USCIS FY 2027 Fee Increases: What Changes October 16, 2026

The USCIS FY 2027 fee increases take effect on October 16, 2026, affecting annual asylum payments, immigration parole, initial work permits in specified categories, and Temporary Protected Status registration.

USCIS announced the changes on September 30, 2026. Applicants submitting affected benefit requests postmarked on or after October 16 must include the updated filing fees. USCIS states that it will reject requests submitted with an incorrect fee.

Why Are These Immigration Fees Increasing?

The Federal Register notice, “Fiscal Year 2027 Inflation Adjustment to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees,” implements annual adjustments required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21.

USCIS calculated approximately 3.36% inflation between July 2025 and July 2026. Most covered fees are rounded down to the next $10 increment; the annual asylum fee is rounded down to the nearest dollar. These rounding rules explain why some amounts increase while others remain unchanged.

USCIS Fee Changes for Fiscal Year 2027

The table identifies the H.R. 1 fees covered by the notice. Depending on the application category, additional USCIS charges may apply.

Fee or benefit category	Previous amount	FY 2027 amount
Annual asylum fee	$102	$105
Immigration parole fee	$1,020	$1,050
Initial employment authorization for asylum applicants, parolees, or TPS beneficiaries	$560	$570
TPS registration, Form I-821	$510	$520
Initial asylum application, Form I-589	$100	$100
Asylum-based employment authorization renewal or extension	$275	$275
Parole- or TPS-based employment authorization renewal or extension; re-parole EAD	$280	$280
Special Immigrant Juvenile petition, Form I-360	$250	$250
H.R. 1 Form I-94 immigration fee	$24	$24

The $275 asylum-based employment authorization renewal fee remains unchanged because its statutory provision does not authorize an annual inflation adjustment.

This notice does not establish a general increase for every USCIS form. Do not apply these changes automatically to family petitions, adjustment of status, naturalization, or work permits outside the specified categories.

For filings in immigration court, see our separate article on immigration court filing fee changes effective October 1, 2026.

The Listed Amount May Not Be Your Total Filing Fee

H.R. 1 charges generally operate in addition to other applicable USCIS fees. The amount payable therefore depends on the benefit requested, filing category, and any applicable exemption.

For example, an employment authorization renewal may require both the H.R. 1 charge and a separate USCIS filing fee. USCIS collects the listed I-94 charge with covered Form I-102 requests.

Before submitting an application, check the complete USCIS Fee Schedule, rather than treating this inflation-adjustment table as a complete price list.

Annual Asylum Fee: Payment Notices and the Current Court Order

The annual asylum fee is separate from the initial fee for filing Form I-589. USCIS describes the annual payment requirement as applying to covered asylum applications that remain pending for 365 days, with recurring payments while the application continues to qualify. For the first annual payment, USCIS issues an individual notice explaining the amount and payment instructions.

A court order affects the consequences of nonpayment. USCIS’s payment page reports that an August 5, 2026 injunction in Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts v. USCIS, No. 26-cv-13038-NMG, blocks implementation of the April 2026 rule’s consequences for failing to pay the annual asylum fee.

USCIS states that applicants who missed their payment deadline may pay while the case awaits a final decision, and that its payment portal has reopened for outstanding payments. Applicants should therefore consult the current USCIS annual asylum fee instructions, rather than rely on older descriptions of automatic rejection or employment authorization consequences.

The Immigration Parole Fee Is Separate From Form I-131

Do not confuse the immigration parole fee with the filing fee for Form I-131. DHS’s implementing notice explains that the obligation attaches to the grant of parole, not merely to submitting an application or receiving a travel document.

Statutory exceptions also apply. One covers qualifying adjustment-of-status applicants returning to the United States after temporary travel abroad. Consequently, an advance parole document does not automatically mean that its holder owes the immigration parole fee. Eligibility for an exception requires an individual review.

For parole-in-place and re-parole requests handled by USCIS, the agency explains that it sends payment instructions when it determines the request can be approved and the fee is required. Applicants should follow that notice instead of automatically adding the parole fee to their initial Form I-131 payment.

Can These Fees Be Waived?

USCIS’s April 2026 implementing rule states that H.R. 1 fees cannot be waived or reduced through its ordinary fee-waiver process. A waiver or exemption covering an underlying USCIS filing fee does not necessarily eliminate the separate statutory charge.

A statutory exception, such as an applicable immigration parole fee exception, is a different question from eligibility for a financial-hardship fee waiver. Applicants should identify which specific charge they are asking to avoid.

What Applicants Should Do Before Filing

For an affected filing near the October 16 transition:

• Confirm the exact category. Initial and renewal work permits have different fee requirements.
• Recalculate the complete payment. Include all required charges using the current fee schedule and form instructions.
• Check the postmark. Preparing or signing an application before October 16 does not establish the applicable fee if you mail it afterward.
• Keep filing and payment records. Retain a complete copy of the submission, mailing evidence, and payment confirmation.

USCIS’s rejection rule makes fee accuracy consequential even when the increase is small. A corrected payment and resubmission can create avoidable delay.

Get Help Reviewing Your Immigration Filing

The Law Offices of Osas Iyamu, LLC, based in Ocala, Florida, assists clients with U.S. federal immigration matters. If you need help identifying the correct filing category, reviewing required fees, or determining whether an exception applies, schedule a consultation with Attorney Osas Iyamu.

Call toll-free: 1-800-974-6480
Local office: 352-237-2403
Visit osasimmigration.com.

Information reviewed on October 1, 2026. This article provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship.