Renewal costs
How much it costs to renew your work permit in category (c)(9)
It depends on your Form I-485. If it was filed with a fee on or after April 1, 2024, and is still pending, it is $260. If it was filed between July 30, 2007, and March 31, 2024, with the fee paid, and is still pending, it is $0, and USCIS says to file on paper to receive that exemption. If no reduction or exemption applies, it is $520 on paper or $470 online. The additional fee of category (c)(8) does not exist here.
Fee table and conditions
| Your situation | On paper | Online |
|---|---|---|
Your Form I-485 was filed WITH a fee on or after April 1, 2024, and is still pending. Before you pay, confirm: The filing date of your I-485, that its fee was paid and that it is still pending.
| Form fee, on paper$260 | Form fee, online$260 |
Your Form I-485 was filed between July 30, 2007, and March 31, 2024, with the fee paid, and is still pending. Before you pay, confirm: That the I-485 fee was actually paid at the time and that the application is still pending. To receive this exemption, USCIS says to file on paper; do not use the PDF upload option by paying in order to continue. USCIS warns that if you pay in order to continue, that payment is not refunded.
| Form fee, on paper$0 | Form fee, onlineNot available for this channel |
A (c)(9) renewal when no reduction or exemption applies. Before you pay, confirm: That none of the rows above describes your case. The (c)(8) additional fee does not apply to (c)(9).
| Form fee, on paper$520 | Form fee, online$470 |
Amounts from the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055), 10/16/26 edition (Appendix C, Form I-765), read on the official source on 2026-10-21. The fee schedule edition is not the form edition. The paper-versus-online comparison is the official one and depends on your category and channel being available; SettleWise delivers a PDF for you to print and sign, does not file online and does not collect USCIS fees.
If the exemption applies to you, file on paper
To receive this exemption, USCIS says to file on paper; do not use the PDF upload option by paying in order to continue. USCIS warns that if you pay in order to continue, that payment is not refunded. This is a restriction of that filing channel described by USCIS, not missing data, and it does not mean that every online filing is impossible in (c)(9). Also, do not confuse a fee exemption with a fee waiver (Form I-912): they are different things.
Forms available to file online (USCIS)What you pay USCIS and what you don't
Every amount on this page is a government fee: it is paid to USCIS when you file your application, not to SettleWise. We do not collect, receive or forward USCIS fees. The only thing paid here is $39 for guided preparation, a one-time payment per person and renewal.
Situations that change the calculation
- Special pathways (SIJ, T, U, VAWA and others) have their own exemptions in the fee schedule. Confirm them in the G-1055; they are not assigned automatically.
- If the I-485 was filed before July 30, 2007, if you don't know whether its fee was paid, if it was filed with a fee waiver or if your situation has changed, do not assume $0 or $260: confirm the row in the G-1055 or with authorized legal help.
A fee exemption is written into the fee schedule for specific situations; a fee waiver (Form I-912) is something you request and USCIS decides. They are not interchangeable.
Special pathways (SIJ, T, U, VAWA and others) have their own exemptions described in the fee schedule; whether one applies to you cannot be deduced from a single answer. Confirm it in Form G-1055, with the official fee calculator or with authorized legal help.
Where these amounts come from
They are taken from the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055), 10/16/26 edition (Appendix C, Form I-765), consulted on the official source on 2026-10-21. The fee schedule edition (10/16/26) is not the Form I-765 edition (08/21/25): they are two different documents and they change separately.
USCIS Form G-1055 pageIf your category is (c)(8)
In (c)(8) there is an additional $275 fee that is paid separately.
What to confirm before you pay USCIS
- The exact date your Form I-485 was filed and whether its fee was paid.
- That your I-485 is still pending.
- Whether your pathway is one of the special ones with its own exemption in the fee schedule.
- That you are using the form edition USCIS accepts today.
- The exact amount in the official calculator on the same day you file.
Frequently asked questions about (c)(9) costs
How much does it cost to renew a work permit in category (c)(9)?
According to the G-1055, it depends on your Form I-485. Filed with a fee on or after April 1, 2024, and pending: $260. Filed between July 30, 2007, and March 31, 2024, with its fee paid, and pending: $0; to receive that exemption USCIS says to file on paper. If neither applies: $520 on paper or $470 online.
Costs of renewing in (c)(9)What is the difference between the USCIS fee and the cost of preparing the form?
They are two different things and they are not paid in the same place. The USCIS fee belongs to the government: it is set by its fee schedule and paid to USCIS when you file. Preparing the form is the work of organizing and reviewing your answers: that costs $39, a one-time payment per person and renewal, paid to SettleWise. We never collect or receive USCIS fees.
Official fee calculator (USCIS)Which edition of the form should I use?
The official I-765 page, read on September 16, 2026, stated that USCIS accepts the 08/21/25 edition. USCIS does not accept the 09/15/26 edition: its effective date, announced for September 15, 2026, was postponed following the court order of September 14. The date in the footer is not the OMB expiration date.
Official edition notice on USCISCan I file Form I-765 online?
It depends on your category and circumstances; the official page even describes a specific fee-exempt (c)(9) situation that is filed on paper. Check the official list of forms available online and the current mailing addresses. SettleWise does not file anything for you, through any channel.
Forms available onlineIf the review finds nothing, does that mean everything is correct?
No. It means we found no inconsistencies in the fields we reviewed, with the answers you gave us. We do not check your evidence, we do not verify your documents, SettleWise does not decide whether you qualify and we do not know what USCIS will decide. That is why you will always see what was reviewed and what was left out.
Can SettleWise tell me whether I qualify?
No. It is a tool for organizing and explaining: it does not decide eligibility, does not interpret your situation and does not replace a licensed attorney or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice. If your case has changed or you have substantive questions, seek authorized legal help before filing.
Authorized legal services (USCIS)