the new fee schedule affect USCIS backlogs and processing times?

A. We recognize that when there are backlogs, people experience longer wait times to receive decisions. We understand the impact of such delays on those we serve, and emphasize that our core mission is to ensure the timely processing of immigration requests.

Fiscal year 2023 was the first year that we successfully reduced our backlog in more than a decade—a reduction of 15%. This progress occurred even as we experienced a record year in filings received—10.9 million during FY 2023, compared with a more typical level of 9 million receipts in FY 2022 and FY 2021. The backlog grew by 16% in FY 2022, which was slower growth than the two previous years—43% in FY 2021 and 26% in FY 2020.

The slower backlog growth rate in FY 2022 and decline in FY 2023 were driven by ongoing efforts to increase hiring and develop new efficiencies in case processing. Congress also supported this effort with $275 million in appropriated funding in FY 2022.

The new fee schedule will allow USCIS to more fully recover our operating costs, reestablish and maintain timely case processing, support the development and implementation of tools that further increase our efficiency and improve the customer experience, and help prevent the accumulation of future case backlogs.

For more information, please see our FY 2023 progress report and historical median processing times .

Q. How much revenue does USCIS expect to receive under the new fee schedule?

A. We expected the previous fee schedule, in place since 2016, to yield an average of $3.28 billion per year (excluding fees for premium processing and temporary programs). Under the fee schedule proposed in January 2023, we would have received an estimated average of $5.2 billion per year.

Under this final rule, we expect to receive an average of $4.42 billion per year. This is 14.1% less revenue—and less cost burden on those filing requests—than the proposed rule. This final rule removed $727 million of average annual estimated costs by transferring costs to premium processing revenue, reducing the work to be funded by the Asylum Program Fee, and considering the budget effects of improved efficiency measures.

The final fee rule is expected to generate an additional average $1.14 billion per year in agency revenue compared with the previous fee schedule baseline. This is the amount necessary to match agency capacity with projected workloads, so that backlogs do not grow in the future.

Q. When was the last time USCIS increased fees?

A. We published our previous fee schedule in a   fee rule (PDF) that went into effect more than 7 years ago, on Dec. 23, 2016.

Q.  Why does USCIS need a “carryover” balance of cash reserves?

A. The Government Accountability Office acknowledges that fee-funded agencies may need to designate funds as operating reserves to weather periods when revenue collections are lower than costs. For federal entities such as USCIS that rely almost entirely on fee revenue, it is critical that they maintain a sufficient “carryover” balance of cash reserves, helping ensure that adequate funds are available to meet daily obligation and outlay requirements. Historically, for example, our fee revenue in the first quarter of the fiscal year is low due to seasonal filing patterns and expenses are higher due to contract year startups. Therefore, carryover funds are necessary to pay federal salaries, maintain expenses, and award certain contracts during periods of cash flow deficits. DHS FMPM Section 2.12, Fee Review and Guidance, requires USCIS to have a carryover balance at the end of each fiscal year to meet the forecast expenses for the first three months of the fiscal year.

For more on the importance of maintaining a healthy carryover balance, please our FY 2022 Progress Report (PDF, 1.08 MB) , in particular Section IV, “From Fiscal Crisis to Fiscal Responsibility.”

Q. How will this rule change the USCIS fee schedule, in summary?

A. Core elements of the final rule include the following:

• For individual filers, the final rule generally limits newly established fees to no more than the increase in the Consumer Price Index since 2016, which is 26%. Many such fees will increase by well under 26%.
• The final fee rule holds fee increases to a low level for naturalization and adoption applications and petitions.
• The final fee rule mitigates higher fees for employer filers with special discounts for nonprofits and small employers.
• The final fee rule codifies existing fee waiver eligibility for low-income and vulnerable populations; expands fee exemptions for certain humanitarian and other beneficiaries; and expands the reduced fee option for certain individuals who apply for naturalization.
• There will be a $50 discount for most who file forms online instead of by paper mailing, when an online filing option is available.

Q. How is the final rule different from the proposed rule?

A. We published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in January 2023 and received more than 5,400 unique public comments in response. Acknowledging this feedback from stakeholders, the final fee rule includes several important changes from the proposed rule.

Every fee in the final rule is either the same or lower than in the proposed rule.

In the final rule, we made the following changes from the proposed rule:

• Lowered our required annual cost recovery by $727 million, in part by considering the budget effects of improved efficiency measures;
• Implemented a standard $50 discount for online filers;
• Provided special fee discounts for nonprofits and small employers;
• Allowed half-price ($260) Employment Authorization Document applications for adjustment of status applicants and a reduced fee ($950) for adjustment of status applicants under the age of 14 in certain conditions;
• Expanded eligibility for reduced-fee naturalization applications ($380) for individuals who demonstrate household income between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines;
• Expanded fee exemptions for Special Immigrant Juveniles self-petitioners; victims of human trafficking (T visa) and certain criminal activity (U visa), and domestic violence (self-petitioners under the Violence Against Women Act); U.S. military servicemembers and our Afghan allies; and families pursuing international adoption; and
• Expanded fee exemptions for certain USCIS adoption-related processes, including a second extension, a second change in country, and a duplicate approval notice request.

Q. What additional changes are in the final rule?

A. We also kept the following changes from the proposed rule. Specifically, the final rule:

• Incorporates biometric services costs into the main benefit fee and eliminates a separate biometric services fee in most cases (Temporary Protected Status and the filings accepted on behalf of the Executive Office for Immigration Review are exceptions, where the final rule establishes a separate biometric services fee of $30 instead of the $85 pre-4/1/2024 fee);
• Eliminates the $30 returned check fee;
• Requires separate filing fees for Form I-485 (adjustment of status), Form I-131 (travel document), and Form I-765 (employment authorization), including when the forms are filed together;
• Establishes separate fees for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, by nonimmigrant classification;
• Limits the number of named beneficiaries on certain petitions for nonimmigrant workers to 25;
• Revises the premium processing timeframe calculation from calendar days to business days;
• Clarifies that we will not redeposit checks that are dishonored as unpayable for a reason other than insufficient funds (such as stop payment or closed account);
• States that fees paid with a credit card are not subject to dispute, chargeback, forced refund, or return to the cardholder for any reason except at our discretion;
• Revises certain USCIS processes for adoptions from countries that are not party to the Hague Adoption Convention (orphan cases) to align them with the processes for adoptions from countries that are party to that convention;
• Provides fee exemptions for adoptees filing applications for a Certificate of Citizenship and naturalization based on adoption;
• Revises regulations related to genealogy searches, reducing fees for genealogy online requests as well as providing copies of records that are digitized with the index search to help with our backlog reduction efforts; and
• Establishes a fee for Form G-1566, Request for Certificate of Non-Existence.

Q. How does the final fee rule affect USCIS forms?

A. Please see the fee schedule table below to view a full list of the revised forms that go into effect when the new fees take effect on April 1, 2024. We will accept prior editions of most forms during a grace period from April 1, 2024, through June 3, 2024. During this grace period, we will accept previous and new editions of certain forms, filed with the correct fee.

There will be  no grace period  for the following new forms, however, because they must be revised with a new fee calculation. Filers should click the links below to access a preview version of each new form edition prior to the April 1, 2024, effective date:

• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker ;
• Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker ;
• Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers;
• Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition  (and Form I-600A/I-600 Supplements 1, 2, and 3); and
• Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (and Form I-600A/I-600 Supplements 1, 2, and 3).

We will use the  postmark date  of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct but will use the  received date  for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.

The fee rule edition of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization , will incorporate a request for a reduced fee, eliminating the need to submit Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee. If you are requesting a reduced fee using the new edition of the form, do not submit Form I-942. If you apply during the grace period and use the prior edition of Form N-400 and you wish to request a reduced fee, you will need submit Form I-942.

Q. If forms are postmarked by March 31, 2024, will the current (pre-April 1) USCIS fees apply, even if USCIS does not receive the forms before April 1, 2024?

A. The correct fee and form version is based on the postmark date of the filing, not the date that we receive it. Forms with a postmark date of March 31, 2024, or earlier must be submitted with the current (pre-April 1) fees. Forms with a postmark date of April 1, 2024, or later must be submitted with the fee implemented by the new fee rule and listed on the Fee Schedule,  Form G-1055 . We encourage you to use the online filing option when it is available.

Q. Can you explain how the postmark rule is implemented by lockbox staff with respect to commercial couriers such as FedEx and UPS?

A. Our lockbox facilities accept courier deliveries from UPS, FedEx, and DHL. The postmark date is the shipping date reflected on the courier receipt. If there is no shipping date on the label, we consider the date you printed the label to be the postmark date. If the label does not have a shipping date or a print date, we will consider the postmark date to be 10 days before we received the package.

