USCIS Sets $1,000 Parole Fee Starting October 16, 2025

(UNITED STATES) The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin charging a new $1,000 parole fee to most noncitizens who receive parole or re-parole starting October 16, 2025. This nationwide policy change, required by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill and codified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), represents one of the largest new costs for people who rely on humanitarian or public benefit parole to enter or remain in the United States.

The fee will be collected only after a case is conditionally approved, and parole will not be issued until the payment is made in full by the deadline in the notice. USCIS confirmed the fee is separate from normal filing costs and will be indexed each year for inflation. It applies to parole under INA section 212(d)(5)(A), including initial parole, re-parole, parole in place, and parole from custody—unless an applicant qualifies for a narrow exception allowed by law.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the change is likely to reshape both how applicants plan humanitarian travel and how practitioners prepare evidence for exception requests, especially in time-sensitive health or family emergencies.

What parole means and what the policy changes

Parole in U.S. immigration law is a discretionary tool that allows someone who does not have a visa—or who lacks a path to quick visa issuance—to enter or remain in the country for a limited period.

• DHS grants parole for urgent humanitarian need or a clear public benefit.
• Parole is not formal admission and does not count as a visa.
• It is a case-by-case measure often used in medical crises, family emergencies, or certain law enforcement matters.

The new parole fee does not change the legal test for who qualifies. It changes the cost structure and timing:

• Applicants continue to file the same evidence and forms in most situations.
• If an officer conditionally approves parole, USCIS (or another DHS agency such as CBP or ICE) will issue a conditional approval with payment instructions.
• Parole will be effected only after the fee is paid in full by the deadline; otherwise, DHS will not finalize the grant.

Critically, the fee is not paid with the initial application (for example, with Form I-131). It is charged later at the decision stage. Failure to pay by the deadline prevents finalization of the parole grant, which can cause urgent travel or medical transfers to be delayed.

DHS says the fee aims to offset administrative costs and deter misuse of discretionary authority. The fee will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning in the fiscal year following October 16, 2025, so applicants and sponsors should budget for possible increases.

How payment works and who pays

USCIS instructs applicants to continue using established forms and channels while the change takes effect. For most humanitarian parole applicants, the central filing remains USCIS Humanitarian Parole.

• The $1,000 charge applies to most grants of parole or re-parole under INA 212(d)(5)(A), including parole in place and parole from custody.
• The fee is in addition to normal filing fees.
• Payment is due only after a conditional approval, per the agency notice.
• If the fee is not paid on time, DHS will not issue parole.

USCIS maintains guidance on humanitarian parole and travel documents at: USCIS Humanitarian Parole.

Filing and timing—key points

1. File required forms (often Form I-131, Application for Travel Document) and supporting evidence as before.
2. Wait for DHS to decide whether parole is warranted.
3. If conditionally approved, receive a payment notice with instructions and a strict deadline.
4. Pay the $1,000 fee on time.
5. Complete any final steps; DHS will then effect parole.

Keep copies of all notices, payment confirmations, and receipts. If a portal, vendor, money order, or cashier’s check is used, retain proof and tracking information in case verification is needed.

Exceptions and required evidence

The law restricts broad waivers but allows ten specific exceptions, which DHS can waive at its discretion with strong proof. The ten categories are:

1. Medical emergencies when comparable care is unavailable in the home country, or when waiting for a visa is not possible.
2. Parents or guardians traveling with a minor needing urgent medical care in the U.S.
3. Organ or tissue donation cases.
4. Travel to be with a dying close family member.
5. Funeral attendance under urgent conditions.
6. Adoption-related medical emergencies.
7. Certain applicants for adjustment of status returning from short travel.
8. Parole to attend immigration court or related hearings under defined protocols.
9. Certain Cuban or Haitian entrants.
10. Law enforcement or public benefit cooperation cases.

USCIS has signaled that evidence will be required to show an exception applies. Examples of documentation include:

• Hospital letters, medical records, or a treating doctor’s statement (for medical emergencies).
• Proof of family relationship (for parents/guardians of a child).
• Transplant team documentation confirming donor compatibility and date constraints (for organ donation).
• Death certificates, funeral notices, or hospital/hospice letters (for funerals or visits to dying relatives).
• Letters from prosecutors, investigators, or agencies (for law enforcement cooperation).

