USCIS Fee Adjustments Effective October 16: Asylum, Parole, and Work Permits

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Thursday a formal notice in the Federal Register regarding an inflation-based adjustment of immigration fees for the 2027 fiscal year, which will take effect on October 16, 2026.

USCIS warns that any immigration benefit application postmarked on or after this date without the appropriate fee will be rejected.

This adjustment is in response to the mandate of the H.R. 1 — One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21), signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. This legislation introduced mandatory fees for asylum, parole, and certain work permit categories, requiring annual updates in line with inflation.

Understanding the Fee Increases

The recent changes in USCIS fees represent just one aspect of the ever-evolving immigration landscape. Stay updated on deportations, visas, parole, and more in our U.S. Immigration section.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by 3.36% from July 2025 to July 2026, explaining the modest yet compulsory fee increases.

Key Fee Increases Starting October 16

These are the most significant changes for the Cuban community and those involved in asylum, parole, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) processes:

• Annual Asylum Fee (AAF): increases from $102 to $105, a $3 rise.
• Initial EAD for Asylum (I-765, c8): increases from $560 to $570, a $10 rise.
• Initial EAD for Parole (I-765, c11): increases from $560 to $570, a $10 rise.
• Initial EAD for TPS (I-765, a12/c19): increases from $560 to $570, a $10 rise.
• TPS (Form I-821): increases from $510 to $520, a $10 rise.
• Parole-related Fee (I-131): increases from $1,020 to $1,050, a $30 rise.

Fees That Remain Unchanged

Some fees remain unchanged due to statutory rounding or lack of provision for adjustment:

• Initial Asylum Application (I-589): remains at $100.
• EAD Renewal for Asylum: remains at $275.
• EAD Renewal for Parole or TPS: remains at $280.
• Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ): remains at $250.
• Form I-94: remains at $24.

Essential Information for Cubans

Cubans with active asylum cases may be affected by the increase in the Annual Asylum Fee, which goes from $102 to $105, and the rise in the initial work permit fee for asylum applicants, increasing from $560 to $570.

Those who entered the U.S. through parole — including beneficiaries of the now-defunct CHNV program — should also consider the new cost of the initial category c11 EAD, which will be $570, as well as the increase to $1,050 in the parole-related fee as stipulated by H.R. 1 when applicable.

It is important to note that Cuba does not currently have a TPS designation on the USCIS list, so the I-821 and TPS EAD fees do not apply to Cubans by nationality.

These fees are specific charges created by H.R. 1 and may be additional to other USCIS form fees; hence, they do not automatically represent the total cost of a procedure. Additionally, the asylum fee does not qualify for a fee waiver, making payment mandatory when applicable.

Before submitting any application after October 16, it is advisable to check the updated fees on the USCIS fees and processing times page to ensure that applications are not rejected due to incorrect payments.

Applicants with pending asylum cases should also be aware that USCIS has set forth consequences for failing to pay the Annual Asylum Fee within the specified timeframe in the corresponding notice. However, as of August 5, 2026, a court order temporarily prevents the agency from enforcing these consequences while litigation is ongoing.