USCIS Adjusts Immigration Fees for Key Forms Starting October 16, 2026

USCIS Adjusts Fees for Key Immigration Forms Starting October 16, 2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating its fee schedule for several immigration forms, with new amounts taking effect for filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. These adjustments are part of the annual inflation adjustment process for certain fees established under H.R. 1. The changes affect specific categories related to asylum, parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

USCIS published the notice for these Fiscal Year 2027 inflation adjustments on October 1, 2026. The new fees become applicable 15 days later, on October 16, 2026. It is important for applicants to be aware of these changes, as filings submitted with the incorrect fee after the effective date may be rejected. The postmark date on the filing will determine which fee schedule applies.

Six Fee Categories See Revised Amounts

The fee adjustments range from $3 to $30 across six specific categories. Three of these categories, all related to initial Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), will see the same increase. The adjustments are based on a reported 3.36 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) between July 2025 and July 2026.

The following table outlines the previous and new fees for the affected forms and categories:

Form or Filing Category	Previous Fee	New Fee
Form I-589 asylum application fee	$102	$105
Form I-131 immigration parole fee	$1,020	$1,050
Form I-765 initial EAD for asylum applicants	$560	$570
Form I-765 initial parole EAD	$560	$570
Form I-765 initial TPS EAD	$560	$570
Form I-821 TPS application fee	$510	$520

The asylum-related fees include the annual application fee. The increases for work authorization apply to initial EADs connected to asylum, parole, or TPS. The fee for the Form I-821 covers the TPS application itself.

The most significant dollar increase among these adjustments is for the Form I-131 parole fee, which rises from $1,020 to $1,050. This change affects individuals applying for parole.

Postmark Date Dictates Applicable Fee

The rule for determining which fee applies is straightforward: the postmark date of the filing. Any application or petition postmarked before October 16, 2026, will be subject to the older fee amounts. Conversely, any filing postmarked on or after this date must include the newly adjusted fee.

This timing rule means that even if an applicant prepares their paperwork before the effective date, if they mail it such that it is postmarked on or after October 16, 2026, they must pay the higher fee. USCIS emphasizes that submitting the incorrect fee amount after the effective date can result in the rejection of the filing. Therefore, applicants in the affected categories must carefully check the postmark date and match their payment to the correct fee.

The groups specifically impacted by these changes include asylum applicants who pay an annual fee or seek related work authorization, parole applicants and those applying for parole-based EADs, and TPS applicants along with those seeking TPS-based EADs. These adjustments do not affect all USCIS forms or every type of work permit application. Only the specific categories listed in the updated fee schedule are subject to these new amounts.

This marks the second annual inflation adjustment cycle under the H.R. 1 fee framework. The Federal Register notice detailing these changes, identified as 2026-20187, was filed on September 30, 2026, for publication on October 1, 2026, with the new fees taking effect 15 days later.

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