USCIS Increases Asylum, Parole and TPS Fees for FY 2027: What Applicants Need to Know

Several U.S. immigration-related fees will increase slightly beginning October 16, 2026. On September 30, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced inflation-based adjustments to certain fees established under the 2025 budget law, H.R. 1, commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

USCIS characterizes these increases as relatively minor, but applicants should still pay close attention to the effective date. Submitting an application with an outdated fee after the deadline could result in rejection. Here, our EB-1A consultants explain the updated fees, who will be affected, and what applicants should know before October 16.

New USCIS Fees Taking Effect October 16, 2026

Four categories of USCIS-collected immigration fees will increase for fiscal year 2027:

• Annual asylum application fee: Increases from $102 to $105
• Immigration parole fee under Form I-131: Increases from $1,020 to $1,050
• Initial Form I-765 employment authorization fee for asylum applicants, parolees and TPS holders: Increases from $560 to $570
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) application fee under Form I-821: Increases from $510 to $520

Depending on the filing, the increase ranges from $3 to $30, representing roughly a 2% to 3% increase.

The updated amounts were published in the Federal Register on October 1. For USCIS filings, requests postmarked on or after October 16 must include the new applicable fee. Submitting an outdated fee after the effective date can result in rejection.

Why Are These Immigration Fees Increasing?

The increases stem from H.R. 1, which was signed into law on July 4, 2025. Among other immigration-related provisions, the law established several new fees and required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust certain amounts annually based on inflation.

The calculation uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Between July 2025 and July 2026, the CPI-U increased from 323.048 to 333.918, representing a 3.36% increase.

The legislation also requires many fees to be rounded down to the nearest $10. As a result, some fees increase while others remain unchanged even though inflation has risen.

These adjustments follow several earlier developments:

• October 16, 2025: DHS began collecting the immigration parole fee.
• January 2026: The first FY 2026 inflation adjustments took effect.
• April 29, 2026: DHS issued an interim final rule addressing collection procedures, fee waivers and the consequences of nonpayment.

Because these fees are tied to annual inflation adjustments, applicants should expect the amounts to be reviewed again in future fiscal years.

USCIS Fees That Are Not Increasing

Not every H.R. 1-related immigration fee will change on October 16. Several fees will remain at their existing levels, including:

• Initial asylum application (Form I-589): $100
• Parole, TPS and re-parole EAD renewals: $280
• Asylum applicant EAD renewals: $275
• Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions (Form I-360): $250
• Form I-94 fee: $24

The asylum applicant EAD renewal fee is particularly notable because H.R. 1 does not provide for an inflation adjustment to this amount.

The I-94 fee also demonstrates how the rounding requirement works. The inflation calculation would have produced an increase of only $0.81, which rounds down to zero. Therefore, the H.R. 1 portion remains $24. At land border ports of entry, the total I-94 cost remains $30 because a separate $6 land-border fee is added.

ESTA and EVUS Fees Also Increase

The October 1 Federal Register notice also includes certain fees collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

ESTA

The fee for an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application will increase from $40.27 to $40.62.

The inflation-adjusted portion rises by $0.35. The fee for a denied ESTA application remains $10.62.

EVUS

The enrollment fee for the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), which applies to certain Chinese nationals holding long-validity visitor visas, will increase from $30.75 to $31.75.

Important Difference for the Parole Fee

The immigration parole fee has a different effective-date rule from the other USCIS fees.

The new $1,050 parole fee applies to individuals who are granted parole on or after October 16, 2026, regardless of when the underlying application was filed, unless one of the statutory exceptions applies.

This means the relevant date for the parole fee is the date parole is granted, rather than the postmark date of the application.

The parole fee is also separate from any other fee that may be required under applicable immigration law.

Why the October 16 Postmark Date Matters

For the USCIS filings covered by these adjustments, the postmark date is critical.

A filing postmarked before October 16, 2026 may use the existing fee. However, a filing postmarked on or after October 16 must include the new fee.

Using an outdated fee after the effective date can cause USCIS to reject the filing. For applicants with time-sensitive immigration matters, that rejection could create additional problems, including the possibility of losing the original filing date or experiencing a gap in employment authorization.

For this reason, applicants, attorneys and employers preparing filings around the October 16 deadline should verify the correct fee immediately before submitting the package.

Are EB-1A and Employment-Based Green Card Applicants Affected?

For employment-based immigration applicants, there is some good news.

These particular FY 2027 adjustments apply to the humanitarian and related fees established under H.R. 1. They do not change the regular USCIS fees for employment-based petitions, including EB-1A-related Form I-140 filings.

The fees for Form I-485 and certain other employment-based immigration filings are also not being changed by this specific notice.

Premium processing is separate as well. Its fee was already adjusted on March 1, 2026, under a different statutory requirement. The premium processing fee for Form I-140 increased from $2,805 to $2,965 at that time.

Therefore, EB-1A applicants should not interpret the October 16 changes as a new increase to their I-140 or I-485 filing fees.

What Applicants Should Do Before October 16

Although most of the increases are relatively small, incorrect fees can create unnecessary complications.

Applicants and employers preparing filings close to the effective date should:

1. Check the current USCIS fee schedule before submitting the application.
2. Confirm the postmark date if mailing a filing around October 16.
3. Update internal fee charts and filing checklists.
4. Verify whether a particular fee has an inflation adjustment or remains unchanged.
5. Pay special attention to parole cases, where the date parole is granted determines the applicable fee.
6. Seek professional immigration advice when a filing is time-sensitive or involves complicated fee requirements.

The Bottom Line

The FY 2027 fee changes are relatively modest, with increases generally ranging from $3 to $30 for the affected USCIS filings. However, the financial increase itself is not necessarily the biggest concern. The greater risk is submitting an application with the wrong fee and having it rejected.

The new USCIS amounts take effect October 16, 2026, and H.R. 1 requires qualifying fees to be reviewed for inflation every fiscal year. Some fees may increase in future years, while others may remain unchanged because of statutory rules or rounding requirements.

Applicants preparing filings near the deadline should verify the applicable fee before sending their package. Those with complicated or time-sensitive cases may also wish to consult an immigration attorney.

At GCEB1, our EB-1A experts continue to provide updates on developments affecting the U.S. immigration system. Contact us for personalized guidance regarding merit-based U.S. immigration.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When do the new USCIS fees take effect?

The updated fees take effect on October 16, 2026. USCIS filings postmarked on or after that date must generally include the new applicable fee.

2. Why are some fees increasing while others remain unchanged?

The fees are adjusted according to inflation under H.R. 1. The law also requires many amounts to be rounded down to the nearest $10, which can prevent smaller increases from taking effect.

3. What happens if I submit the old fee after October 16?

USCIS may reject the filing if the incorrect fee is submitted. Applicants should verify the applicable amount before filing.

4. Can I use the old USCIS fee if my application is mailed before October 16?

For the USCIS filings covered by the adjustment, a filing postmarked before October 16, 2026 can generally use the existing fee.

5. Do the October 16 changes increase EB-1A, I-140 or I-485 fees?

No. These particular adjustments do not change the regular USCIS fees for employment-based petitions such as Form I-140 or the applicable Form I-485 fees.

6. Are ESTA and EVUS fees also increasing?

Yes. The ESTA fee for an approved authorization will increase to $40.62, while the EVUS enrollment fee will increase to $31.75.

7. Will these inflation adjustments happen again?

Yes. H.R. 1 requires qualifying fees to be adjusted annually for inflation. However, individual fees may or may not increase in a particular fiscal year depending on the calculation and applicable rounding rules.