Q. When will USCIS release the new forms?

A. On March 1, 2024, we published the OMB-approved preview version of the 04/01/24 version of Forms I-129 , I-129CW , I-140 , and I-600 / I-600A /Supplements on each form’s landing page. For all other forms, we will publish the 04/01/24 version on April 1, 2024, and we will allow prior editions during a grace period from April 1 to June 3, 2024. For Forms I-129, I-129CW, I-140, and I-600/I-600A/Supplements, there will be no grace period because we are changing the forms for fee calculation.

Q. Will you release a new edition of the USCIS Pre-Order Instructions (for those filing USCIS forms for adjudication in court) to reflect the change in the biometrics fee?

A.  Yes. We are striving to update our many pages of internal and public guidance for every applicable area to reflect the changes in the 2024 fee rule before they take effect on April 1. The new edition of the USCIS Pre-Order Instructions will be available here (PDF, 279.49 KB) .

Q. What will happen to online filers after April 1, 2024?

A. If you have already submitted a benefit request either online or in paper form, the fee rule does not affect that pending request and you need to take no further action.

New form versions will be available by default in the online platform on April 1, 2024. You will not be able to submit older versions of forms after April 1, 2024.

On April 1, 2024, we will have to delete any Form N-400 drafts in progress, and you will have to restart the N-400 application. This is necessary because Form N-400 is the only form currently available for online filing that will not have a grace period when the new form version is required on April 1. We have notified users within their myUSCIS accounts informing them that, if they have any existing drafts or any newly created Form N-400 applications, they will need submit them by March 31, 2024 or we will delete the applications and they will need to start a new application on April 1.

For all other forms, however, we will update drafts their progress on April 1 with the new version of the respective form.

Q. Where can I find the latest information about fees?

A. We will no longer include information about fees in the instructions of our forms. You can see a comprehensive list of fees by viewing, Fee Schedule, Form G-1055 .

In addition, our online fee calculator is available to determine the current fee for any form processed at a USCIS lockbox facility (which is the great majority of our forms).

Q. How did DHS calculate the various fee increases in the final rule?

A. DHS is authorized under statute to recover the full costs of providing USCIS services, including the costs of services provided without charge to asylum applicants and other noncitizens. In other words, we are permitted to collect fees that may cover our total operational costs.

This means that the fees for a particular form may include the unit cost of adjudicating that form, plus an additional amount to cover the agency’s non-adjudication overhead expenses. As part of that overhead, filers who pay the full fee may cover our costs to adjudicate fee-exempt, fee-reduced, and fee-waived cases.

In addition, the fee rule includes a new Asylum Program Fee of $600 that employers pay if they file either  Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker ;  Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker ; or  Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers . The fee covers some of the costs associated with asylum processing, which does not include its own fee. This fee increase for employer petitioners mitigates the size of the fee increases for many individual filers.

In response to public comments, the final rule provides special relief for nonprofit petitioners (who will not pay the Asylum Program Fee) and for small employer petitioners with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (these petitioners will pay half-price, or a $300 Asylum Program Fee).

In addition, for the fees for Form I-129 and Form I-129CW, nonprofits and small employers will pay a discounted fee of up to 50% off. We continue to emphasize that Congress could reduce the burden on our fee-paying customers by fully funding our humanitarian mission, as it does for other agencies.

Q. Why does the final rule increase the H-1B registration fee?

A. In 2019, a  different rule (PDF)  established a $10 registration fee per beneficiary for H-1B registrations. The $10 registration fee is separate from, and in addition to, the H-1B petition filing fee for Form I-129. We require the registration fee regardless of whether the prospective petitioner’s registration is selected. At that time, we did not have sufficient data to precisely estimate the costs of the registration process and implemented the $10 fee to provide an initial stream of revenue to fund part of the costs to USCIS for operating the registration program.

The $215 H-1B registration fee under the new fee rule is based on empirical cost estimates, as anticipated in the implementing regulation. See  88 FR 402 , 500-501 (Jan. 4, 2023). Using results of the fiscal year 2022/2023 fee review, DHS based the fee on the activity costs for informing the public and management and oversight. DHS also recognizes the burden saved for H-1B filers through this registration system.

Please note that H-1B registration fee during the March 2024 H-1B registration period will remain $10, and the new $215 registration fee under the new fee rule will not be charged to prospective employers until the March 2025 registration period.

Q. Why does the final rule increase EB-5 program fees?

A. The final rule increases EB-5 program fees consistent with the fees for other benefit requests. As explained in the final rule, the fee amounts indicated by the full cost recovery model for the immigrant investor forms are not capped or decreased below the estimated full cost recovery as with some other forms, and DHS believes that the requirements for financial wherewithal in the program are inconsistent with shifting the costs of the EB-5 program to be funded by the fees paid for other requests.

DHS has begun the fee study required by the  EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (PDF)  to meet the additional fee guidelines and processing time requirements. The law requires DHS to set fees for EB-5 program-related immigration benefit requests at a level sufficient to recover the costs of providing such services and completing the adjudications within certain time frames.

For each relevant form, the following table (adapted from Table 1 of the final fee rule) compares the previously enacted fee, the fee from the January 2023 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), and the final rule fee that goes into effect on April 1, 2024.

On or before this effective date, we will also post an updated comprehensive fee schedule on our  Fee Schedule webpage.

Q. What does the final rule say about fee waivers?

A. The final rule codifies that fee waiver eligibility is based on an inability to pay and that fee waivers will continue to be available for applicants who receive means-tested public benefits, have income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or who demonstrate financial hardship.

You can find a complete list of forms eligible for fee waiver requests in the section below under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart.”

Q. When will new 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines be issued?

A. The 2024 guidelines are available online from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. USCIS will no longer publish the guidelines in Form I-912P or Form I-942P . However, we have created a new website for Poverty Guidelines with the information about the percentages of household.

Q. Will there be a way to request a fee waiver while filing online?

A: For now, you must submit fee waivers with paper forms. We are working toward making fee waiver requests available through our online platform and will inform the public when this feature is available.

Q. How does the fee rule expand fee exemptions?

A. Before this final rule, we provided fee exemptions (authorized under the Immigration and Nationality Act section 286(m), 8 U.S.C. 1356(m)) through policy guidance documents, such as form instructions, our policy manual, and similar directives, but not always in regulations. In this final rule, we codify several longstanding fee exemptions, including for humanitarian-related forms, because of the humanitarian nature of these programs and the likelihood that people who file requests related to these categories will qualify for a fee waiver if they request it.

In addition, the final rule provides new fee exemptions for certain immigration benefit requests, including:

• All forms associated with an application for T nonimmigrant status through final adjudication of the Form I-485, the application for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident;
• All forms associated with a petition for U nonimmigrant status, including the filing of a Form I-485;
• All forms associated with a self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act (Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant) through final adjudication of the adjustment of status application, including:
• Conditional permanent residents seeking a waiver of the Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, joint-filing requirement based on battery or extreme cruelty;
• Abused spouses and children seeking benefits under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) for most forms filed through final adjudication for adjustment of status to legal permanent resident, including Form I-765 and Form I-881, Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (Pursuant to Section 203 of Public Law 105-100 (NACARA)), and associated forms;
• Benefits for Special Immigrant Afghan or Iraqi translators or interpreters, Iraqi nationals employed by or for the U.S. government, or Afghan nationals employed by or for the U.S. government or employed by the International Security Assistance Force and their derivative beneficiaries, including filing Forms I-765, I-290B, I-824, I-485, I-212, I-601, and I-131;
• Special Immigrant Juveniles for most forms through final adjudication of the adjustment of status application, including Form I-485 and associated forms;
• Certain adoption-related applications or requests, including second extensions, second changes in country, duplicate approval notices, and certificates of citizenship and naturalization;
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, for persons admitted or paroled as refugees, including legal permanent residents who obtained such status as refugees in the United States; and
• Current and former U.S. armed forces service members, including people who served honorably on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, including Forms I-765, I-485, I-360, and Form I-131.
• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal of Motion (when filed before adjusting status or for form I-485 and associated ancillary forms);
• Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal;
• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility;
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; and
• Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition;

You can find a complete list of previous and additional fee exemptions in the  final rule  in Tables 5A, 5B, and 5C, as well as in the section below under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart.”

Q. Are there any special forms or eligibility requirements to file for fee exemptions?

A.   No. Fee exemptions do not require a separate form or eligibility criteria, although we may require evidence for the fee exemption. We identify a fee exemption by the category or basis of filing identified in the form.   Do not submit a fee when the form is fee-exempt.

Q. For humanitarian applications that are fee-exempt, do we need to file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver?

