- USCIS applies the new fee from October 16 to covered requests postmarked on that date or later.
- Applicants must check the request category and Form G-1055 because fees vary by request, even for the same form number.
- A complete, correct filing also requires the right payment method, form edition, filing address, and postmark evidence.
USCIS will require the new FY 2027 H.R. 1 fee for covered requests postmarked on October 16, 2026, or later. A package with an old or incomplete payment may be rejected at intake instead of accepted for correction.
The rule turns on the postmark, not when someone completed or signed the forms. Applicants need to match the fee to the request and confirm the package’s actual mailing date.
It does not apply to every USCIS form. The charge depends on the benefit, category and any separate H.R. 1 fee that applies.
Free toolI-94 Expiration Calculator OnlineA correct payment is only one part of a complete filing. Form editions, filing locations and payment instructions still need to match current requirements.
A package’s postmark determines which amount applies
October 15, 2026, is the last practical day for a covered request to use the prior amount, provided the package receives that day’s postmark. A package postmarked after that date needs the updated fee.
Preparing the forms earlier does not preserve the old rate. Nor does handing a parcel to a courier by itself establish the postmark that controls the fee.
Check what date the carrier actually marks on the package. Keep the postmark evidence, along with the mailing receipt and tracking information.
When the deadline is close, leave time to confirm the carrier’s postmark. Sending a package in a rush does not guarantee it will qualify for the earlier amount.
The fee applies to specified requests, not every USCIS form
The listed charges cover particular requests and categories. Some requests for Temporary Protected Status, including Form I-821, may be affected. The same is true for certain initial employment authorization requests filed on Form I-765.
| Request type | Examples identified in the fee guidance |
|---|---|
| Temporary protected status | Certain Form I-821 requests |
| Initial employment authorization | Certain Form I-765 categories |
| Parole-related requests | Covered Form I-131 matters and charges |
| Other listed charges | Annual asylum payments and other requests identified in the fee schedule |
The form number alone does not settle the amount. Form I-765 can receive different fee treatment depending on the eligibility category, so applicants should check the category as well as the form.
The current Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, is the reference to consult for the amount. The charge may include the regular filing fee plus a separate H.R. 1 payment. Check the schedule immediately before mailing rather than relying on an old chart, saved PDF or prior receipt.
Check the form category, payment and mailing details before sending
- Identify the request and category. Confirm the benefit and filing category for each form. The form number alone may not determine whether an additional charge applies.
- Review the current fee schedule. Use Form G-1055 and check it close to mailing. Confirm the amount for the particular request.
- Calculate the full payment. Include the ordinary USCIS filing fee and any separate H.R. 1 charge that applies.
- Match the payment to the postmark. A package postmarked on or after the effective date requires the new amount, even if the forms were prepared earlier.
- Follow payment instructions. If USCIS calls for separate checks, money orders or a particular payment method, do not combine or substitute payments without confirming the current directions.
- Check the form edition and filing address. The right amount will not correct an obsolete form edition or a package sent to the wrong location.
- Keep filing and mailing records. Retain a complete copy, payment records, mailing receipt, tracking information and evidence of the postmark.
A complete payment does not resolve every possible filing problem. Applicants still need to confirm that the form edition and destination are correct before sending the package.
A rushed filing may trade a small saving for a rejection
Reported increases for affected items are generally $3 to $30. Those amounts are reported estimates for the affected items, not a single increase across all USCIS forms.
A rejection can force an applicant to prepare and submit the filing again, creating delay. A package missing a separate charge, using an incorrect payment method or relying on an outdated form can face problems even if it reaches the carrier before the deadline.
Do not send an incomplete application just to try to retain the prior amount. If the package is not ready by October 15, use the new fee and send a complete filing.
Parole and fee-waiver rules have separate limits
For a pending parole request, the applicable charge may turn on the date parole is granted rather than the date the request was filed. One reported example is a $1,050 charge for parole granted on or after the effective date.
An ordinary USCIS fee waiver or reduction for the underlying filing may not remove a separate statutory H.R. 1 charge. Check whether an exemption applies to the specific benefit rather than assuming a waiver covers both amounts.
Before mailing, verify the request category, full payment, form edition, filing address and carrier postmark. Fees are subject to change; check the current Form G-1055 and verify at uscis.gov.
