USCIS Fee Increase 16 October 2026: New EAD, TPS and Parole Fees
A USCIS fee increase takes effect on 16 October 2026 for several fees created by the 2025 law known as H.R. 1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the inflation adjustment in the Federal Register on 1 October 2026. First-time work permit (EAD) fees for asylum applicants, parolees and TPS applicants rise from $560 to $570, and the immigration parole fee rises from $1,020 to $1,050.
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Key facts
- Effective date: filings postmarked on or after 16 October 2026.
- Reason: the CPI-U inflation index rose about 3.36% between July 2025 and July 2026.
- Initial EAD (Form I-765) for asylum applicants, parolees and TPS: $560 to $570.
- Annual asylum fee while a case is pending: $102 to $105. TPS (Form I-821) fee: $510 to $520.
- Parole fee (Form I-131): $1,020 to $1,050.
- Filings with the old fee postmarked on or after 16 October 2026 will be rejected.
What changed in the USCIS fee increase
H.R. 1 set new fees for some humanitarian and parole filings and requires them to rise each year with inflation. USCIS calculated the FY2027 amounts using the CPI-U and rounded down to the next lowest multiple of $10 (or to the nearest dollar for the annual asylum fee).
The new amounts from 16 October 2026 are:
| Fee | FY2026 | From 16 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| I-589 asylum application (initial) | $100 | $100 |
| Annual fee while asylum is pending | $102 | $105 |
| I-765 initial EAD, asylum applicant | $560 | $570 |
| I-765 EAD renewal, asylum applicant | $275 | $275 |
| I-765 initial EAD, parole | $560 | $570 |
| I-765 EAD renewal, parole | $280 | $280 |
| I-765 initial EAD, TPS | $560 | $570 |
| I-765 EAD renewal, TPS | $280 | $280 |
| I-821 TPS | $510 | $520 |
| I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile | $250 | $250 |
| I-131 immigration parole fee | $1,020 | $1,050 |
| I-94 fee | $24 | $24 |
In a separate notice on the same day, DHS and Customs and Border Protection also adjusted travel fees. The ESTA fee for visa waiver travellers rises from $40.27 to $40.62, and the EVUS enrolment fee rises from $30.75 to $31.75.
The USCIS notice says that requests postmarked from 16 October 2026 without the correct fee “will be rejected”.
Who is affected
- People in the US with pending asylum cases, including those who pay the annual pending-asylum fee.
- Asylum applicants, parolees and TPS applicants filing for a first work permit.
- People filing for parole or TPS.
The notice does not change fees for F-1 students, OPT applications or H-1B petitions. Those fees are set separately.
What it means for Nepali and Indian applicants
Most Nepali and Indian students and skilled workers will not see a change from this USCIS fee increase. It matters mainly for family members or community members with pending asylum cases or other humanitarian filings. For them, the $10 rise on a first work permit and the $3 rise on the annual asylum fee are small, but a form sent with the wrong amount will be rejected and must be filed again.
Timing is the main risk. A form posted on 15 October with the old fee is fine. The same form postmarked on 16 October with the old fee will be rejected.
What to do now
- Check the postmark date you will get, not the date you sign the form. From 16 October 2026, use the new fee.
- If you are filing an initial EAD as an asylum applicant, parolee or TPS applicant, pay $570 from 16 October.
- If you pay the annual asylum fee, budget $105 for payments due from 16 October.
- Confirm the fee on the USCIS fee page for your form before you pay. Fees for other forms are not covered by this notice.
- If you are unsure which fee applies to you, ask a qualified immigration lawyer or accredited representative.
What we don’t know yet
- The notice does not explain how online filings submitted around midnight on 15 to 16 October will be treated. Check USCIS guidance for online filing.
Frequently asked questions
When does the USCIS fee increase start?
It applies to filings postmarked on or after 16 October 2026.
Does the USCIS fee increase affect OPT or H-1B?
No. This notice only covers H.R. 1 fees for asylum, parole, TPS, Special Immigrant Juvenile and I-94 filings.
How much is the asylum work permit fee now?
The first EAD for an asylum applicant costs $570 from 16 October 2026. The renewal fee stays at $275.
Your next step
Sources
- Fiscal Year 2027 Inflation Adjustment to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees – Federal Register
- Certain DHS Immigration-Related Fees Required by HR-1: Fiscal Year 2027 Adjustments for Inflation – Federal Register
Last checked: 7 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration advice.
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