USCIS raises fees for asylum seekers, TPS applicants and parolees from 16 October
First work permits now cost $570 and the annual asylum fee is $105. The new amounts apply to any paper filing postmarked on or after 16 October, and a wrong fee means the application is sent back.
By Eyob Hadgu · 25 October 2026
The new fees took effect on 16 October and apply by postmark date. (Illustration)
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has raised several fees paid by asylum seekers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants and people on humanitarian parole. The new amounts took effect on 16 October.
The increases are small, but they matter for anyone filing by post: an application sent with the old fee will be rejected and returned, not processed.
What changed
According to immigration law firms summarising the USCIS announcement of 30 September:
The first work permit (Form I-765) for asylum applicants, parolees and TPS applicants rises from $560 to $570.
The TPS application fee (Form I-821) rises from $510 to $520.
The annual fee for a pending asylum application rises from $102 to $105.
The immigration parole fee rises from $1,020 to $1,050.
What stays the same
The asylum application itself (Form I-589) still costs $100. Work permit renewals for parolees and TPS holders stay at $280, and renewals for asylum applicants stay at $275. Fees for green cards, citizenship and family petitions are not affected.
Why the fees went up
These fees were created by H.R. 1, the budget law signed in July 2025, which requires them to rise each year with inflation. Law firms tracking the change say consumer prices rose about 3.4 per cent between July 2025 and July 2026, and USCIS rounded the new amounts down. A further adjustment is expected next year.
What applicants should do
The postmark date decides which fee applies. A paper filing postmarked before 16 October can use the old amount even if USCIS receives it later. Anything postmarked on or after 16 October needs the new fee.
If the fee is wrong, USCIS rejects the package and treats it as never filed. That can cause a missed deadline, such as the one-year limit for filing for asylum.
Lawyers advise checking the amount on the day you file using the official USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) or the USCIS fee calculator, rather than an old checklist, and keeping proof of mailing and payment.
This report draws on summaries of the USCIS announcement published by Keller Immigration, Ragheb Law and Lehigh Valley Immigration Lawyers. It is general information, not legal advice.
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