TPS Renewal Costs 2025: Updated Fees, Biometrics, and EAD Guidance

(UNITED STATES) The federal government has raised the cost to renew Temporary Protected Status, setting a new baseline that will affect hundreds of thousands of people who live and work in the United States under the humanitarian program.

As of September 21, 2025, the TPS renewal fee is $500, and applicants must also pay a $30 biometrics fee unless they qualify for a waiver of the biometrics fee only. These changes follow the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which took effect in July 2025 and reset many U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fee schedules. The act made no difference between first-time TPS filings and re-registrations: both now carry the same $500 charge, plus the $30 biometrics fee. Employment authorization costs also climbed sharply, with totals that can reach about $1,070 for a TPS-based EAD.

USCIS says these increases are needed to keep the agency running and reduce reliance on taxpayer funds, while advocates warn the higher prices could push low‑income families to the edge.

Current TPS landscape and scope

The higher TPS renewal fee arrives just as many long-standing designations remain active and others phase out. The Department of Homeland Security can grant or extend TPS for 6, 12, or 18 months at a time. The Secretary of Homeland Security must publish any extension or termination at least 60 days before a program ends.

Several countries saw TPS expiration dates fall in mid‑2025, while large populations from El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua benefited from ongoing extensions under President Biden. Those beneficiaries must re‑register during published windows and pay the new fees to keep their status.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, more than 860,000 people held TPS as of late 2024 — a number that shows how many households now have to budget for higher filing costs to remain lawfully present and work‑authorized.

What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed

Passed in 2024 and implemented on July 22, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act consolidated and raised USCIS fees across programs. Key TPS-related changes:

• A single, flat filing price of $500 for both first‑time and re‑registering applicants.
• A separate $30 biometrics fee (waiver available only for the biometrics fee, not the $500 filing fee).
• No waiver available for the $500 TPS filing fee.
• EAD (work permit) filing charges tied to TPS set at $550 in filing charges, with total costs commonly reaching roughly $1,070 for TPS‑based EADs in many cases.
• Some guidance lists a renewal work permit fee at $745 for parts of 2025, illustrating that totals can vary by filing choice and fee line items.

USCIS argues the increases will help stabilize agency funding and reduce dependence on general tax dollars. Advocacy groups warn these fees will disproportionately affect low‑income workers and families.

Financial impact on families

Those numbers mean bigger bills for families already juggling rent, food, and child care. A TPS holder who used to renew status for a fraction of the current price must now plan for at least $530 (TPS fee + biometrics), and far more if they need to renew a work card at the same time.

Common coping strategies include:
– Spacing out filings (re‑register for TPS first, then file for an EAD later) to spread costs.
– Applying for a biometrics fee waiver using Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver to reduce the immediate hit by $30 (note: the main $500 cannot be waived).
– Seeking pro bono legal help to prepare clean filings and avoid costly rejections.

Legal aid groups expect more families to request free help because mistakes can cause rejections and missed re‑registration windows.

“Raising the TPS renewal fee without a broad waiver option risks pushing people with long ties in the country into the shadows,” advocacy groups warn.

Process: filing steps and important forms

The filing process remains largely the same, but the price tag is different. Steps to file:

1. Check your country’s designation and re‑registration window on the official TPS portal.
2. Complete Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Include payment for $500 plus the $30 biometrics fee — or include Form I-912 if requesting a biometrics waiver.
3. If seeking work authorization, submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with the correct filing fee.
4. Pay by money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or credit card (via Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions).
5. Mail to the address listed for your country’s TPS filing using tracking; keep copies of everything.
6. Watch for a USCIS receipt and a biometrics appointment notice; attend or reschedule as needed.
7. If a biometrics waiver is denied, pay the $30 and re‑file within 45 days of denial or before the re‑registration deadline, whichever is earlier.

Important practical notes:
– Unsigned forms, incorrect fees, or missing signatures can trigger rejections.
– Filing after the re‑registration window can lead to denial unless late filing is accepted for good cause (rare).
– Attend biometrics appointments; skipping them can lead to denial.
– Online vs. paper filing does not usually reduce total fees for TPS EADs; the base EAD filing charge remains $550 and totals still approach $1,070 in many cases.

Key timelines, deadlines, and tactical tips

• DHS must publish extensions or terminations 60 days before a program ends.
• Start preparing as soon as a re‑registration window opens; community clinics advise saving and scheduling early.
• Tactical tips:
  • Sign every form.
  • Pay exact amounts.
  • Use tracked mail and keep copies.
  • Keep your address updated with USCIS to avoid missed notices.
  • Check for automatic EAD extensions during re‑registration periods.

Policy, labor, and legal implications

USCIS frames the fee changes as a move toward a self‑funding immigration system and improved processing. However:
– Advocates argue humanitarian programs should not require fees that shut out low‑income applicants.
– Employers must track TPS auto‑extensions and verify work authorization, and some may offer limited help (grants, resource partnerships).
– Some fee increases have prompted legal challenges, but as of mid‑2025 the OBBBA-based changes remain in force.

Congress could later provide fee relief, and DHS policy on auto‑extensions or processing priorities could change, but current official guidance stands.

Who is most affected

Advocates stress that the fee changes hit hardest in communities where TPS holders often work in lower‑wage jobs (hospitality, caregiving, food service, construction). Effects include:
– Increased risk of missed renewals due to delayed saving.
– Potential push into informal work if EADs cannot be renewed.
– Strain in mixed‑status households when multiple adults need to file.

Community organizations report high demand for financial assistance, and limited nonprofit resources often cannot meet need.

For people whose country’s TPS ended

If your country’s TPS ended in mid‑2025:
– You no longer re‑register or renew a TPS-based EAD.
– Some may qualify for other relief (family-based, employment-based, humanitarian); others may not.
– Attorneys advise quick case screenings and gathering records if alternate paths exist.

If TPS continues for your country:
– File during the window, pay the $500 TPS renewal fee and $30 biometrics fee (unless waived), and renew the EAD if needed to keep working.

Official resources and forms

Applicants should use official government resources and the current editions of forms. Useful links:
– USCIS TPS Page
– Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status
– Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
– Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
– Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions

Final reminders and practical checklist

• There is no waiver for the $500 TPS filing fee under current rules.
• The $30 biometrics fee can be waived with Form I-912 and proof of low income.
• EAD totals for 2025 are higher — plan for up to $1,070 in many cases, even if some guidance lists $745 for certain paths.
• Check the most recent USCIS fee table before filing and prepare funds for the higher end.
• Consider legal review and mail early within the re‑registration window.

Quick filing checklist:
– Verify country designation and re‑registration dates.
– Complete and sign Form I-821 (pay $500) and Form I-765 if needed.
– Include Form I-912 only if requesting a biometrics waiver.
– Pay via acceptable payment method (or Form G-1450 for credit cards).
– Mail using tracking and retain copies.
– Attend biometrics appointment and follow up on notices.

For TPS holders, careful planning, timely filings, and trusted legal help are the best tools to avoid gaps in status and work authorization while the new fee schedule remains in effect.