2026 USCIS Fees & Processing Times: What Immigrants Should Plan

USCIS will raise a targeted set of USCIS fees on January 1, 2026, under a series of inflation-linked adjustments that mainly affect parole, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and related work permit applications. The changes, required by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, mean that any application postmarked on or after that date must include the new, higher amount or risk being rejected for incorrect payment. While this is not a repeat of the broad 2024 fee overhaul, it still adds new costs for thousands of migrants, students, and humanitarian applicants who rely on work authorization and protection from removal.

How the inflation adjustments work

The inflation-adjusted fee hikes are tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) between July 2024 and July 2025, as laid out in H.R. 1. According to a notice in the Federal Register, the new schedule raises several HR‑1‑related charges by small but precise amounts, such as a $10 increase for certain work permits and a $20 increase for a major parole fee.

The official rule, published under Federal Register Docket No. USCIS‑2025‑0005, explains that these are automatic inflation updates, not new policy choices by the agency.

Key fee changes (effective January 1, 2026)

Below are the notable HR‑1‑linked changes that will most affect applicants:

• Form I‑765, Application for Employment Authorization
  • Initial parole-based I‑765: $550 → $560
  • Renewal/extension parole-based I‑765: $275 → $280
  • Initial TPS-related I‑765: $550 → $560
  • Renewal TPS I‑765: $275 → $280
• Form I‑821, Application for Temporary Protected Status
  • Filing fee: $500 → $510
• Form I‑131, Application for Travel Document (when requesting EAD with a fresh parole period under Part 9)
  • EAD add-on fee: $275 → $280
• HR‑1 parole fee (special Congress-created charge)
  • $1,000 → $1,020
  • This fee is in addition to normal filing fees and is not waivable.

Taken together, these changes mean a TPS applicant filing both I‑821 and I‑765 in 2026 will pay more than in 2025 even before biometrics, medical exams, or legal costs are added.

Fees that remain unchanged in 2026

Not every HR‑1-linked fee changes. USCIS kept the following amounts the same:

• Form I‑589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal — $100
• I‑765 renewal/extension for asylum applicants — $275
• Form I‑360 (Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions) — $250

USCIS notes that while the HR‑1 parole fee will be adjusted every year under the statute, other linked fees may not need annual updates depending on inflation and earlier rounding.

Important filing timing: the postmark rule

USCIS applies a strict “postmark rule.” The date on the mailing label controls which fee schedule applies:

1. Any benefit request postmarked before January 1, 2026 can use the 2024–2025 amounts.
2. Anything postmarked on or after January 1, 2026 must include the 2026 fee amount or face rejection for incorrect payment.

For applicants racing a deadline, this creates a clear incentive to file in December 2025 if they can gather documents, assemble forms, and secure required payment methods in time.

Key takeaway: treat January 1, 2026 as a bright line. File before that date if possible to avoid higher fees.

Processing backlogs and timing context

The fee changes land in a system already struggling with long processing times across many categories:

• Family-based
  • Form I‑130: roughly 12–18 months for immediate relatives; much longer for preference categories.
  • Form I‑485: often 18–36 months for adjustment of status.
• Employment-based
  • Form I‑140: roughly 6–12 months in regular processing; premium processing available for many cases.
  • Form I‑129 (H‑1B, L‑1, O‑1, etc.): typically 3–6 months, with premium processing option.
• Students & dependents
  • OPT/STEM OPT (I‑765 categories): about 3–5 months with no premium option.
  • Form I‑539 (status change/extension): typically 3–6 months or more.
• Humanitarian/parole & TPS
  • Initial TPS I‑821: 6–12 months
  • Parole-based I‑765: 3–6 months
  • Renewals required frequently can mean repeated costs and repeated waits.

Advocates warn that incremental fee increases act like a recurring tax, especially when applicants must renew frequently and cannot work until they receive an EAD.

Impact on overseas applicants, employers, and sponsors

• For Indians and other overseas applicants (including NRIs), the 2026 adjustments add to costs already raised by the 2024 general fee rule. That 2024 rule sharply increased charges on Form I‑485, I‑140, and I‑129, which set a high base cost for adjustment packages.
• A typical package (I‑485, I‑765 for work authorization, and I‑131 for advance parole) can run into several thousand dollars in government fees alone.
• Employers and sponsors face higher total costs for hiring or supporting foreign nationals—on top of legal fees, compliance checks, and internal processing.
  • Some employers may be more selective about filings or ask workers to cover certain costs where permitted.

Fee waivers, bundled benefits, and form-by-form pricing

The rule interacts with evolving policy on fee waivers and bundled filings:

• Some previously bundled benefits (e.g., work and travel documents filed with I‑485) have been pared back under the post‑H.R.1 framework and the 2024 fee rule.
• The 2026 inflation update does not rewrite those bundling rules, but it reinforces a trend toward form‑by‑form pricing where each benefit carries its own specific fee.
• Fee waivers remain available only for forms that explicitly allow them. For example, the HR‑1 parole fee is not waivable.

Practical resources and where to check fees

USCIS urges applicants to confirm the correct amount before paying:

• Use the USCIS online fee calculator: https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator
• Refer to Form G‑1055, Fee Schedule on the USCIS site for fees by application type.
• Fee waiver requests use Form I‑912 where applicable.

The official Federal Register notice, with technical details about CPI‑U application and calculations, is available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/21/2025-20622/inflation-adjustment-to-hr-1-immigration-fees

For everyday filing guidance, see the USCIS instructions and form pages (which are updated with current fee amounts and exemptions):
– Form I‑765: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
– Form I‑821: https://www.uscis.gov/i-821
– Form I‑131: https://www.uscis.gov/i-131
– Form I‑589: https://www.uscis.gov/i-589
– Form I‑360: https://www.uscis.gov/i-360
– Form I‑130: https://www.uscis.gov/i-130
– Form I‑485: https://www.uscis.gov/i-485
– Form I‑140: https://www.uscis.gov/i-140
– Form I‑129: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
– Form I‑539: https://www.uscis.gov/i-539

Outlook and final advice

Policy watchers note this may not be the last adjustment. The H.R. 1 structure allows recurring inflation updates, and future congressional or administrative action could change fees further if backlogs or funding gaps continue.

For applicants, lawyers, and sponsors:
– Decide quickly whether you can file before January 1, 2026 to avoid higher fees.
– If you cannot, budget for the 2026 numbers and allow extra time for slow processing.
– Confirm fees using USCIS’s resources before payment to avoid rejection for incorrect payment.

Simple guidance from advocates and lawyers: treat January 1, 2026 as a bright line. File by year’s end if you can; otherwise, plan for higher costs and slower timelines.