Full Breakdown
USCIS Implements FY 2027 Inflation Adjustments to Humanitarian Immigration Fees
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, beginning October 16 2026, several immigration-related fees will increase to reflect inflation measured between July 2025 and July 2026. The adjustments affect the annual asylum fee, the immigration parole fee (Form I-131), the initial work-permit fee for asylum applicants, parolees and TPS recipients, and the TPS application fee (Form I-821). USCIS requires that any request postmarked on or after the effective date include the new charge; filings with the old amount will be rejected.
Background & Context
The fees stem from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), signed into law on July 4 2025. H.R. 1 created a suite of fees for humanitarian programs—asylum, parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS)—and mandates annual inflation adjustments using the Consumer Price Index for All-Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The CPI-U rose about 3.36 percent from July 2025 to July 2026, prompting the modest fee changes. Prior adjustments were first applied for FY 2026 on January 1 2026.
Data & Statistics
- Annual asylum fee: $102 -> $105 (? 2 percent).
- Immigration parole fee (Form I-131): $1,020 -> $1,050 (? 2.9 percent).
- Initial work-permit fee for asylum, parole, TPS: $560 -> $570 (? 1.8 percent).
- TPS application fee (Form I-821): $510 -> $520 (? 2 percent).
- Rounding rule: most fees are rounded down to the next lower $10; the asylum fee is rounded to the nearest dollar.
Impact
The fee increases are modest in absolute terms but can affect applicants relying on humanitarian protections. For an asylum seeker who must pay both the asylum fee and the initial work-permit fee, the total rises from $662 to $675. USCIS warns that a filing with an outdated fee will be returned, causing loss of the filing date and potentially creating gaps in work authorization for TPS or parole-based employment authorization documents. Employers and HR teams are advised to update internal fee tables now to avoid disruptions.
Official Statements & Responses
USCIS framed the adjustments as a necessary response to inflation and a means to cover the higher costs of reviewing applications. The agency also confirmed, in September guidance, that TPS designations for Sudan and Ukraine will terminate on October 19 2026, while El Salvador remains protected pending a Department of Homeland Security announcement. Immigration advocates have expressed concern that the higher fees add financial barriers for individuals seeking humanitarian relief, arguing that the changes could deter eligible applicants.