A. No. You do not need to file Form I-912 with applications that are fee-exempt.

Q. If someone includes a fee for something that should be fee-exempt, will the fee be returned?

A. Do not submit a fee when filing for a fee-exempt category. We may intake the fee and not return the fee if you submit a fee with a fee-exempt form.

Q.  How much did USCIS have to increase other fees to provide the new fee exemptions in the final rule?

A.  In the final rule, we forecasted that as a general matter, the revenue represented by the new fee exemptions is only about 3% of the total forecasted revenue. Note that fee-exempt services have no effect on those fees that are capped at a certain amount in the final rule. 

Q. Which fees are reduced but not waived or exempted in the final fee rule?

A. Under the final fee rule:

• There will be a $50 discount for the forms that may be filed online with USCIS, except in limited circumstances, such as when the form fee is already provided at a substantial discount or the law prohibits USCIS from charging a full cost recovery level fee.
• There will be no separate biometric services fee for most applicants.
• Individuals seeking adjustment of status will pay $260, which is half the standard fee, for  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , if they paid the full fee for a concurrently filed or pending adjustment application if filed the I-485 is filed on or after April 1, 2024 and while it remains pending.
• Nonprofits and small employers (25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees) filing  Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker , will pay a 50% discounted fee (or the same fee as under the previous fee rule, if 50% of the standard new fee would be less than the previous fee).
• Naturalization applicants filing Form N-400 who have incomes between 150% and 400% of the  Federal Poverty Guidelines  will pay $380, which is half the full fee. Previous regulations provided the half-price fee for N-400 applicants whose incomes were between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Q. Which forms are available for online filing?

A. See Forms Available to File Online for a complete list. 

Q. Why is there a $50 discount for filing forms online instead of filing them by mail?

A. We encourage online filing—when available—for a more efficient electronic submission and adjudication process. It requires significant operational resources to intake, store, and handle paper submissions. Also, information recorded on paper cannot be effectively standardized for data entry. Every request submitted online instead of on paper provides direct and immediate cost savings and operational efficiencies to both USCIS and filers—benefits that will increase throughout an individual’s immigration journey as more forms become available for online filing and case management.

Q. Which forms currently available to file online will not get an online discount?

A. Although the $50 discount applies to most forms filed online with USCIS, there are limited circumstances where it does not apply, such as when the form fee is already provided at a substantial discount, or the law prohibits USCIS from charging a full cost recovery level fee.

Such online forms that will not receive the online filing discount include:

• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (only for applicants who filed Form I-485 with a fee after April 1, 2024, and the I-485 remains pending);
• Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status;
• Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals;
• Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service; and
• H-1B Registration Fee.

Q. As additional forms become available for online filing, will they also receive the online filing discount?

A. In general, yes. However, certain forms will not receive the online filing discount when they become available for online filing, such as when the form fee is already provided at a substantial discount. Such future online forms include:

• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (only when filed for an H-1B worker by a small employer or nonprofit that already receives a discounted fee);
• Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker (only when filed by a nonprofit or small employer that already receives a discounted fee);
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (only when requesting a Refugee Travel Document);  
• Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant (when filed online with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP));
• Form I-193, Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa (when filed online with CBP);
• Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal (when filed online with CBP);
• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization (when requesting a reduced fee due to household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines).

Q. Does the online filing discount apply to other fees besides form fees?

A. No. The online filing discount applies only to fees for forms. It does not apply to additional fees associated with certain benefit requests, such as the Asylum Program Fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act fees, fraud detection and prevention fees (for H-1B, H-2B, L, and CW-1 petitions), or premium processing fees.

Q. Can I file concurrently when one form is available to file online but the other form can only be filed on paper?

A. For now, no. For example, if you wish to concurrently file Form I-130 (which is currently available for online filing) along with Form I-485 (which is currently only available for paper filing), then you must file both forms on paper. If you choose to file Form I-130 online, then , you must wait to receive a receipt notice (Form I-797) to obtain the $50 online filing discount You must then include the receipt notice when you file Form I-485.

Q. If separate fees are required when I file multiple forms together, may I pay with one check?

A.  No. We are transitioning to electronically processing immigration benefit requests, which requires us to use multiple systems to process multi-form submissions. We may reject your entire package if you submit a single, combined payment for multiple forms.

Q. If I file forms online such as an H-1B petition (Form I-129) on or after April 1, 2024, may I submit one credit card form that includes the total filing fee amount (Form I-129 fee, anti-fraud fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act fee, Asylum Program Fee, and premium processing filing fee if applicable)?

A. Yes. You may submit one credit card form for the entire fee amount, including the form fee and additional fees.

Q. Can USCIS increase credit card limits when the new fees go into effect?

A. There is a daily transaction limit of $24,999.99 per credit card, set by the  Department of the Treasury.

For the fiscal year 2025 H-1B cap filing season , however, the Department of the Treasury has given USCIS an exemption to the $24,999.99 limit in order to provide a limit of up to $99,999.99 for H-1B registrations and petitions submitted online using one credit card.

We can no longer accept credit card payments for Form I-956 and Form I-956F because the fee for these forms exceeds the daily transaction limit.

Q. What are the new fees for Form I-485 filed with Forms I-131 and I-765?

A. Starting April 1, 2024, Form I-485, Application for Adjustment of Status, will have a standard fee of $1,440 for applicants 14 years of age or older. The fees for Forms I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and I-131, Application for Travel Document, will no longer be bundled. This means that if you file Form I-485 on or after April 1, 2024, you will have to pay separate fees for Forms I-131 and I-765.

The new fee for Form I-131 when seeking advance parole is $630.

The new fee for Form I-765 is $470 (online filing) or $520 (paper filing). If you also have a pending I-485, however, there is a special reduced fee for the Form I-765, whether filed online or on paper ($260).

If you filed your I-485 before April 1, 2024 and paid the fee, there will be no fee to file Forms I-131 or I-765 while your I-485 remains pending. For further deals on fees related to adjustment of status, please see our Fee Schedule .

Q. Prior to April 1, 2024, a Form I-765 filed concurrently with Form I-485 had no additional fee. What is the fee to renew an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) when a Form I-485 is pending?

A. Generally, if you already paid for Form I-485 before April 1, 2024, then you may continue to renew your EAD using Form I-765 for free while your adjustment of status remains pending.

If you file Form I-765 concurrently with Form I-485 on or after April 1, 2024, the Form I-765 will have a fee of $260. When requesting to renew an EAD, applicants who filed Form I-485 and Form I-765 concurrently on or after ApriI 1, 2024, will have a Form I-765 fee of $260.

Q. I paid fees for applications I filed with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and was issued USCIS receipts (for example, Form I-485). Are these payments considered when the fees were changed, or do I have to repay these fees when a final decision on my application is made?

A. The new fees have no effect on previously filed requests. You need to pay only one fee for your Form I-485. For information about what to do after an immigration court grants relief or protection from removal, see Post-Order Instructions for Individuals Granted Relief or Protection from Removal by Immigration Court (PDF, 237.2 KB) .

Fees submitted to DHS for EOIR applications, relief, or motions to reopen or reconsider apply only to those associated applications or motions. Each application or motion has its own associated fee, and paying a fee for an initial application or motion does not discount fees for new applications or motions filed with DHS or EOIR after a final decision.

Q. What are the fees for self-petitioners and derivatives under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to file Form I-360 and related forms?

A. The new fee rule creates fee exemptions for most forms filed by those seeking or granted VAWA Form I-360 status, including the following forms:

• Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant;
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document;
• Form I-765, Application for Employment (initial, renewal, and replacement requests);
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; and
• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion (only if filed for any benefit request filed before adjusting status or for Form I-485 and associated ancillary forms).

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee-exempt forms for VAWA self-petitioners and derivatives.

Q. If a VAWA self-petitioner files Form I-360 before April 1, 2024, and then files an ancillary form after April 1, 2024, would the fee exemption apply to the newly filed form?

A. Yes. If the form is filed after April 1, 2024, and is eligible for the fee exemption, then no fee would be required. We will use the postmark date of the filing to determine which form version and fees are correct, but we will use the received date for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.

Q. I need to renew my Form I-765, Application for Employment Document. What is the new fee for VAWA self-petitioners and derivatives?

A. The final fee rule expands fee exemptions for VAWA self-petitioners and derivatives. As of April 1, 2024, Form I-765 is fee-exempt for all VAWA self-petitioners and derivatives who file an initial or renewal request or a replacement Form I-765 without filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.

Q. Do VAWA I-360 self-petitioners and derivatives still need to file Form I-360 and Form I-485 concurrently to be eligible for the new fee exemptions?

