U.S. Immigration Fee Changes Start Jan 1, 2026: What to Expect

Starting January 1, 2026, immigrants and visa holders around the world will face a new round of Inflation‑Linked Fee Increases across a range of U.S. applications, from work permits and asylum filings to student and work visas. The changes, ordered under the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) for fiscal year 2026, will push up costs for many people who deal with USCIS and U.S. consulates, just as a new “Visa Integrity Fee” is added on top of existing charges. While most of the adjustments are small on paper, lawyers say they will still hit families, frequent travelers, and low‑income applicants who file multiple applications or renewals each year.

Major fee movements at a glance

• Effective date: January 1, 2026
• Law driving the changes: H.R. 1 (fiscal year 2026), with many charges tied to inflation
• New consular charge: Visa Integrity Fee — $250 (non‑waivable) for many nonimmigrant visa applicants
• Key USCIS increases: modest rises across work‑authorization, humanitarian, and some travel filings

Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) — protection‑based categories

USCIS confirmed several small but meaningful increases for EAD applications, especially for people relying on asylum, parole, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to work legally in the United States.

• Initial EAD (many protection‑based categories): $550 → $560
• Parole‑based EAD renewal/extension: $275 → $280

These increases might feel small for an individual renewing once every few years, but for families with multiple adults or people who renew often due to short validity periods, costs can accumulate quickly.

Asylum and related humanitarian fees

• Annual asylum‑application fee (where it applies): $100 → $102
  • Note: That particular fee is currently blocked by a federal court order and is not being collected.

USCIS fee rules often move in step with litigation as well as legislation. Analysis by VisaVerge.com describes a patchwork of adjustments: some asylum‑related costs shift slightly each year while others remain frozen by court orders.

TPS (Temporary Protected Status)

• Form I‑821 (TPS application): $500 → $510 (Form I‑821)
• Linked EAD charges for TPS applicants: follow the same pattern as other protection‑based work permits — $560 (initial) and $280 (renewal)

For TPS beneficiaries who renew both status and work authorization simultaneously, the combined rise can be more than “just a few dollars”—especially when household budgets are tight.

Parole and travel‑related filings

• Form I‑131 (Advance Parole and certain travel documents): $630 → $640 (Form I‑131)
• Migrants using parole programs who then file for an EAD on Form I‑765 will see slightly higher cumulative costs across each required step.

New State Department charge: Visa Integrity Fee

• Visa Integrity Fee: $250 (non‑waivable) starting fiscal year 2026

This fee applies to many nonimmigrant visa categories including:

• Student visas (F, M)
• Work visas (H‑1B, L‑1)
• Visitor visas (B‑1/B‑2)

The fee is additive — it is charged on top of existing consular application and SEVIS fees. Officials say the fee will fund stronger vetting and fraud detection; critics warn that the burden will fall on applicants, particularly from countries with weaker currencies.

Example: an Indian student applying for an F‑1 visa will face the regular consular fee, the SEVIS fee, and the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee — adding hundreds of extra U.S. dollars once converted to local currency.

Practical effects at USCIS intake and filing

• USCIS uses the date an application is received and the fee schedule in effect at that time.
• Submissions arriving after January 1, 2026 with old fee amounts risk rejection at intake, causing delays that may threaten employment, driver’s license renewals, or access to benefits.

For asylum seekers, TPS holders, and parolees whose ability to work depends on a valid EAD, a fee mistake can mean weeks or months without income.

I‑589 (asylum) and fee complexity

• Form I‑589 (main asylum application) — core filing fee remains unchanged for now, but some associated charges have inched up.
• The separate annual asylum fee has been formally raised to $102 in the rule text, but it is currently stayed by a court.

Advocates emphasize that tracking which fees are active versus blocked by courts is difficult, even for professionals; for self‑represented asylum seekers it can be practically impossible.

New fee for fee‑waiver requests

• Form I‑912 (fee‑waiver request): will now cost $10 to file (Form I‑912)

Previously free, this change requires applicants seeking to waive main application fees because of financial hardship to pay a small fee just to request the waiver. Supporters call it a deterrent to frivolous requests; advocates warn it may deter the poorest families from seeking help.

Fees that did not change or remain governed separately

• Premium Processing Service: remains at $2,805 for most categories under the 2026 schedule (governed by separate rules).
• Some less common forms and certain juvenile‑related fees also remain unchanged.

VisaVerge.com summarizes the overall picture as many small, regular increases across core parts of the system, keyed to inflation and likely to continue unless Congress or the courts intervene.

Who will feel the biggest impact

• Families with multiple filings (multiple adults renewing EADs, children applying for F‑1 visas, relatives in TPS) face compounding costs.
• Frequent travelers, global professionals, NRIs, and remote workers who apply for visas multiple times will need to add the $250 fee to each applicable consular visit.
• Applicants paid in local currencies will be affected by exchange‑rate swings that can magnify the sting of even small dollar increases.

Example scenario (illustrative): a household with two adults renewing EADs, a college‑age child seeking an F‑1 visa, and another relative in TPS may see what looks like a 2–3% increase turn into several hundred dollars in combined new costs.

Planning, timing, and practical advice

Lawyers and community groups are emphasizing two basic points:

1. Check the fee chart closely. The official USCIS fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees is the authoritative reference.
2. File early where possible. Submitting before December 31, 2025 may allow use of the old schedule in some cases (depending on processing rules and postmark dates). Filings on or after January 1, 2026 must use the updated amounts.

Practical considerations:

• Asylum seekers and TPS beneficiaries who expect to need an EAD in early 2026 may consider, in consultation with counsel, whether filing earlier to catch 2025 rates is feasible.
• Others may choose to wait to assemble a stronger case and accept slightly higher 2026 fees. There is no universal answer; individualized legal advice is important.
• University international offices and HR departments should warn students and foreign hires that overall visa costs will rise and should incorporate the Visa Integrity Fee into budgeting.

Broader policy context

The new fee structure is meant to operate as an annual inflation adjustment rather than a one‑time jump. The law behind H.R. 1 ties many immigration charges to broader U.S. price levels, so as inflation moves, filing costs move too. Officials argue this provides a more stable funding mechanism for USCIS operations without ad hoc emergency fee rules. Applicants, however, must now treat regular fee growth as part of routine planning.

Takeaway: “Slightly higher” fees in 2026 may become the new normal each year unless Congress or courts intervene. Check the updated fee chart, confirm which fees apply to your case, and budget accordingly.

Final practical checklist

• Verify the current fee on the official USCIS page: uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees
• If possible, file before 12/31/2025 to potentially use 2025 rates (confirm postmark/receipt rules).
• Budget for the $250 Visa Integrity Fee for applicable consular interviews beginning in fiscal year 2026.
• Be aware of the new $10 charge for fee‑waiver requests on Form I‑912.
• Consult an immigration attorney or accredited representative for case‑specific timing and strategy.

As January 1 approaches, the consistent advice from lawyers, universities, and community groups is simple: check the new numbers, pay attention to which fees apply to your situation, and plan for ongoing, modest annual fee increases that can add up over time.