USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register on October 1, 2026 adjusting the immigration fees created by H.R. 1 for inflation. The notice applies to requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026, and USCIS says it will reject filings sent without the correct amount.

Why the fees changed

H.R. 1, the law signed on July 4, 2025 (Public Law 119-21), created new immigration fees and requires USCIS to adjust them every year for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. For fiscal year 2027, USCIS calculated a 3.36 percent increase and, as the statute directs, rounded most amounts down to the next lowest multiple of $10.

The new amounts

  • Annual pending asylum application fee: $105 (was $102).
  • Initial asylum fee (Form I-589): stays at $100.
  • Initial work permit for asylum applicants: $570 (was $560).
  • Renewal work permit for asylum applicants: stays at $275; the notice says H.R. 1 does not provide for adjusting it.
  • Initial parole and initial TPS work permits: $570; renewals and re-parole work permits stay at $280.
  • TPS fee (Form I-821): $520 (was $510).
  • Immigration parole fee: $1,050 (was $1,020).
  • Special Immigrant Juvenile fee: stays at $250; I-94 fee: stays at $24.

What to do before filing

Check the postmark date, not the date you prepared the packet. Then confirm the amount on USCIS’s fee schedule (Form G-1055), because fees can change again. A rejected filing loses its place and, for asylum, can affect deadlines, so a correct fee matters as much as a complete form. See our guide on asylum costs for budgeting.

How this connects to work permits

Asylum applicants can request a work permit only after a waiting period, explained in our guide to the 150- and 180-day clock. Renewals also no longer receive automatic extensions in most categories; see the October 2026 final rule.

If the case itself stalls

Paying the annual fee does not make USCIS decide faster. For long-pending claims, read our article on the asylum backlog and mandamus, and mandamus.com’s overview of affirmative asylum mandamus.

One-time fees, annual fees and other forms

For asylum applicants, the annual fee for a pending application is separate from the one-time fee paid when the asylum application is filed, and the notice lists them as two different items. The notice covers only the fees created by H.R. 1. Other USCIS fees are listed in the agency’s fee schedule, so check the amount for every form in a packet and follow each form’s payment instructions. If you are unsure which fees apply to your situation, ask before mailing rather than after a rejection.

Frequently asked questions

Which date matters, filing or postmark? The notice applies to benefit requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026.

Did the initial asylum fee go up? No. The $100 initial asylum fee did not change after rounding.

Why did the asylum work permit renewal fee stay at $275? The notice states that H.R. 1 does not provide for an inflation adjustment to that fee.

Key Takeaways

  • New H.R. 1 fees apply to requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026.
  • The annual asylum fee rose to $105; the initial asylum fee stays at $100.
  • Initial asylum, parole and TPS work permits now cost $570.
  • The TPS fee rose to $520 and the parole fee to $1,050.
  • USCIS rejects filings without the correct fee; check the fee schedule before mailing.

Disclosure: This site collaborates with the law firm that publishes mandamus.com and n600k.com; some articles link to their guides. General information only, not legal advice.

General information only, not legal advice. Immigration law and agency policy change often; confirm current rules before acting. Published October 26, 2026. Official sources checked October 26, 2026.