A. No. The final rule eliminates the requirement of filing Form I-360 and Form I-485 concurrently to be eligible for the new fee exemptions.

Q. As a VAWA I-360 self-petitioner, I am now eligible to naturalize, but I cannot pay the full fee. Am I eligible for any fee waivers?

A. Yes. Although the new fee rule creates many fee exemptions for VAWA self-petitioners and their derivatives, these automatic fee exemptions do not apply to all future filings, such as Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.

You may request a reduced fee for Form N-400 ($380) when you file online, if your household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines .

You may also request a fee waiver for Form N-400 and several other forms if you cannot pay the fee, by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. These forms include:

• Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);
• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion; and
• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee waivers for VAWA-based Form I-360.

Q. Is it free to file Form I-751 for a conditional permanent resident filing based on battery or extreme cruelty? Are there still fee waivers available for ancillary forms?

A. Yes. The new fee rule makes Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions, and Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion (only when filed for Form I-751), fee exempt for conditional permanent residents who are filing based on battery or extreme cruelty.

The fee rule did not make any other change to the ancillary forms that remain eligible for a fee waiver for conditional permanent residents who are filing based on battery or extreme cruelty.

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee waivers.

Q. What are the fees for an abused spouse or child adjusting status under the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA) or the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA)?

A. The new fee rule makes Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, fee exempt (free) for an abused spouse or child adjusting status under the CAA or HRFIA.

The new fee rule also expands fee exemptions for other forms filed by CAA and HRIFA applicants, including:

• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility; and
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

In addition, fee waiver requests are accepted for several other forms if the applicant is unable to pay, including for these forms:

• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion;
• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization; and
• Form N- 600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship.

Q. What are the fees for an abused spouse or child filing under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA)?

A. The new fee rule provides that Form I-824, Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (Pursuant to Section 203 of Public Law 105-100 (NACARA)), is free to principal applicants and eligible dependent children.

The new fee rule also expands fee exemptions for other forms filed by NACARA applicants, including:

• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (Initial, renewal, and replacement);
• Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition.

In addition, fee waiver requests are accepted for several other forms if the applicant is unable to pay. See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee waivers and fee exemptions.

Q. Are employment authorization applications free for an abused spouse of a legal permanent resident or U.S. citizen filing under INA section 240A(b)(2), along with eligible dependent children?

A. Yes. The fee rule now provides fee exemptions for employment authorization document (EAD) initial, renewal, and replacement requests with Form I-765.

Q. Under the new fee rule, is it still free to file Form I-765V as an abused spouse filing as an A, E-3, G, or H visa nonimmigrant?

A. Yes. The fee rule did not change the fee exemption for Form I-765V, so this form is still free for abused spouses filing as an A, E-3, G, or H nonimmigrant.

You may also be eligible for a fee waiver for Form I-290B (if filed for a denied Form I-765V) and you cannot pay the filing fee.

Q. Is there a fee to file for U nonimmigrant status (U visa)?

A. No. The new fee rule creates fee exemptions for most forms filed by those seeking or granted U nonimmigrant status, including these forms:

• Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status;
• Form I-918, Supplement A – Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient;
• Form I-918, Supplement B – U Nonimmigrant Status Certification;
• Form I-765, Application for Employment (for initial, renewal, and replacement requests);
• Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status;
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status;
• Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant; and

Note that all forms that are fee exempt for those seeking or granted U nonimmigrant status are free and do not require a Form I-912, Fee Waiver Request.

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee exemptions for U visa petitioners.

Q. Can U nonimmigrants qualify for any fee waivers?

A. Yes. Although the new fee rule makes most forms associated with filing for U nonimmigrant status fee exempt, several forms are eligible for fee waiver consideration to U nonimmigrants by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, including:

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee waivers for U nonimmigrant petitioners.

Q. Do the fee exemptions apply to all applications filed by derivative U visa petitioners as well as principals?

A. Yes. Language in the fee rule referring to “petitioners and U nonimmigrants” includes all derivative filers. An individual filing as a derivative for U nonimmigrant status is seeking or is granted a U visa. Therefore, such individuals are eligible for all the same fee exemptions provided to principal U nonimmigrant petitioners.

Q. If I filed Form I-918 before April 1, 2024, will I still be able to file Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant, for free after April 1?

A. Yes. In this situation, you can still file Form I-192 for free, regardless of when you filed Form I-918. Because Form I-192 is subject to a fee exemption for U nonimmigrant petitioners under the final rule, no fee would be required when filed after April 1, 2024. We will use the postmark date of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct, but we will use the received date for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.

Q. Is there a fee to apply for T nonimmigrant status (T visa)?

A. No. The new fee rule creates fee exemptions for most forms filed by those seeking or granted T nonimmigrant status, including:

• Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status;
• Form I-914, Supplement A – Application for Family Member of T-1 Recipient;
• Form I-914, Supplement B – Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim of Trafficking in Persons;
• Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant;
• Form I-290B (only if filed for any benefit request filed before adjusting status or for Form I-485 and associated forms).

Note that all forms that are fee exempt for those seeking or granted T nonimmigrant status are free and do not require a Form I-912, Fee Waiver Request.

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee exemptions for T nonimmigrant petitioners.

Q. Can T nonimmigrants qualify for any fee waivers?

A. Although the new fee rule makes most forms associated with filing for T nonimmigrant status fee exempt, several forms are eligible for fee waiver consideration to T visa nonimmigrants by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, including:

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee waivers for T nonimmigrant petitioners.

Q. If I filed Form I-914 before April 1, 2024, will I still be able to file Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant, for free after April 1?

A. Yes. In this situation, you can still file Form I-192 for free after April 2024, regardless of when you filed Form I-914. Because Form I-192 is fee exempt for those seeking and granted T nonimmigrant status under the final rule, the fee exemption will continue to apply after April 1, 2024. We will use the postmark date of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct, but will use the receipt date for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.

Q. What are the fees for Afghans and Iraqis who worked for the United States?

A. The new rule charges no fee for many of the forms filed by Afghans and Iraqis who worked as interpreters or translators or who otherwise worked on behalf of the U.S. government or the International Security Assistance Force, including:

• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Ground of Inadmissibility;
• Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal;
• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion (only if filed for any benefit request filed before adjusting status to a legal permanent resident or for Form I-485 and associated ancillary forms);
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (for initial, renewal, and replacement requests); and

There is also no fee for an applicant’s spouse and children to file these forms. These individuals do not have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee if immigrating to the United States as legal permanent residents.

For other forms, they must pay the normal fee listed in the fee schedule, although they may request a fee waiver for many of those fees if they are unable to pay.

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee exemptions and fee waivers for Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans and Iraqis.

Q. Are these fee exemptions for Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans and Iraqis permanent, or are there some that are temporary?

A. The fee exemptions provided in the final rule for this population are effective April 1, 2024, and do not expire. The table below lists existing temporary fee exemptions (for certain Afghan or other applicants or petitioners) that were provided before this final rule and have an expiration date.

Q. Do spouses and children also receive free filing?

A. Yes. Derivative spouses and children qualify for a fee exemption if their principal applicant is seeking or was granted a Special Immigrant Visa or status as:

• An Afghan or Iraqi translator or interpreter;
• An Iraqi national employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government; or
• An Afghan national employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or by the  International Security Assistance Force.   

Q. What happens to the other forms that are temporarily free for Afghans?

A. Currently, the fee exemptions for most of these forms are set to expire Sept. 30, 2024, while the fee exemption for a renewed employment authorization document will expire July 31, 2024. We are evaluating whether to further extend these fee exemptions. Note that Afghan with Special Immigrant Visas have a full fee exception that do not expire. You can find up-to-date information on our Information for Afghan Nationals webpage and our fee schedule (see Form G-1055, Fee Schedule) . 

Q. Will Form I-360 still be fee-exempt for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) petitioners?

A. Yes. The new rule maintains the fee exemption for Form I-360 for those petitioning for SIJ classification. In addition, the rule expands fee exemptions for most forms commonly filed by SIJs, including:

• Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion (only if filed for any benefit request filed before adjusting status or for Form I-485 and associated ancillary forms);

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee exemptions for Special Immigrant Juveniles.

Q. Will SIJ filers still be eligible for fee waivers after the new rule goes into effect?

A. Yes. Should you need to file a form that is not fee-exempt, such as Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, you may request a fee waiver if you cannot pay the fee.

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee waivers for Special Immigrant Juveniles. 

Q. Does the new fee rule provide new fee exemptions for refugees?

A. The new rule maintains prior fee exemptions and provides additional exemptions for most forms that are commonly filed by refugees, including:

• Form I-590, Registration for Classification as a Refugee;
• Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Document;
• Form I-602, Application for Refugee Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility;
• Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition; and

For these forms, refugees will pay no fee. For naturalization-related forms and a few others, refugees may request a fee waiver if they cannot pay the fee.

