The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced inflation-based adjustments to certain immigration fees for Fiscal Year 2026. These changes, mandated by the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), were published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2025, and will take effect on January 1, 2026.
The increases reflect an annual inflation adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), which rose by 2.70% between July 2024 and July 2025. Applicants must ensure they include the correct updated fees in applications postmarked on or after January 1, 2026, or their submissions may be rejected.
Summary of Fee Changes
The adjustments primarily affect Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications related to asylum, humanitarian parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Notably, the initial fee for asylum applications remains essentially unchanged due to a court order, although the regulation reflects a technical increase.
| Application Type | Form | Current Fee | New Fee (Jan 1, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial EAD for asylum applicant | I-765 | $550 | $560 |
| Initial EAD for parole | I-765 | $550 | $560 |
| Renewal/extension of EAD for parole | I-765 | $275 | $280 |
| Initial EAD for TPS | I-765 | $550 | $560 |
| Renewal/extension of EAD for TPS | I-765 | $275 | $280 |
| EAD for re-parole | I-131 | $275 | $280 |
| TPS Application | I-821 | $500 | $510 |
| Annual asylum application fee* | — | $100 | $102* |
*Note: The increase in the annual asylum application fee is currently suspended by a court order.
Fees That Remain Unchanged
Some fees will not increase in this cycle, including:
- Form I-589 (Initial Asylum Application): Remains $100
- Form I-765 (EAD Renewal for Asylum Applicants): Remains $275
- Form I-360 (Special Immigrant Juvenile): Remains $250
For the full official details, you can view the Federal Register notice here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/21/2025-20622/inflation-adjustment-to-hr-1-immigration-fees
Erika Rodriguez
