USCIS Fees Increasing in October 2026
USCIS published its fiscal year 2027 fee adjustments in the Federal Register on October 1, 2026, following an announcement on September 30.
The revised amounts are calculated using a 3.36% increase in the Consumer Price Index between July 2025 and July 2026. Under the statutory calculation, most fees are rounded down to the next lowest $10 increment, while the annual asylum application fee is rounded down to the nearest dollar.
The following fees will increase from October 16, 2026:
| Application or Fee | Previous Fee | New Fee | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual pending asylum application fee | $102 | $105 | $3 |
| Initial asylum applicant employment authorization (Form I-765) | $560 | $570 | $10 |
| Initial parole employment authorization (Form I-765) | $560 | $570 | $10 |
| Initial TPS employment authorization (Form I-765) | $560 | $570 | $10 |
| TPS application (Form I-821) | $510 | $520 | $10 |
| Immigration parole fee | $1,020 | $1,050 | $30 |
The increases affect the specified statutory fees rather than the entire USCIS fee schedule. Other applicable filing charges may still be payable, depending on the benefit requested.
Several fees covered by H.R. 1 will remain unchanged following the inflation adjustment.
The initial asylum application fee remains $100, while the fee for renewing or extending employment authorization as an asylum applicant remains $275. The relevant $280 fees for renewing or extending employment authorization based on parole or TPS also remain unchanged.
The Special Immigrant Juvenile fee remains $250 and the immigration fee associated with Form I-94 remains $24.
The adjustments therefore do not affect every applicant within the relevant immigration categories. Applicants need to identify the specific benefit requested and whether the revised statutory fee applies.
When Do the New USCIS Fees Take Effect?
The revised fees take effect on October 16, 2026.
USCIS has confirmed that immigration benefit requests postmarked on or after that date must include the new fee where the adjustment applies.
For paper applications, the postmark date determines whether the previous or revised fee applies under the announcement. Applicants submitting electronically should ensure that the payment reflects the fee in effect when they submit their application.
The immigration parole fee operates differently. The revised charge applies to qualifying parole grants from October 16, 2026, rather than being determined by the date an underlying parole application was submitted.
USCIS has expressly stated that requests submitted without the correct fee will be rejected.
Applicants preparing submissions around the implementation date should therefore check the applicable fee before filing, particularly where an application has been prepared using the previous amounts.
The revised charges should also be considered alongside any other filing fees applicable to the particular benefit request.
Who Is Affected by the USCIS Fee Increases?
The October increases primarily affect applicants seeking asylum-related benefits, TPS or parole, including those applying for employment authorization under these categories.
Asylum Applicants
The annual pending asylum application fee will increase from $102 to $105.
Applicants seeking an initial Employment Authorization Document (EAD) based on a pending asylum application will pay $570 instead of $560.
The initial asylum application fee and the statutory fee for renewing or extending asylum-based employment authorization remain unchanged.
Temporary Protected Status Applicants
The TPS application fee under Form I-821 will increase from $510 to $520.
Applicants seeking an initial EAD based on TPS will also face an increase from $560 to $570.
The applicable statutory charge for renewing or extending TPS-based employment authorization remains $280.
Parole Applicants
The immigration parole fee will increase from $1,020 to $1,050 for qualifying parole grants from October 16, 2026. Unlike application filing fees, the statutory parole fee is generally triggered when parole is granted, rather than when the underlying application is submitted. Statutory exceptions may apply.
The initial EAD fee for qualifying parole applicants will rise from $560 to $570, while the relevant renewal or extension charge remains unchanged.
The immigration parole fee is separate from any other applicable Form I-131 filing fee. Its assessment depends on the applicable parole provisions and exemptions.
The changes do not introduce a general increase to USCIS fees for employment-based nonimmigrant petitions or employment-based Green Card applications.
What Do the USCIS Fee Increases Mean for Employers and Workers?
Although the adjustments primarily affect individual applicants, employers may face indirect consequences where employees rely on TPS, parole or asylum-based employment authorization.
For affected workers, an application rejected because of an incorrect fee can delay the processing of an EAD application. Where existing authorization is approaching expiration, delays may affect the worker’s ability to demonstrate continuing authorization to work.
Employers should distinguish between an application being submitted and an application being accepted for processing. A rejected filing does not provide the same basis for relying on a timely filed renewal application where the applicable rules require USCIS to have properly received the request.
The fee increases do not themselves terminate existing employment authorization or introduce new Form I-9 requirements.
Employers must assess continued employment authorization under the rules applicable to the worker’s individual category. A pending EAD renewal does not automatically establish continued permission to work, and any applicable extension or other basis for employment authorization must be verified.
For applicants, the immediate priority is ensuring that the correct amount is paid and that the application is properly submitted. Particular care is needed where filing deadlines are approaching or where a delay could affect immigration status, eligibility for a benefit or continued employment.
NNU Immigration Attorney Insight
The October fee increases are relatively modest, but the consequences of using an outdated fee can be considerably more serious than the additional amount payable.
USCIS has made clear that applications submitted with insufficient payment will be rejected. For applicants approaching a filing deadline, the resulting delay may affect their position under the immigration rules, particularly where eligibility or continued employment authorization depends on a timely, properly filed application.
The distinction between submitting an application and having it accepted for processing is particularly important for EAD renewals. Applicants cannot assume that sending an application before their existing document expires will preserve their ability to work if USCIS subsequently rejects the filing.
Employers with workers relying on affected employment authorization categories should pay particular attention to upcoming expiration dates and the evidence required to establish continued work authorization. A rejected or delayed application does not necessarily mean the employee must stop working, but the employer needs to establish whether a separate basis for continued authorization exists.
The immediate priority is therefore not simply updating the application fee. It is ensuring that the filing is valid and that any consequences for immigration status or continued employment have been assessed before the relevant deadline.
Need Assistance?
For advice on the impact of the fee increases and what they could mean for your organization’s workforce planning or for you as an individual visa holder, book a fixed-fee telephone consultation with one of our US immigration attorneys.
