The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new set of immigration fees, including first-time charges for asylum seekers and increased costs for employment authorization applications. The changes, mandated under the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, will take effect on July 22, 2025.
In a Federal Register notice issued on July 18, USCIS stated that all immigration forms postmarked on or after July 22 must include the updated fees. Applications that do not comply with the new fee structure will be rejected starting August 21.
Key Changes Include:
- $100 fee for Form I-589, used for asylum applications and withholding of removal.
- $100 Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) for pending asylum applicants, charged each calendar year until a decision is made.
- Form I-765 (Employment Authorization Document):
- Initial application: $550
- Renewal or extension: $275
- After re-parole approval via Form I-131: $275
- Form I-360 (Special Immigrant Juvenile category): $250
- Form I-821 (Temporary Protected Status): Increased from $50 to $500
USCIS clarified that these new fees are separate from existing USCIS application fees and are not eligible for fee waivers, regardless of the applicant’s financial situation.
For asylum seekers who applied on or after October 1, 2024, the $100 AAF will be due annually starting from the one-year anniversary of their application date.
The rule also limits the validity of certain work permits:
- EADs for parolees: Valid for up to one year or the duration of parole, whichever is shorter.
- TPS beneficiaries: Work permits valid for up to one year or until TPS designation ends.
USCIS said additional fee updates—for forms such as Form I-131 (Travel Document) and Form I-102 (Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document)—will be announced soon.