See the section above under “Fee Exemptions and Fee Waivers Chart” for a complete list of fee exemptions and fee waivers for refugees.

Q. Does the new fee rule require asylum seekers to pay additional fees?

A. For asylum applicants, Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, will still be free. This fee rule replaces the 2020 fee rule, which sought to charge $50 for Form I-589 but never took effect.

Q. What is the fee to obtain an employment authorization document (EAD) while applying for asylum?

A. The first Form I-765 is free for asylum applicants unless they are filing under American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh (ABC) Settlement Agreement procedures. Those seeking EAD renewals or replacements and those filing under special ABC procedures will have to pay the new fee of $520 if filing by paper or $470 if filing online. However, these applicants can request a fee waiver if they are unable to pay.

Q. After someone receives asylum, what if the asylee wishes to obtain an EAD?

A. Asylees are automatically authorized to work and do not have to file Form I-765. Their Form I-94 stamp qualifies as a List C document that establishes their authorization for employment (see Form I-9 Acceptable Documents ).

However, asylees who want an EAD may obtain their first one for free, after which they will have to pay the standard fee ($520 for paper filing, $470 for online filing) for a renewal or replacement.

If they have already applied for permanent residence (in other words, for a Green Card), any subsequent Form I-765 will be free if they filed and paid for Form I-485 before April 1, 2024, and the Form I-485 remains pending. If they file Form I-485 after April 1, 2024, they must pay $260 to obtain a renewal or replacement EAD. Asylees who cannot pay the fees for Form I-485 and Form I-765 may request a fee waiver for those fees. 

Q. After someone receives asylum, what is the fee to file Form I-131, Refugee Travel Document ( not Advance Parole)? 

A. Effective April 1, 2024, the fee for a Form I-131 to obtain a Refugee Travel Document is $135 if the applicant is under 16 years old. The fee is $165 if the applicant is 16 years old or older. However, if the applicant filed Form I-485 before April 1, 2024, and paid the Form I-485 fee, there is no fee to file Form I-131 if that Form I-485 remains pending. Asylees can also request a fee waiver for their Refugee Travel Document if they cannot pay.

Q. What is the new fee for an asylee to obtain a Green Card?

A. The new fee to file Form I-485 is $1,440. The fee for children under 14 who are filing with a parent is $950. Applicants who cannot afford the fee may request a fee waiver .

Q. Is the $30 biometrics services fee for requests from the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) required for a defensive Form I-589 filing? A. No. There is no biometrics services fee for applicants filing Form I-589, whether they file with USCIS or EOIR.

Q. How does the final rule affect the fees for naturalization applications?

A. We have long recognized the social and economic benefits that the United States receives from new citizens, and, to that end, prior fee rules have kept naturalization application fees below the level of full cost recovery.

The new fee rule is consistent with this long-standing practice, as indicated in the table below. Previously, the total cost included both an application fee ($640) and a separate biometric services fee ($85), for a total of $725 for most applicants. Under the new fee rule, there is no longer a separate biometric services fee, and the total fee is $710 for online filers or $760 for paper filers.

The new fee rule also provides a reduced naturalization fee ($380) for applicants with a household income at or below 400% of the  Federal Poverty Guidelines  (FPG), expanding eligibility for this reduced fee. Under the previous fee schedule, this reduced fee was only available to applicants with a household income between 150% and 200% of the FPG.

Q. What is the Form N-400 reduced fee amount?

A. The reduced fee for Form N-400 will be $380 as of April 1, 2024.

Note the new fee rule edition of Form N-400 incorporates in Part 10 a request for a reduced fee based on household income, eliminating the need to submit Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee. If you are requesting a reduced fee using the new edition of the form, do not submit Form I-942.

(You will need to submit Form I-942, however, if you apply during the grace period and use the prior edition of Form N-400 and you wish to request a reduced fee. Prior versions of the N-400 are labeled 09/17/19E or 09/17/19. The grace period lasts from April 1, 2024 through June 3, 2024, after which you must use the new Form N-400 dated 4/1/2024.)

Q. Is it correct that those filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, should not send a fee, but those filing Form N-400 with a reduced fee request in Part 10 should send a fee?

A. Yes. An applicant submitting a request for a fee waiver should submit Form N-400 along with Form I-912 or a written request without a fee .

An applicant requesting a reduced fee with Form N-400 on or after April 1, 2024 should submit the new Form N-400 with Part 10 complete , and should pay the amount of the reduced fee ($380).

If an applicant were to submit the correct reduced fee with their N-400, and also filed the I-912 fee waiver request, we would accept the fee and would not adjudicate the fee waiver request.

Q. Can I file Form N-400 online and request a fee reduction in Part 10 of the N-400?

A. No. At present, online filers of Form N-400 must pay the full fee. Applicants requesting a reduced fee must submit Form N-400 with Part 10 completed on paper. The 04/01/24 edition of the form incorporates the reduced fee request in Part 10, and no separate Form I-942 is necessary.

Q. Where can I learn more about eligibility and required evidence for the N-400 fee reduction?

A. Please see Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request . The Form N-400 instructions will also provide information on income documentation for reduced fee requests.

Q.Will the lockbox facilities continue to adjudicate reduced fee requests?

A. Yes. The lockbox facilities will continue to adjudicate any reduced fee request before the case is sent to a field office for the naturalization adjudication. Just as adjudicators previously had access to Form I-942, they will have access to the reduced fee request in Part 10 of the new Form N-400. Reduced fee requests will not, however, have any effect on rates or the adjudication of Form N-400.

Q. Will there be a fee exemption for biometrics based on age?

A. No. We will no longer have a biometrics fee exemption for applicants over the age of 75. We updated our policy in 2017 (PDF, 273.64 KB) to require biometrics regardless of age, because new electronic processing of applications and improved technology allow us to capture fingerprints for applicants of all ages. The cost of biometric services is now incorporated into the N-400 fees, and there is no longer a biometric services fee.

Q. What forms can military service members file for free?

A. As in the past, current and former service members of the U.S. armed forces can file the following forms for free:

• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization;
• Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA) (when filing under the military provisions of section 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act); and
• Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship.

In addition, under the new fee rule, current and former service members of the U.S. armed forces will now be able to file these forms for free:

Whereas Form I-131 used to be free only when filed with Form N-400, it now generally will be free for current and former military service members. Those seeking a Green Card must apply under INA 101(a)(27)(K) based on honorable, active-duty service to file Forms I-360 or I-485 for free.

Q. Can military service members request free filing for other forms that are not fee exempt?

A. Current and former military service members who cannot pay filing fees can also request a fee waiver for:

• Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card;
• Form N-300, Application to File Declaration of Intention;
• Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes;
• Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document; and
• Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322.

Unlike the automatic fee exemptions listed above, an applicant will need to show that they cannot pay the filing fee by providing evidence of receipt of a means-tested benefit, household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or extreme financial hardship.

Q. How are fees changing for adoptive families?

A. The fee rule limits fee increases for adoption-related forms. Most families filing orphan and Hague cases will benefit from no longer having to pay separate biometric services fees ($85) for each adult in their household. Families will also benefit from fee exemptions for second extensions, second changes of country, and duplicate approval notices and Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization for adoptees.

The table below provides a full list of fees and fee exemptions effective April 1, 2024.

Q. How will the final rule change adoption processes for orphan cases?

A. The rule changes the validity period for approval of a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, from 18 months to 15 months for Form I-600A applications filed on or after April 1, 2024.

Another key change is that we created a form supplement (Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3) that prospective adoptive parents can use for requests for action on approved suitability determinations in orphan cases (instead of prospective adoptive parents having to draft their own letter).

These changes will help align our processes for adoptions from countries that are not party to the Hague Adoption Convention (orphan cases) with the processes for adoptions from countries that are party to that Convention.

Also, the final rule provides fee exemptions for second extensions, second changes in country, duplicate approval notices, and Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization for adoptees.

Q. Do fee exemptions for adoptees apply to all adoptees regardless of their visa type?

A. There is no specific visa type requirement for fee exemption eligibility for adoptees. Each type of form has a different fee, as listed above.

Q. What are the biometric services fees for Forms I-600A, I-600, I-800A, and I-800?

A. We must have biometrics from each petitioner, spouse, and any adult member of the household. Biometrics are generally valid for 15 months. The costs of biometric services are covered by the fee for the application, petition, or supplement. Therefore, there is no separate biometric services fee. 

