US Increases 2026 Immigration Fees, Effective Jan 1

• USCIS will implement new immigration filing fees starting January 1, 2026.
• The fee adjustments are in accordance with annual inflation requirements under H.R. 1.
• Revised fees will reflect inflation data collected between July 2024 and July 2025.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new set of immigration filing fees that will take effect on January 1, 2026. The changes follow the yearly inflation adjustment required under H.R. 1.

The revised fees are based on inflation measured between July 2024 and July 2025, as mandated by H.R. 1, which directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to update certain immigration costs at the start of each fiscal year.

According to USCIS, these automatic adjustments will continue annually from FY 2026 onward. All applications mailed on or after January 1, 2026, must include the updated fees. The increases apply only to the specific categories listed in the announcement.

Breakdown of Fee Increases

The new rates affect several areas, including Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), parole-related applications, and fees connected to asylum filings. However, the asylum application fee itself will remain on hold due to an existing court order.

Asylum-related fees

• The annual asylum application fee increases from $100 to $102, but it remains paused by court ruling.
• The Form I-765 EAD fee for first-time asylum applicants rises from $550 to $560.

Parole-related EAD fees

• The initial parole EAD goes from $550 to $560.
• Renewal or extension of a parole EAD increases from $275 to $280.
• The Form I-131 (Part 9) EAD for a new parole period (re-parole) increases from $275 to $280.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) fees

• Form I-765 EAD for new TPS applicants increases from $550 to $560.
• TPS EAD renewals or extensions rise from $275 to $280.
• The Form I-821 TPS application increases from $500 to $510.

Fees That Will Not Change

Despite the inflation update, some costs will stay the same for 2026:

• The $100 initial Form I-589 asylum fee
• The $275 renewal or extension fee for asylum-based EADs
• The $250 Form I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile fee

USCIS added that DHS will issue an additional notice with details on the next inflation update for the immigration parole fee.

The agency cautioned that any forms submitted after January 1, 2026, with the wrong fee amount will be rejected. This could slow down processing for thousands of people seeking work permits, TPS renewals, or asylum-related services. USCIS urged applicants and their representatives to review the new fee schedule in advance to avoid delays once the changes take effect.