USCIS Adjusts Immigration Fees Amid Policy Changes

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an increase in several immigration-related fees starting October 16. This adjustment affects asylum seekers, applicants for work permits, parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) among others. These fee changes are inflation adjustments under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a tax and spending law passed in July 2025 during President Donald Trump’s administration.

Impact on Applicants

Under the new fee schedule, the annual asylum application fee will increase from $102 to $105. For Form I-131, which involves applications for travel documents and other records, the fee will rise from $1,020 to $1,050. The initial work permit fee for asylum applicants, parolees, and TPS recipients will also see an increase, moving from $560 to $570. Additionally, applying for Temporary Protected Status using Form I-821 will now cost $520, up from $510.

Temporary Protected Status allows nationals from designated countries experiencing conditions like armed conflict or environmental disasters to live and work temporarily in the United States. Parole allows certain individuals to enter or stay in the country temporarily without granting them permanent immigration status. The administration has sought to terminate TPS for several countries including Ukraine and Sudan by October 19, 2026, while El Salvador continues to have protections pending further announcements.

Implementation and Financial Implications

USCIS has stated that immigration benefit requests postmarked on or after October 16 must include the updated fees. Submissions without the correct fees will face rejection. Although the fee increases are modest compared to the original costs, they still represent a financial burden for some. The asylum fee rises by $3, approximately 2.9 percent, while the parole fee increases by $30, about 2.9 percent as well. Work permit fees will see a $10 increase, around 1.8 percent, and the TPS application fee will also go up by $10, or 2 percent.

The new fees apply according to the postmark date on applications. This means those submitted before October 16 will adhere to the previous fee structure, whereas later submissions will require the new amounts. For instance, asylum seekers paying both the application and work permit fees will now incur a total cost of $675, compared to the earlier amount of $662.

Immigration advocates argue that these fee increases might pose an additional hurdle for individuals seeking humanitarian protection. The administration, however, positions these adjustments as necessary to cover the rising costs of processing applications.

Visa Bulletin and Fiscal Year Updates

The fee adjustment coincides with the release of the State Department’s October 2026 Visa Bulletin. This bulletin marks the beginning of the new federal fiscal year, providing new annual immigrant visa numbers that may allow certain employment-based applicants to progress after extended waiting periods.