The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially rolled out a new set of immigration fees, significantly impacting asylum seekers, employment authorization applicants, and others. The changes, announced in a Federal Register notice on July 18, 2025, are set to take effect July 22, 2025, under provisions of the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill.
📌 Key Highlights of the Fee Changes:
🔹 New Asylum Fees
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$100 fee introduced for Form I-589, used to apply for asylum and withholding of removal.
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$100 Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) will now be required each year for applicants with pending asylum cases (starting one year after filing).
🔹 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) – Form I-765
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Initial EAD Application: Now $550.
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Renewal/Extension: Set at $275.
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EAD after re-parole approval (Form I-131): Additional $275.
🔹 Special Immigrant Juvenile – Form I-360
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New fee of $250 for applicants under this category.
🔹 Temporary Protected Status – Form I-821
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Registration fee jumps from $50 to $500 — a tenfold increase.
🚫 No Fee Waivers Allowed
USCIS emphasized that none of the new fees are eligible for waivers, even if applicants qualify for regular USCIS fee exemptions. These fees are mandated by statute under H.R. 1.
“These additional fees are required by statute and cannot be waived,” the agency said.
📅 Important Dates
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July 22, 2025: All immigration forms must include updated fees.
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August 21, 2025: USCIS will begin rejecting applications that do not include the new required fees.
🕐 Changes to Work Permit Validity
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Parolees: EADs will not exceed 1 year or the length of parole.
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TPS Beneficiaries: EADs capped at 1 year or the duration of their country’s TPS designation.
🔜 What’s Next?
USCIS says additional fee adjustments are still forthcoming for forms like:
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Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document)
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Form I-102 (Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document)
🧾 What You Should Do:
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Double-check the filing date of any application — postmark matters.
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Update your fee calculations before submitting any forms.
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Be aware that even humanitarian applicants like asylum seekers must now budget for additional costs.
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Seek legal guidance or contact USCIS if you’re unsure how the changes apply to your case.
These sweeping updates mark one of the biggest USCIS fee overhauls in recent years and are expected to impact thousands of immigrants navigating the U.S. legal immigration system.