Officers will review documents for clarity, dates, and direct relevance. Vague or outdated letters weaken exception claims. Documents not in English should include certified translations.

Important: General fee waivers are not available. Only the ten statutory exceptions may apply, and each exception is discretionary—approval is never guaranteed.

Where needed, use official USCIS forms and latest instructions. For travel-document-related filings, use: Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. Submitting outdated or unofficial versions can cause delays or rejections.

Practical impacts — applicants, families, students, employers, and service providers

The fee most directly affects people who need fast parole for serious medical treatment, family crises, or urgent humanitarian reasons. Key consequences:

• Families must plan for a $1,000 bill at a moment when time and funds are tight.
• Hospital transfers, international travel, and caregiver coordination may be delayed if payment cannot be made quickly.
• Advocacy groups warn the fee may force families to postpone lifesaving visits or borrow funds hurriedly.

Example scenario:
– A parent abroad whose child in the U.S. needs a marrow transplant could face missed timelines if the family cannot pay the parole fee immediately after conditional approval. The exception list may help, but solid evidence and fast action are necessary.

Students and workers on standard visas (F-1, J-1, H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.) generally will not encounter the parole fee unless they request parole in an emergency or public-interest case. Nonetheless, employers and universities should be aware and prepared.

For detained individuals granted parole from custody, payment logistics can be time-sensitive and require coordination between the individual, counsel, and external supporters. Lawyers recommend planning for rapid communication and backup payment methods.

Employers with global workforces should:

• Create emergency protocols for humanitarian parole situations.
• Prepare to act quickly if a conditional approval requires payment.
• Document transactions for compliance and reimbursement.

Nonprofits, hospitals, and legal clinics should prepare:

• Standard checklists for exception categories.
• Pre-drafted verification letters and contact lists for on-call translators.
• Emergency funds or sponsors ready to pay immediately upon receipt of a conditional approval notice.

Documentation recommendations and best practices

• Include clear, dated, and relevant support letters and records that directly connect the request to an exception.
• For medical cases: hospital/specialist letters describing the condition, urgency, treatment plan, and why equivalent care is unavailable at home.
• For organ donation: transplant team documentation confirming compatibility and date constraints.
• For funerals/visits: hospital/hospice letters, death certificates, funeral notices, and proof of relationship.
• For law enforcement cooperation: official letters from prosecutors, investigators, or agencies.

Always include certified translations for non-English documents. Keep digital and physical copies of payment receipts and confirmation numbers.

Procedural notes and watch points

• The fee attaches when DHS actually grants parole, not when an application is filed—think of the process in two steps: decision, then payment.
• The first step (decision) may take time; the second step (payment and issuance) can be fast—payment readiness is now essential.
• USCIS, CBP, and ICE will provide payment instructions; watch for updates on methods, portals, and deadlines.
• The initial fee is $1,000 as of October 16, 2025, but it will be indexed for inflation in subsequent fiscal years—budget accordingly.

Applicants who miss the payment deadline may need to request reconsideration or refile, depending on case type and agency guidance.

What to watch as October 16, 2025 approaches

• Detailed payment instructions from USCIS, CBP, and ICE, including accepted payment methods and portals.
• Clarifications on how exceptions are reviewed and what evidence is considered strong.
• Updates on inflation adjustments for the fee in the next fiscal year.
• Approval, denial, and exception-grant trends that show the policy’s real-world effect.

In the months after launch, data on approvals, denials, and exception grants will indicate how strictly DHS applies the exceptions and whether implementation varies across offices. Litigation or advocacy efforts may also emerge contesting aspects of the fee or its application.

Final practical guidance

• Review official USCIS guidance: USCIS Humanitarian Parole.
• Prepare Form I-131 if appropriate: Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
• Gather clear, dated, and directly relevant evidence for any exception claim well before filing.
• Plan for immediate payment if you receive a conditional approval—have backup payment options and a sponsor ready.
• Nonprofits, hospitals, employers, and legal clinics should develop payment and documentation protocols to act quickly on conditional approvals.

The message is clear: if parole is conditionally approved, be ready to pay the $1,000 parole fee quickly or be prepared to prove your eligibility for one of the ten statutory exceptions with solid, timely evidence.