TPS Renewal Fees and Payment Options: Key Changes Effective July 2025

(UNITED STATES) The cost to keep Temporary Protected Status has gone up, and the clock is already ticking for applicants across the United States 🇺🇸. Starting July 22, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security began charging new fees for TPS registrations and work permits under rules tied to the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, which was signed into law on July 4, 2025.

USCIS is enforcing these changes on all applications postmarked on or after July 22, 2025, with a 30-day grace period through August 21, 2025 in which many underpaid filings may receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) rather than an outright denial.

What changed — fees and payment options

• TPS re-registration (Form I-821): re-registering applicants must now include a $30 biometrics fee.
  • The $30 biometrics fee may be waived upon request for both first-time and re-registering applicants.
  • The $500 TPS filing fee is not waivable (applies to initial TPS applicants only).
• Initial TPS applicants:
  • $500 TPS filing fee (not waivable)
  • $30 biometrics fee (may be waived)
  • Initial TPS-based EAD (Form I-765): $550 (no waiver)
• TPS-based EAD renewals (Form I-765):
  • $275 per renewal (no waiver)
• Payment methods:
  • Starting September 9, 2025, USCIS added an Electronic ACH option (bank-account electronic payments).
  • Other accepted methods: credit card, money order, or check.
  • USCIS advises using separate Form G-1450 authorizations for separate credit-card charges (e.g., TPS fee and biometrics fee).

All fees collected under these rules go to the U.S. Treasury General Fund, per USCIS guidance.

Immediate impacts on current TPS holders

• Re-registering is no longer free. Even if the TPS filing fee doesn’t apply, re-registrants must pay the $30 biometrics fee with Form I-821.
• If renewing a work permit at the same time, applicants must file Form I-765 and pay $275.
• EAD validity has been shortened: work cards are now valid for one year or the remainder of the TPS designation, whichever is shorter.
  • This leads to more frequent renewals, tighter planning, and higher annual costs for many families.

Cost examples and filing totals

• When filing an initial TPS application plus a concurrent EAD, totals can reach:
  • About $1,070 for paper filing
  • About $1,020 for online filing
  • Totals depend on the specific filing path and whether separate authorizations are used for credit-card payments.

Timing, grace period, and consequences

• USCIS will treat applications postmarked on or after July 22, 2025 under the new fee schedule.
• During the 30-day grace period through August 21, 2025, USCIS may issue an RFE or NOID allowing applicants to correct underpayments rather than outright rejecting them.
• After August 21, 2025, filings with incorrect fees will be rejected, which can cause serious delays and potential loss of work authorization if renewals are not submitted on time.
• Applicants should provide proof of mailing and payment and consider filing early to avoid gaps.

Practical steps to comply (step-by-step)

1. Prepare Form I-821 for TPS re-registration (or initial TPS application).
2. If a work permit is needed, prepare Form I-765 for the TPS-based EAD.
3. Include the $30 biometrics fee for TPS re-registration; request a waiver if you qualify.
4. Pay $275 for a TPS-based EAD renewal (no waiver available).
5. Make sure filings are postmarked on or after July 22, 2025 with the correct fees, or risk rejection after August 21, 2025.
6. Consider using ACH electronic payment (available since September 9, 2025) or separate Form G-1450 forms for credit-card payments.
7. Attend the biometrics appointment when scheduled.
8. Expect an EAD valid for one year or the remaining TPS designation, whichever is shorter.

Household and financial impacts

• A TPS holder re-registering and renewing an EAD may pay $30 + $275 annually in many cases.
• A household with two working adults could face more than $600 annually in EAD renewal costs alone, not including legal or mailing expenses.
• First-time applicants face higher upfront costs because of the $500 TPS filing fee plus the initial EAD fee.
• Advocates note that while the biometrics fee waiver provides some relief, the non-waivable fees and the shortened EAD validity will strain low-income households.

Policy rationale and responses

• Immigration officials say the fee increases help fund services and reduce reliance on fee waivers, aligning with H.R. 1’s goal to stabilize revenue for immigration operations.
• Advocates counter that higher costs and fewer waivers will disproportionately affect low-income applicants and workers in unstable sectors.
• Legal service providers warn the one-year EAD validity will require more frequent filing, increasing costs, paperwork, and time spent attending biometrics appointments.

Quote-style key takeaway:
“Failing to pay the correct fees or missing deadlines can reset timelines and lead to loss of work authorization. Filing early and carefully is now more important than ever.”

Filing guidance and official resources

Prospective filers can access the relevant forms and USCIS guidance here:
– Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status: https://www.uscis.gov/i-821
– Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
– Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1450
– USCIS TPS landing page (policy updates, fee tables, filing guidance): https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status

These pages include:
– Where to mail applications
– How to submit online
– Instructions on requesting a biometrics fee waiver when eligible

Legal and practical tips from attorneys and advocates

• Mark calendars with both your country’s re-registration window and your EAD expiration date; build in a buffer of several months.
• Because EADs are now capped at one year, a late or rejected filing can cause a gap in employment.
• Discuss automatic extension policies with employers, but do not assume coverage without checking current USCIS notices.
• Keep proof of mailing and payment; respond promptly to any RFE or NOID during the grace period.

Warnings and consumer protections

• Beware of notarios or unlicensed preparers promising fee waivers that the law no longer allows.
• Under current rules:
  • The $500 TPS filing fee applies only to initial filings (not a renewal fee).
  • The $30 biometrics fee is required for re-registration unless USCIS grants a waiver.
  • The $275 EAD renewal fee must be paid each time.
• Any other claims about waived fees should be verified against official USCIS instructions.

Final takeaway

The TPS cost structure has changed and is now a central part of maintaining status and work authorization. Plan for the required fees that apply in your case, use the correct forms, and pay careful attention to postmark dates and proof of payment. While the biometrics fee remains the only fee that may be waived, other mandatory payments are fixed under the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill. Timely, accurate filings will help prevent setbacks that could jeopardize jobs and family stability.