New $1,000 Parole Fee Takes Effect Oct 16, 2025 for U.S. Entries

(UNITED STATES) The Department of Homeland Security will start collecting a new $1,000 immigration parole fee from foreign nationals on October 16, 2025, marking a major change to how parole is processed at U.S. ports of entry and inside the country. The fee, created by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, applies each time a person is paroled into the United States or granted re-parole while already in the country, unless they fall under one of several statutory exceptions. DHS says the new charge is designed to support immigration services and enforcement costs tied to parole processing.

Who must pay and when

Under the policy, the fee will be due from people paroled at an airport, seaport, or land border, as well as those granted parole or re-parole by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) inside the country. The bill (sometimes called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) states that the fee must be paid before parole is granted.

DHS guidance clarifies payment timing and process:

• Applicants should not pay when they submit Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document).
• USCIS will notify applicants of the amount due and the deadline after deciding whether parole is appropriate.
• Parole will be denied if the fee is not paid on time.

USCIS’s public page on humanitarian parole provides background on eligibility and steps, and is expected to reflect the new cost near the effective date. Review that guidance at: USCIS Humanitarian Parole.

Fee amount, indexing, and consequences

• Initial fee: $1,000 per parole or re-parole event.
• Annual indexing: DHS will index the fee for inflation each year, which means the fee could rise annually without additional congressional action.
• DHS has not yet published the specific annual adjustment method.
• Consequence for nonpayment: Failure to pay the fee will result in denial of parole or re-parole.

Statutory exceptions and USCIS review

Congress included several exceptions in the law. DHS has pointed to 10 statutory carve-outs, including:

• People who hold advance parole connected to an adjustment of status case
• Those seeking urgent medical care
• Those facing a family emergency
• Individuals assisting law enforcement

USCIS officers are expected to review whether a person qualifies for an exception before collecting the fee. For applicants with pending travel document requests, the agency will notify them if the charge applies once a decision on parole is ready.

The Form I-131 information page remains the main reference for travel document filings: USCIS Form I-131.

Related travel and immigration fee increases

This parole fee arrives alongside other travel-cost increases:

• Form I-94 (land border entries): fee increases from $6 to $30 on September 30, 2025 (DHS).
• ESTA (Visa Waiver Program): fee increases from $21 to $40 on September 30, 2025 (DHS and CBP).
• Visa Integrity Fee: $250 for nonimmigrant visa applicants starting October 1, 2025 (State Department rules).

These measures reflect a broader move toward user-funded costs in the U.S. immigration and travel system.

Practical effects for travelers and parole applicants

• If a traveler relies on parole to enter at a port of entry (rather than a visa or visa-free admission), officers are expected to confirm payment before allowing entry.
• If someone is in the United States and seeks re-parole, USCIS says it will issue a notice directing payment before granting the new parole period.
• DHS has not listed a separate form to collect the fee, suggesting payment will be tied to the parole decision process itself.

For land border travelers, the higher I-94 fee is an additional cost for those who do not receive automatic admission. Details on I-94 issuance remain at: CBP I-94.

For travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, the ESTA fee increase takes effect two weeks before the parole fee start date, so early-fall trip planning may involve multiple new charges depending on the chosen travel pathway.

Advocacy, legal practice implications, and expected behavior

• Advocacy groups and immigration attorneys warn the fee could change choices at the border and inside the country.
• Some travelers may try to avoid parole where possible, while others—especially those with urgent reasons—will need to budget for the new cost.
• Humanitarian parole is often used for emergency entries; the statute’s exceptions aim to protect the most urgent cases from extra costs.
• Caseworkers emphasize the need for clear notices at ports and during USCIS processing to avoid confusion.

VisaVerge.com analysis notes that the parole fee is part of a wider funding approach that relies on service-linked fees. Important points from that perspective:

• DHS will continue to collect regular application fees.
• The parole fee is separate and specifically linked to the act of being paroled.
• It applies “each time” parole is granted, so repeat entries or re-parole events will trigger repeat charges unless an exception applies.

How applicants should prepare

USCIS has emphasized:

• Applicants should not include the fee with an initial Form I-131 filing.
• USCIS will decide on the parole request first, then notify the applicant if payment is needed before issuing parole.
• This sequencing avoids taking money on cases that may be denied or where an exception applies.

Practical steps applicants should take:

1. Confirm whether parole is required or if another route (e.g., visa, advance parole) is available.
2. If eligible for an exception (such as advance parole for adjustment applicants), carry proof of status when traveling.
3. For re-parole requests inside the U.S., watch mail and online accounts closely for payment notices and process payments before any travel or job plans tied to parole approval.

Waivers, enforcement, and agency guidance

• No discretionary waiver process beyond the statute’s exceptions has been announced.
• Unlike some immigration benefits with income-based fee waivers, this statute limits relief primarily to specified exceptions.
• As the start date approaches, DHS is expected to issue operational instructions to field offices and ports to ensure a uniform collection process and application of exceptions.
• Public-facing updates will likely appear on USCIS and CBP websites in the weeks leading up to October 16, 2025.

Until then, those who may be affected can review official guidance and watch for case-specific notices from USCIS.