Q. If I submit a Form I-600 and, afterwards my Form I-600A expires, do I have to request an extension?

A. Once you file your child’s Form I-600 petition, you do not need to continue to extend your Form I-600A suitability approval.

Q. Do the fee exemptions for birth siblings include half-siblings?

A. Yes. The fee exemptions apply to both full- and half-birth siblings.

Q. Who will qualify for the adoption Certificate of Citizenship fee exemption? Is someone who arrived as an IR-3 or IH3/4 who never received a certificate eligible for the fee exemption?

A. The fee exemption for adopted children filing Form N-600 or Form N-600K is not limited by age or category. A fee exemption applies to an adult adoptee filing Form N-600 if they were the subject of a final adoption for immigration purposes and met, before the age of 18, the definition of a child under section 101(b)(1)(E), (F), or (G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Q. Will adoptees of U.S. families who reside abroad qualify for the fee exemption when filing Form N-600K?

A: Yes. Adoptees filing Form N-600K are exempt from paying a fee. 

Q :  What are the fees for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and have they changed ?

A: The Immigration and Nationality Act caps the TPS initial registration fee at $50 for both paper and online filing of  Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status , and does not allow a fee for re-registration. Thus, the new fee rule does not change the previous fees for Form I-821.

The new fee rule will lower the TPS applicant or re-registrant biometric services fee from $85 to $30.

TPS applicants may submit  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , with the new fee of $520 for paper filing or $470 for online filing, or they may submit a fee waiver request . At present, applicants can submit a fee waiver request only with a paper filing.

Q :  What are the fees for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and have they changed?

A: The fee rule makes no changes to DACA, the validity period for approved DACA renewals, how often DACA must be renewed, policies on DACA recipients’ ability to request advance parole, or any DACA-specific fees. The fee for  Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals , has not changed and is still $85. However, DACA requestors must submit a  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , with their Form I-821D. The new fee for Form I-765 is $520 if filed by mail and $470 if filed online. There is no fee waiver available for Form I-821D or for the required DACA-related Form I-765.

Q. Is there a difference in price between DACA C33 EADs and non-DACA EADs?

A.  The fee for DACA-based EADs (C33) will be the same as the general fee for Form I-765: $520 if filed by mail and $470 if filed online. However, C33 applicants will not be able to request a fee waiver.

Asylum Program Fee

Q. What is the Asylum Program Fee and who pays it?

A. The Asylum Program Fee ($600) is a new fee paid by employers who file either Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker; Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker; or Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. This fee helps fund the asylum program while mitigating the scope of fee increases for other benefit requests. The fee rule includes special discounts for nonprofits and small employers, as described further below.

Please note that all the work at USCIS is connected—when we have a more fully funded corps of asylum officers, our non-asylum officers can concentrate more exclusively on adjudicating cases from employers and other filers, bringing down processing times for everyone.

Q. How do I pay the Asylum Program Fee? Is there a separate form or paperwork?

A. Payment of the Asylum Program Fee does not require a separate form or paperwork. If you pay by check or money order, you should submit the Asylum Program Fee separately. If you pay online by credit card, you may use one credit card form for all fees, including the Asylum Program fee.

Q. Do I need to pay the Asylum Program Fee for each Form I-129 for the same employee (extensions, amendments, etc.)?

A. In general, yes, you must pay the Asylum Program Fee for each Form I-129 filed, including for initial grants, extensions, and changes of employer. As discussed further below, small employers pay a reduced Asylum Program Fee, and nonprofits do not pay the fee.

Q: May a beneficiary pay the Asylum Program Fee, or must it be the petitioner who pays?

A. The new fee rule does not change existing limitations on beneficiaries paying for certain petitioner-related expenses in the filing of a petition, including limitations under U.S. Department of Labor regulations and guidelines.

For examples, see 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(xi)(A), 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(xi)(C), 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(B), 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(C), and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(D).

For Department of Labor information, see 20 CFR 655.135(j) (H-2A), 20 CFR 655.20(o) (H-2B), and Department of Labor Fact Sheet #78D: Deductions and prohibited fees under the H-2B Program and Fact Sheet #26: Section H-2A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) . 

Q. Do self-petitioners and beneficiary-owners also pay the Asylum Program Fee, and, if so, do they pay the full amount of $600?

A. An individual self-petitioner would pay the reduced Asylum Program Fee of $300 when filing Form I-140 as an EB-1A noncitizen of extraordinary ability or as an EB-2 with national interest waiver.  On Form I-140, such self-petitioners must select Yes in Part 1, Question 6, to indicate that they currently employ a total of 25 or fewer full time employees.

When an individual beneficiary of a Form I-129 or Form 1-140 petition is a part or sole owner of the petitioning entity, then the Asylum Program Fee depends on the petitioning entity’s number of employees and nonprofit status, as is the case for any petitioning entity.

On Form I-140, select Yes in Part 1, Question 6, if you currently employ a total of 25 or fewer full time employees.  Select Yes in Part 1, Question 5, if you are a nonprofit organization.

On Form I-129, select Yes in Part 5, Question 15, if you currently employ a total of 25 or fewer full time employees.  Select Yes in Part 1, Question 6, if you are a nonprofit organization.

Q. How does the Asylum Program Fee apply when submitting multiple petitions due to the limit of 25 named beneficiaries on each petition?

A. The petitioning employer must pay the appropriate Asylum Program Fee for each Form I-129 filed, unless they qualify for the nonprofit exemption discussed further below.

Discounts for Small Employers

Q. What are the fee discounts for small employers?

The fee rule defines small employer petitioners as those with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. Such petitioners will pay $300 rather than the full $600 for the Asylum Program Fee.

In addition, for the fees for Form I-129 and Form I-129CW, small employers will pay a discounted fee of up to 50% off. For the precise discounted fees, please see the full fee schedule, Form G-1055 .

Q. What is a “full-time equivalent employee” in determining whether a petitioner qualifies for the small-employer discounts to the Form I-129 fee and Asylum Program Fee?

A. Generally, the number of full-time equivalent employees equals the number of full-time employees plus the number of part-time employees aggregated to full-time equivalents at the time of filing. The IRS defines an employee as an individual who receives “wages,” with applicable taxes deducted, along with Social Security and unemployment deductions, and who receives a W-2 reporting their income.   

Q. Do noncitizen workers count toward the number of full-time equivalent employees?

A. You should count all current workers you employ at the time of filing, regardless of immigration status.

Q. Do seasonal workers count as full-time equivalent employees?

A. Full-time equivalent employees include seasonal nonimmigrant workers if they are paid as employees, not contractors. You should count all seasonal workers you employ at the time of filing.

Q. Do the beneficiaries on the petition count as full-time equivalent employees?

A. The beneficiary of a petition does not count as an employee unless they are currently working for the petitioner as an employee at the time of filing.

Q. Should a petitioner count only those full-time equivalent employees listed under the petitioner’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)? What about employees listed under affiliated FEINs (for example, affiliated offices in different regions)?

A. Petitioners should include all of the petitioner’s full-time equivalent employees in the United States, including its affiliates and subsidiaries. The petitioner should not, however, include additional employees from the petitioning employer’s parent company or the parents of any affiliates. In other words, in an organizational chart that begins with the petitioner, count down and horizontally, including the petitioning employer’s affiliates and subsidiaries, but do not count upward toward the petitioner’s parent or its affiliates’ parents.

Q. What proof is needed to show the number of full-time equivalent employees?

A. The instructions for Forms I-129 and I-140 state that possible evidence includes a copy of the petitioner’s most recent IRS Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Return; or IRS Form 943, Employer’ Annual Tax Return for Agricultural Workers. However, petitioners may submit any relevant evidence that shows the number of full-time equivalent employees by a preponderance of the evidence.

Q. Because the IRS Form 941 includes salary information, can petitioners redact this information for privacy reasons?

A. Yes. Such redaction is permissible when the evidence is only to support eligibility for a reduced fee and the redacted information is not otherwise relevant to the adjudication.

Q. What additional information or evidence should a petitioner submit if they employ fewer full-time equivalent employees than the number of employees listed on IRS Form 941 or 943?

A. Petitioning employers may submit any relevant evidence to show their actual number of full-time equivalent employees, and must establish that number by a preponderance of the evidence. The petitioning employer should explain why the actual number of full-time equivalent employees differs from the number on their Form 941 or Form 943.

Q. For H-2A petitions filed by a U.S. agricultural producer association that is named as a joint employer on the temporary labor certification, would each joint employer have to submit evidence of their number of full-time equivalent employees with the Form I-129? Or just the association?

A. The fee reduction for small employers is based on the number of full-time equivalent employees of the petitioning employer. This employee count does not involve joint employers listed on the temporary labor certification, unless they are affiliates or subsidiaries of the petitioner. 

