The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced adjustments to certain H.R. 1 immigration-related fees for fiscal year (FY) 2026, reflecting inflation from July 2024 through July 2025. The new fees will take effect on January 1, 2026. Applicants submitting benefit requests postmarked on or after this date must include the updated fee.The fee increases were published in a Federal Register notice on July 22, according to the USCIS. Beginning in FY 2026 and continuing for each subsequent fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will adjust some H.R. 1 immigration-related fees for inflation, as specified in the legislation.
The following fees will increase in FY 2026:
| Form Type | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Asylum Application Fee (currently stayed via court order) | $100 | $102 |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization – Initial Asylum Applicant Employment Authorization Document (EAD) | $550 | $560 |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization – Initial Parole EAD | $550 | $560 |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization – Renewal or Extension of Parole EAD | $275 | $280 |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization – Initial Temporary Protected Status (TPS) EAD | $550 | $560 |
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization – Renewal or Extension of TPS EAD | $275 | $280 |
| Form I-131, Part 9 – EAD requested upon authorization of a new period of Parole (Re-parole) | $275 | $280 |
| Form I-821, Application for TPS | $500 | $510 |
Certain fees will remain unchanged in FY 2026. If there is any change, USCIS will publish future notices regarding inflationary adjustments for the immigration parole fee.
| Form Type | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| I-589 Asylum Fee (Initial fee for aliens filing an application for asylum) | $100 | $100 |
| I-765 Renewal or Extension of Asylum Applicant EAD | $275 | $275 |
| I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile Fee | $250 | $250 |
Applicants are advised to review the updated fee schedule carefully to ensure they submit the correct payment with any benefit requests postmarked on or after January 1, 2026.
One Big Beautiful Bill
The legal basis for the recent visa fee hikes stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. The legislation consolidated multiple federal laws and introduced new rules across government agencies, including immigration. For visas, it established minimum fees for FY 2025 and mandated that future annual adjustments be linked to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The bill also introduced a “visa integrity fee” for non-immigrant visa applicants and raised fees on remittances, affecting immigrants sending money abroad.
How it will affect Indians?
The fee increases will affect Indian applicants along with all other foreign nationals applying for US immigration benefits. Indians filing for asylum, Employment Authorization Documents, Temporary Protected Status, or other immigration-related benefits covered under H.R. 1 will need to pay the updated fees for any applications postmarked on or after January 1, 2026. The “visa integrity fee” for non-immigrant visa applicants and higher remittance fees will also impact Indians applying for visas or sending money abroad, meaning students, workers, and immigrants could face slightly higher costs for applications and transfers.
