USCIS forms — categorical guide for Hispanic immigrants

This section covers the most common forms Hispanic people in the US use to manage their immigration status. Each page explains the form’s purpose, who needs it, processing time, fee, required documents, and frequently asked questions.

Does not replace consultation with an immigration attorney. For complex cases always seek professional help.

⚠️ H.R.1 / OBBBA fee changes — effective 2026-05-29

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) changed several USCIS fees and EAD validity rules. See Federal Register document 2026-08333 for the full rule. Key changes:

  • I-589 Asylum — was free, now $100 filing + $102/year (2026) AAF (not waivable)
  • I-102 I-94 replacement — adds $24 immigration fee (not waivable)
  • I-821 TPS EAD validity — capped at 1 year maximum (was up to 18 months)

⚠️ Mandatory e-filing — the rule is in force, nothing is required yet (Aug. 11, 2026)

An interim final rule effective Aug. 11, 2026 (91 FR 51924) gives USCIS the authority to require electronic filing of a form. It does not require e-filing of anything today.

What the rule actually does:

  • USCIS may mandate e-filing only for a form that has already been available for e-filing for at least 180 days (8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(ii)).
  • Before any mandate takes effect, USCIS must publish notice on uscis.gov with at least 60 days of advance notice and a stated effective date.
  • DHS states the rule “will have no practical effect until Form I-936 is approved by OMB and USCIS issues a notice that a form or forms must be e-filed no earlier than 60 days in the future.” As of Aug. 11, 2026 no such notice has been issued — keep filing your form the way its current page on uscis.gov says to.

If you cannot file online — the new Form I-936:

  • Form I-936, Request for Waiver of E-Filing Requirement is the new form for asking USCIS to let you file on paper. It is filed before the paper filing (8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(iii)). It is not in use yet — it still needs OMB approval.
  • Fee: $25 (8 CFR 106.2(a)(64)). A fee waiver is available through Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver (8 CFR 106.3).
  • The standard is undue hardship, decided at USCIS’s discretion, and the burden is on the requestor to demonstrate it. USCIS says it will consider geographic location, socioeconomic conditions, and the availability of public technology resources.
  • Read this part carefully: having no internet at home is not, by itself, enough. In DHS’s own words, a requestor without personal internet access “must explain why he or she cannot find other ways to access the internet (for example, through public libraries, community centers, friends, or family),” and being unfamiliar with the e-filing system or not having an online account “will generally not be enough.”

Public comments are open until Oct. 13, 2026 at regulations.gov (DHS Docket USCIS-2026-0232, RIN 1615-AD19).

Forms covered

How to check YOUR case

USCIS has two online tools:

  1. Processing times by form — current data by form and service center
  2. Status of YOUR specific case — enter your receipt number (format YSC#########, MSC#########, etc.)
  • CHIRLA (California): chirla.org
  • NILC (national): nilc.org
  • ILRC (national, trainings): ilrc.org
  • CLINIC (national Catholic network): cliniclegal.org
  • United We Dream (DACA-focused): unitedwedream.org
  • AILA (find a private attorney): ailalawyer.com

Last verified: 2026-08-11. General information — not legal advice.