Q. Will petitioning employers that use a professional employer organization (PEO) still be subject to the full Asylum Program Fee even if the petitioning company has 25 or fewer employees?

A. Petitioning employers who outsource certain functions through a PEO should not count the PEO’s full-time equivalent employees in determining whether the petitioner qualifies as a small employer. However, in the absence of a Form 941, the petitioner must submit alternate documentation to confirm how many full-time equivalent employees they currently employ.

Q. When a petitioner is an agent or sponsoring organization, not the beneficiary’s employer, can they be eligible for a reduced Form I-129 fee and reduced Asylum Program Fee?

A: The fees for an agent petitioner (as in the O or P context, among others) or a sponsoring organization petitioner (as in the P context) follow the same rules as any other I-129 petitioning entity or individual. Both the I-129 fee and the Asylum Program Fee depend on the petitioner’s number of employees and nonprofit status, as is the case for any petitioning entity.

Q. Do beneficiary-owners pay the discounted fee for Form I-129?

When an individual beneficiary of a Form I-129 petition is a part or sole owner of the petitioning entity, then the I-129 fee depends on the petitioning entity’s number of employees and nonprofit status, as is the case for any petitioning entity.

On Form I-129, select Yes in Part 5, Question 15, if you currently employ a total of 25 or fewer full time employees.  Select Yes in Part 1, Question 6, if you are a nonprofit organization.

Discounts for Nonprofits

Q. What are the fee discounts for nonprofit petitioning employers?

A. The fee rule provides special relief for nonprofit petitioners, who are not required to pay the Asylum Program Fee.

In addition, for the fees for Form I-129 and Form I-129CW, nonprofit employers will pay a discounted fee of up to 50% off. For the precise discounted fees, please see the full fee schedule, Form G-1055 .

Q. Where in the Form I-129 or Form I-140 filing packet should a petitioner include proof of nonprofit status?

A. You may include evidence of nonprofit status with other supporting documentation.

Q. Which types of nonprofit entities qualify for the Form I-129 fee reduction and Asylum Program Fee exemption?

A. To qualify, the nonprofit organization must be either:

• organized as tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3);
• a governmental research organization (as defined under 8 CFR 214.2(h)(19)(iii)(C));
• a not-for-profit primary or secondary educational institution; or
• a not-for-profit institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

Q. What if the IRS has not officially approved an organization’s nonprofit status?

A. An organization may still qualify if it is a governmental research organization or an educational institution as described above. Otherwise, the petitioner does not qualify for the reduced Form I-129 fee or Asylum Program Fee exemption until the IRS has officially designated it as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Q. In determining that a petitioner qualifies as a nonprofit organization, will you need an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter? What about organizations without a formal IRS determination letter, such as a church?

A.  In general, petitioners may provide any relevant evidence to establish eligibility, including an organization’s determination letter from the IRS or a copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate. A religious organization filing a Form I-129 petition for an R-1 nonimmigrant religious worker must submit an IRS determination letter to establish that they are a bona fide nonprofit religious organization; thus, we generally expect the same IRS determination letter for a religious organization claiming a discounted fee as a nonprofit.

Other Questions About Employment-Based Forms and Fees

Q. Why are you limiting the number of named beneficiaries on a petition to 25?

A. The cost to adjudicate a nonimmigrant petition increases with each additional named beneficiary. The fee structure providing the same fee regardless of the number of nonimmigrants included in the petition disproportionally shifts the costs of processing nonimmigrant petitions to those with few beneficiaries compared to those with large numbers of beneficiaries. In other words, petitioners filing petitions with low named beneficiary counts subsidize the cost of petitioners filing petitions with high named beneficiary counts. The limitation on the number of beneficiaries shifts the costs of adjudicating nonimmigrant petitions toward those petitions that require us to expend the most resources and reduces the relative fee burden on petitions with fewer beneficiaries.

Q. For a group petition that must be separated into multiple forms due to the 25 beneficiaries cap, how should these forms be submitted so that it is evident they are part of a whole?

A. You may submit multiple petitions in one mailing if you file them on paper.   

Q. Are all supporting documents (such as cover letter, itinerary, evidence for the classification) that is based on the group, not individual members, filed alongside each Form I-129, or is one Form I-129 designated the primary petition?

A. When petitioning for more than 25 named beneficiaries, the employer must submit copies of all supporting documentation with each separate petition.

Q. Do I need to include a copy of the labor consultation in each Form I-129?

Q. Please clarify whether the Form I-129 petition fee includes the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA) and Fraud Prevention Fees. If not, have these fees changed?

A. The ACWIA and Fraud Prevention Fees are separate and in addition to the main fee and the Asylum Program Fee for Form I-129. These longstanding statutory fees have not changed .

Q. Can employers apply for a fee waiver?

A. In general, fee waivers are not available for Form I-129 or Form I-140. However, a petitioning employer may request a fee waiver for Form I-129CW when petitioning for a CW-1 transitional worker or for Form I-129 when petitioning for an E-2 CNMI Investor. Because only a sole proprietor could meet the criteria for inability to pay, only a sole proprietor could request such a fee waiver.

Q. Does the most recent publication of the final rule (Jan. 31, 2024), which stipulates relevant fee increases on April 1, 2024, affect the previously announced premium processing fee increase that took effect on Feb. 26, 2024?

A.   The Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees final rule published on Dec. 28, 2023 and went into effect on Feb. 26, 2024, increasing the fees for Premium Processing .

Separately, the final fee rule discussed in this FAQ, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements , published on Jan. 31, 2024, and goes into effect on April 1, 2024. This rule adjusts non -premium fees on the USCIS fee schedule (see Form G-1055, Fee Schedule) and changes certain other immigration filing requirements.

The January 2024 fee rule does incorporate the premium fee increases made in the December 2023 premium processing fee rule. However, the premium processing fees that went into effect on Feb. 26, 2024 will remain the same on April 1, 2024 under the new fee rule.

Q. When does the time frame for premium processing change from calendar days to business days?

A. This change from calendar days to business days takes effect on April 1, 2024.

Q. What are the new fees for genealogy?

A. Form G-1041, Genealogy Index Search Request, has a filing fee of $80 for paper and $30 for online filings.

Form G-1041A, Genealogy Records Request, has a filing fee of $80 for paper and $30 for online filings.

Q. When will USCIS implement the new policy of providing copies of all digitized records along with the Index Search response for Form G-1041?

A. The new policy goes into effect April 1, 2024.

Q. How will pending Form G-1041 requests be handled? Will USCIS apply the new policy retroactively, for Index Searches submitted before April 1, 2024?

A. G-1041 index search requests pending on April 1, 2024, will benefit from the new fee rule, which will also assist in our backlog reduction efforts. Any index search request that is pending as of April 1, 2024, will receive copies of all digitized records along with the index search response for any paper files that might exist. USCIS will provide additional instructions in the response on how to request these additional records.

Q. Will the Genealogy Program be able to physically mail copies of documents (as opposed to sending CD-ROMs) if a request is the request online? Many entities require these documents to be in physical form (along with the manilla envelope they came in).

A. The Genealogy Program provides paper copies of subjects born in Italy or Germany.  All other countries are provided on a CD-ROM in response to these requests. The Genealogy Program cannot provide certified copies or an original copy. We made agreements with the Italian Consulate and German Consulate that the applicant must present the packet provided by our office containing a photocopy of the naturalization certificate, the USCIS Genealogy Program response letter that is stapled to the records, and the envelope they arrived in to the Consulate in the United States. In any instance, this serves as the only form of authenticating that the records were provided to you by the Genealogy Program. We do not have agreements with any other country right now.

Q. How will you handle hybrid files?  Some C-Files have a paper component and a digitized component.  If I submit a Form G-1041, will I receive both the C-files and any digitized component, or will I have to file a G-1041A to receive the digitized component (if it exists)?

A. When you submit a Form G-1041 for an index search, we will provide all digital paper file numbers associated with the subject of your request. We will provide additional instructions on how to request any paper records.

Q. Why does the final rule state that USCIS may require that certain fees be paid using a certain payment method or that certain fees cannot be paid using a particular method?

A. This change will allow us to reduce administrative burdens and processing errors associated with certain fee payments. Lockboxes, which specialize in intaking and depositing multiple payment types, currently receive about 53% of all USCIS filings. However, the requirements and circumstances for some filing requests do not allow lockbox submission and intake, and such requests must be filed at a particular office or in person. Various offices, such as field offices, embassies, and consulates, are limited in the method of payment that they can receive or process. Additionally, certain payment methods, such as checks or cash, require time-intensive procedures for cashiers and their supervisors to input, reconcile, and verify their daily receipts and deposits. Generally, federal agency offices must deposit money that they receive on the same day that it is received. There are additional requirements and guidance for timely record keeping and redundancy in personnel that similarly increase workload and processing costs. The time that we currently comply with certain payment processing requirements could be used to adjudicate cases.

