Jim Jordan seeks sharp rise in immigration fees including asylum application

Key Takeaways

• Jim Jordan proposes a $1,000 asylum application fee and $3,500 sponsorship fee for unaccompanied minors.
• Proposed fees aim to increase funding for border security and shift costs from taxpayers to applicants.
• Critics warn these record-high fees could block vulnerable people from legal pathways and worsen agency backlogs.

The United States is facing major changes in how much it costs to apply for some of its most important immigration benefits. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan is leading a proposal to raise immigration fees by large amounts, including for asylum applications and for people who want to sponsor children crossing the border alone. These proposed changes are part of a bigger effort by many Republicans to improve border security, add more money for enforcement, and make it much pricier for people to use legal immigration pathways. In this article, you’ll find a clear explanation of what’s changing, why, what critics and supporters say, and how this could affect immigrants, families, and the whole U.S. immigration system.

What Is Jim Jordan Proposing?

Jim Jordan, a Republican leader in the House of Representatives, has brought forward a plan to raise several U.S. immigration fees. The main fee changes he’s pushing for include:

– A new $1,000 fee for every asylum application.
– A $3,500 charge for anyone who wants to sponsor an unaccompanied minor (a child crossing the border without a parent).
– A $550 fee for each six-month work permit. Right now, these cost between about $260 and $555, depending on the permit.

If these changes become law, they would be the highest fees ever charged for these types of applications in the United States. Jordan and his allies say these fees will give the government more money to enforce immigration laws and pay for border security. They also argue that these new fees would mean that people applying for immigration benefits would pay more of the cost themselves, instead of American taxpayers.

Why Do Republicans Want to Raise These Fees?

The main reason given by Jim Jordan and other Republicans is that they want to raise more money to support border security. According to their plan, the new immigration fees would:

• Help pay for President Trump’s request to spend $44 billion more on things like border patrol and enforcement.
• Reduce the need for taxpayer dollars to cover the costs of running immigration agencies.
• Make sure immigration programs are paid for by people who use them, not by everyone else.

Jordan explained that the immigration system right now “has left these agencies with funding shortfalls paid for by American taxpayers.” He also pointed to estimates suggesting the new fees could bring in as much as $77 billion over 10 years. This money would go to border and immigration enforcement first and foremost.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a nonpartisan group that studies government spending, has said that the new asylum fee alone would bring in about $748 million over a decade. That is just from one part of the proposal.

An Unusual Legislative Approach

This fee increase is moving forward in a “budget reconciliation” bill. This is a special type of bill that deals only with government spending and money matters. A reconciliation bill needs just a simple majority—the support of more than half the U.S. Senate—to pass, not the usual 60 votes. This means if all Republicans vote together, they could pass these changes without needing Democratic support.

House Republicans already pushed the bill through the House Judiciary Committee in late April 2025. The plan is to add it to a larger package of immigration and border changes and try to pass it through Congress before Memorial Day.

How Do These New Fees Compare to Current Charges?

Many people applying for immigration benefits in the U.S. already pay fees. For example, as of April 2024:

• Filing for a green card (adjustment of status) costs $1,440.
• Work authorization fees are between $260 and $555, depending on the type.
• Hiring a foreign H-1B worker costs $780 for the main petition form.

These fees went up after staying the same for about eight years. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which processes these applications, said it needed to raise the fees because of inflation and because it was running out of money.

But the new fees in Jim Jordan’s proposal are much higher in some areas and serve a very different purpose. Instead of just covering the costs of processing paperwork, his plan would use the money to pay for wider border and enforcement actions and as a possible way to deter, or stop, some people from applying.

Summary Table: Proposed New Immigration Fees Under Jordan Bill

You can see that, for people wanting protection or to reunite with children, the costs under this plan would be much higher than anything charged before.

What Are Supporters Saying?

Supporters, mostly Republicans, believe these big fee hikes make sense for a couple of reasons:

• The country needs more money to keep the border safe.
• Fees should be paid by those who use the system, not by all taxpayers.
• High fees could discourage people from filing “frivolous” or unneeded asylum applications, which they say takes up agency time.

Jim Jordan, in particular, stresses that the plan is all about fixing shortfalls in agency budgets. He thinks moving the costs onto users of the immigration system is more fair and puts less of a burden on the public.

What Do Critics and Advocacy Groups Say?

On the other side, there are many who strongly object to making immigrants pay so much. Immigrant advocates, especially those working with people fleeing harm or families trying to reunite, believe that these changes would hurt the most vulnerable.

Some of the main arguments against the plan include:

• High fees would make it almost impossible for poor or low-income people to seek asylum or help unaccompanied children.
• People fleeing danger often have little or no money and can’t pay $1,000 just to have their case heard.
• The sponsor fee of $3,500 could stop parents or family from helping children in need because they fear not just the cost but also possible enforcement action (like being targeted by immigration officials) as part of the process.

Jason Boyd from Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), an advocacy group for immigrant children, summed up this concern. He said, “This blatant policy directive would heavily deter parents and other family members from filing applications due to fears of enforcement actions, in combination with sponsor fees.”

Critics also argue that the proposal isn’t about budget or money alone—it’s also a way to stop people from using legal, humanitarian paths like asylum. They warn this is unfair to people who are fleeing danger or who want to obey the law.

