USCIS will raise six H.R. 1 immigration fees for fiscal year 2027, and the new amounts apply to any filing postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. The increases are small, between $3 and $30. A filing sent with the old fee after that date will be rejected, so it’s worth checking your forms now.
If you work with immigration filings, a small fee change can still cause real trouble. Here’s what’s changing, what isn’t, and how to avoid a costly mistake.
What happened?
On September 30, 2026, USCIS filed a notice in the Federal Register announcing inflation adjustments to certain fees created by H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The notice is set for official publication on October 1, 2026.
The adjustment reflects inflation from July 2025 to July 2026. Over that period, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by about 3.36%.
Why do these fees keep changing?
H.R. 1 became law on July 4, 2025. It created new fees tied mostly to humanitarian programs, including asylum, parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). It also requires DHS to adjust those fees for inflation every fiscal year.
Most fees are rounded down to the nearest $10. That’s why a $510 fee jumps by $10 while other fees don’t move at all. The Annual Asylum Fee is the exception, rounded down to the nearest dollar.
Some key steps so far:
- October 16, 2025: DHS started collecting the $1,000 immigration parole fee.
- November 21, 2025: USCIS announced the first inflation adjustment (FY 2026), effective January 1, 2026.
- April 29, 2026: DHS issued an interim final rule covering collection procedures, fee waivers and exemptions, and what happens if a fee isn’t paid.
Which USCIS fees are going up on October 16, 2026?
| Form / Fee | Current Fee | New FY 2027 Fee | Increase |
| I-589 Annual Asylum Fee | $102 | $105 | $3 |
| I-131 Immigration Parole Fee | $1,020 | $1,050 | $30 |
| I-765 Initial EAD (asylum applicants) | $560 | $570 | $10 |
| I-765 Initial Parole EAD | $560 | $570 | $10 |
| I-765 Initial TPS EAD | $560 | $570 | $10 |
| I-821 TPS Application | $510 | $520 | $10 |
Which fees are staying the same?
- I-589 initial asylum filing fee: $100
- I-765 renewal or extension of a parole, TPS, or re-parole EAD: $280
- I-765 renewal or extension for asylum applicants: $275 (H.R. 1 doesn’t allow inflation adjustments to this one)
- I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile petition: $250
- I-94 fee: $24
Does this affect H-1B, H-4 EAD, or green card filings?
No. These adjustments apply only to the H.R. 1 fees listed above. Regular USCIS fees for employment-based petitions and for H-4 or adjustment-of-status EADs are not changed by this notice.
Employers should still pay attention, though. Some employees hold work authorization through parole, TPS, or a pending asylum case, and their next filing will cost a little more.
The postmark date is what counts
USCIS looks at the postmark date, not the day it receives your package. If your filing is postmarked on or after October 16, 2026, it must include the new fee for that specific benefit.
A rejection means:
- Your package is returned unprocessed.
- You lose your original filing date.
- You have to refile from scratch.
For an EAD or TPS application, that can mean a gap in work authorization or a missed deadline.
How to avoid a rejected filing
- File early if you can. Anything postmarked before October 16, 2026 can use the current fees.
- Check the fee for each form individually. Some are rising, some aren’t, and mixing them up is an easy mistake.
- If you’re mailing close to the deadline, pay the new amount. It’s safer to be right than rushed.
- Update your fee tables. HR teams and employers should revise internal budgets and checklists now.
- Plan for next year. DHS must recalculate these fees annually, so FY 2028 may bring more changes.
Frequently asked questions
When do the new USCIS fees take effect?
October 16, 2026. They apply to filings postmarked on or after that date.
How much is the immigration parole fee going up?
From $1,020 to $1,050, an increase of $30.
Will my filing be rejected if I send the old fee?
Yes. If it’s postmarked on or after October 16, 2026 with the old amount, USCIS will reject it.
Is the initial asylum filing fee changing?
No. The I-589 initial fee stays at $100. Only the Annual Asylum Fee rises, from $102 to $105.
Do these changes affect H-1B petitions?
No. This notice covers only the H.R. 1 humanitarian-related fees.
Why do some fees go up while others stay the same?
H.R. 1 requires most fees to be rounded down to the nearest $10, so a small inflation increase sometimes doesn’t push a fee into the next bracket.
Not sure which fee applies to your case?
Fee rules are easy to misread, especially when different forms have different adjustment rules. At Orange Law, our immigration team can review your pending or upcoming filings, confirm the correct amounts, and help you submit before the deadline.
Book a consultation with Orange Law today to make sure your filing goes through the first time.