Q. Why does the final rule prohibit filers from getting their fees back by filing a dispute of their USCIS fee charges with their credit card company?

A. The increased acceptance of credit card payments for USCIS fees has resulted in a sizeable increase in the number of disputes filed with credit card companies challenging USCIS’ retention of the fee. Disputes are generally filed when the fee is due, but we denied the filer’s request, they have changed their mind about the request, or they assert that the service was not provided or was unreasonably delayed. Because credit card companies usually withdraw the fee in the case of disputes, abuse of the credit card dispute process could have negative fiscal effects on USCIS. Furthermore, though fees are generally nonrefundable, we have a process where a filer may request a fee refund in the very uncommon instance of a fee being paid or collected erroneously. Therefore, the final rule provides that fees paid to USCIS by credit card are not subject to a chargeback by the issuing financial institution and reinforces that credit card disputes cannot be used to circumvent the requirement to pay the correct fee for a benefit request.

Q. What happened to the 2020 fee rule?

A. On Aug. 3, 2020, DHS published the 2020 final fee rule, with an effective date of Oct. 2, 2020, to adjust the USCIS fee schedule and make changes to certain other immigration benefit request requirements. On Sept. 29, 2020, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted a motion for a preliminary injunction of the 2020 fee rule in its entirety and stayed the final rule’s effective date. On Oct. 8, 2020, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia also granted a motion for a preliminary injunction and stay of the effective date of the final rule.

DHS subsequently issued a notification on Jan. 29, 2021, to inform the public of the two preliminary injunctions. DHS continues to comply with the terms of those orders and is not enforcing the regulatory changes set out in the 2020 fee rule. We continue to accept the fees that were in place before Oct. 2, 2020, and to follow the guidance in place before Oct. 25, 2019, to adjudicate fee waiver requests.

Compare Prepaid Travel Cards

Compare our latest prepaid travel card deals and apply online to help stay on top of your spending when overseas and save on foreign exchange fees.

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We're on a mission to improve the finances of the nation by helping you to spend wisely and save money

Finding the best prepaid travel card for you

By Matt Fernell , Editor-in-Chief at Finance.co.uk.

Prepaid travel cards can make travelling abroad a lot easier. Here’s how to choose the perfect travel card for your spending abroad.

How to find the right prepaid travel card

Prepaid travel cards are a safe and convenient way to spend abroad without having to carry lots of foreign cash around with you. You can also avoid any potential fees and charges from using your debit or credit card while travelling.

To find the card that works best for you, consider the different types of cards available, and what fees they charge. 

Choose the right type of prepaid travel card

There are different types of prepaid cards you can choose from, and which is right for you will depend on where you’re travelling to, and how you plan to spend. 

Prepaid euro cards : This type of card is designed to be used when travelling in Europe, specifically in countries that use the euro. It sets the exchange rate when you load your travel money onto the card.

Prepaid US dollar cards : This is the same as a euro card, but your balance will be held in dollars. It is ideal if you are planning a trip to the US, but could be expensive to use anywhere else.

Prepaid multi-currency cards : This type of card lets you hold your balance in different currencies, like sterling, dollars, and euros. This is convenient if you’re travelling around countries and want to use the same card.

For all of these cards, the exchange rate will be fixed at the time you load money on to the card. If you do use them to spend in a currency not included on the card, then you may be charged a fee, or face a more expensive exchange rate. 

You could also use a sterling prepaid card , where you load your card with pounds and can then use it at home and abroad. 

When you spend or withdraw money, the sterling is converted into the relevant currency at the time of the transaction. This can be more flexible but makes it harder to budget as you won’t know what the exchange rate will be when you use the card.

Compare travel card charges

A prepaid currency card will have more charges and fees than most credit cards , so it’s important to be aware of these before getting one.

We show the following fees that each prepaid travel card above charges, so you can work out which will be the cheapest for you:

Setup fees : This is a one-off fee when you first purchase the card, and range between £1 and £15. Some providers will waive this fee if you agree to load a certain amount when you first get your card.

Overseas ATMs : This is charged every time you use your prepaid card to withdraw from a cash machine abroad. This is charged as a percentage of the amount withdrawn, e.g. 1%, or a flat rate, e.g. £1 per withdrawal.

Monthly fee : This is a fee you pay every month that you have the card until you cancel it. The amount charged varies, but it can range from between £5 and £15 a month.

Foreign fees : This is a fee charged for every transaction you make while abroad. Ideally look for a prepaid travel card that doesn’t charge foreign fees, as it could make spending abroad expensive.

It can be tempting to choose a card with the lowest fees, but make sure it offers everything you need first. Some cards also have extra benefits like cashback or discounts when you top up to a certain amount. 

What are the pros and cons of travel money cards?

There are plenty of advantages to using a travel money card. It offers security and simplicity when spending abroad, but it might not be the best travel money option. Here are some of the pros and cons of prepaid travel money cards.

Pros of prepaid travel cards

No need for cash : One of the main advantages is that a prepaid travel card removes the need to take a lot of physical cash with you that could be lost or stolen.

Budgeting : Prepaid cards are great if you want to stick to a fixed budget when travelling because you can’t exceed the amount you’ve pre-loaded without topping it up. 

No foreign exchange fees : You won't have to pay foreign exchange fees, as long as the currency on your card matches that of the country you’re using it in.

Multi-currency : Some prepaid travel cards will allow you to load several different currencies onto your card, stored in different ‘wallets’ - perfect if you’re travelling to several countries in one trip.

Cons of prepaid travel cards

Not always accepted : Despite being designed to work in any place that accepts Mastercard or Visa, frustratingly for travellers, some retailers, don’t accept these types of cards, including car rental companies.

Not every currency available : Most will have the 30 main currencies, but you may have to shop around to find one that offers the currency you need if it’s outside of this.

Withdrawal limits : Many cards will have a withdrawal limit per day, which can be small and frustrating if you’re not aware of them. If you plan to withdraw a lot of cash when abroad, avoid cards with a £100 daily limit.

Exchange rate : Because your exchange rate is set when you take out your travel card, you could lose out if the pound strengthens before you leave. However, the opposite is also true - if the pound weakens, you will have got a better deal.

Are there any alternatives to prepaid travel cards?

There are several alternatives to consider when trying to work out the best way to spend money abroad .

Specialist travel credit or debit cards could be a good alternative because they offer a near-perfect exchange rate (the interbank rate) when you spend or withdraw.

They’re also a bit less of a hassle because you don’t have to worry about pre-loading the card before you set off.

If you use a travel credit card, you’ll get Section 75 protection on purchases that cost between £100-£30,000.

Section 75 protection is where a card provider must protect your purchases, meaning that you are entitled to refunds if items are faulty, didn’t arrive, or if there are other problems with them.

You don’t get this protection with prepaid travel cards.

The information provided does not constitute financial advice, it’s always important to do your own research to ensure a financial product is right for your circumstances. If you’re unsure you should contact an independent financial advisor.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can withdraw cash from prepaid travel cards. You may have to pay a fee for this, either as a percentage of the amount you’re withdrawing, like 0.5% or 1%, or a fixed fee per transaction - usually around £1-£2.50.

There may be a withdrawal limit on the card, so check this if you plan to take a lot of cash out while abroad. Some limits are as low as £100 a day, so look for cards with higher limits, or even no withdrawal limit at all.

Prepaid travel cards are a really safe way to spend while you’re overseas. They’re safer than carrying cash that you may have to leave at your accommodation. You can also cancel these cards easily if they’re lost or stolen, making them even safer.

You can get a prepaid travel card by ordering one online from the provider of your choice. If your provider has a branch, you can pick them up from there to get your card instantly.

It should also be possible to get a prepaid travel card at the airport, depending on where you’re flying from. Many providers will have kiosks set up, but do note that the rates and charges could be more expensive when bought at the airport.

When ordering a prepaid travel card online, it will be posted directly to your door and should usually arrive within 3 days.

Yes, if you’re visiting multiple countries that use the same currency, then you can use your card with no additional fees.

This is why getting a prepaid euro card is a good option for travellers in Europe because it allows you to use one card in multiple locations. If you’re visiting multiple destinations in the continent, it’s wise to search for the best prepaid travel card for Europe.

Yes, prepaid travel cards can be used within the UK. However, you may be subjected to fees when using these cards outside of the country where the loaded currency is used. This fee is usually 2.5-2.75% for every transaction and is called a cross-border fee.