Impact on the Current Asylum System

These high new fees would affect a system that’s already under a lot of strain. At the moment, more than 2 million people are waiting for an asylum hearing in the U.S. court system. Some have waited several years to find out if they can stay in the country.

Adding big costs on top of that could make an already slow, difficult process even harder. People might give up on asking for protection even if they face serious trouble at home, simply because of the expense. There is also worry that the added fees won’t really fix the main problem—long delays and not enough staff to handle the workload.

Who Will Feel the Effects the Most?

• Asylum Seekers: People asking for asylum are usually fleeing war, persecution, or serious trouble. Many come with only the clothes they’re wearing. For them, a $1,000 fee could be impossible to pay. This could mean they are unable to even apply for protection.

• Sponsors of Unaccompanied Minors: Sponsors are often parents or family already living in the United States. The $3,500 charge is for every child sponsored, which could quickly add up for families with more than one child. This high fee is likely to discourage sponsorship and leave more children in government custody.

• People Needing Work Permits: Those applying for work authorization already face waiting times and paperwork. Although the six-month work permit fee is not much higher than some current fees, for families on tight budgets, every extra dollar counts.

• Immigration Agencies: Agencies like USCIS may get more money from these fees, but with fewer people applying, they might process fewer cases, leaving many jobs and resources underused.

Broader Social and Economic Effects

If the new fees are approved, they could change who is able to come to or stay in the United States. Many people who want to become legal residents, work, or be reunited with family might simply be priced out. That means the country could see:

• Fewer people applying for protection, even when they have good reasons to fear danger if they go home.
• More children staying in government custody instead of living with family, because their sponsors can’t pay.
• More families staying apart because the cost of sponsorship is too high.

Over time, these changes may affect how the U.S. is seen around the world. It could be viewed as less welcoming to refugees and people in danger. The overall number of immigrants coming legally to the United States may go down.

The Road Ahead: What Happens Next?

The House Judiciary Committee has already voted to include these new fee increases in a larger bill. The plan is to pass the full package in Congress before Memorial Day in 2025. Because it’s a reconciliation bill tied to money and the budget, it might pass with only Republican support and no Democratic votes in the Senate.

If the bill becomes law, the higher fees would start soon after. This would have a fast impact on people and families planning to file any immigration paperwork. It’s uncertain if courts or future lawmakers would step in to change or block the fees.

Comparison With Other Countries

While the U.S. would be charging the highest-ever fees for some applications, other countries like Canada 🇨🇦, Australia 🇦🇺, and the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 also have fees for immigration forms. However, most of these countries keep asylum application fees very low or don’t charge any at all, recognizing that most asylum seekers do not have extra money. The U.S. proposal would stand out for its high prices and focus on using that money for border enforcement.

What Can Applicants Do Next?

Anyone considering an immigration application should pay close attention to official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updates about current and pending fee changes. It is important to always use the correct forms, available on the official USCIS forms page. For asylum seekers, the Form I-589 is used for asylum applications, and details about any upcoming fee requirements will be posted there.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that the push for such large fee increases marks a turning point in U.S. immigration policy, highlighting deep differences between those who want stricter enforcement and those who think the U.S. should be open to people in greatest need. Until new laws are passed, current fees remain in place.

Conclusion: A Defining Policy Choice

Jim Jordan’s campaign to increase immigration fees, especially on asylum applications and sponsorships, stands as one of the strongest efforts yet to tie border funding directly to people using the immigration system. To supporters, this is only fair—they say people coming to the U.S. should help pay for its security and immigration services. But to critics, the plan is unfairly punishing the most vulnerable, keeping families apart, and setting up new barriers to those needing help.

In the coming weeks, Congress will face big decisions. What happens will shape whether immigrants seeking safety and new lives in the U.S. will face yet another obstacle—one measured not just in paperwork and wait times, but in thousands of dollars.

If you or someone you know is thinking about an immigration application, keep checking USCIS’s official fee information for the latest details. This policy debate is likely to keep changing, and knowing what rules apply is the best way to be prepared.

In summary, the debate over immigration fees is more than a matter of money—it’s about values, priorities, and the kind of country the United States 🇺🇸 wants to be in the world.

Learn Today

Asylum Application → A formal request for protection in the U.S. by people fleeing persecution or danger in their home country.
Sponsor Unaccompanied Minor → An adult in the U.S. who takes legal responsibility for children crossing the border without parents.
Budget Reconciliation Bill → A legislative process used to quickly pass budget-related laws with a simple majority in the Senate.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) → The federal agency overseeing lawful immigration to the U.S., including processing applications and fees.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) → A nonpartisan agency that predicts financial effects of legislation, including estimated revenue from immigration fees.

This Article in a Nutshell

Proposed U.S. immigration fee hikes could price out the most vulnerable. Asylum seekers may pay $1,000, unaccompanied minor sponsors $3,500. Supporters cite increased border security and agency funding; critics argue it blocks humanitarian relief. Tracking upcoming changes is vital for immigrants as Congress decides America’s immigration future.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• Trump Administration Plots End of Habeas Corpus for Illegal Immigration
• Reconciliation Bill would raise immigration fees for asylum applications
• Switzerland sets new immigration curbs in deal with European Union
• IRS Criminal Investigators in Chicago tapped for immigration enforcement
• Iowa State Patrol faces calls to disband immigration task force