US raises immigration fees for select categories starting July 22

Starting July 22, 2025, the US immigration agency will start charging new, mandatory fees for certain immigration forms. Anyone who sends forms after August 21, 2025, without paying the correct amount, will have their application rejected, according to a new official notice from US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS).

These changes come under a new law called H.R. 1, passed by the US government to help pay for the costs of handling immigration requests. The fees will apply in addition to the existing charges, and cannot be waived or reduced, even if applicants are low-income.

Immigrants applying for asylum, work permits, and protection under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will now have to pay extra fees every year or at different stages of their application. These new charges are non-negotiable and are separate from regular USCIS fees.

What’s Changing: A Simple Breakdown

Asylum Application Fee – ₹8,300 (approx $100):
For the first time, those applying for asylum through Form I-589 must pay a fee of $100.

• Why it matters: This form was previously free. Now, applicants must also pay a $100 annual fee each year while their case is still pending.
  
• How it works: USCIS will personally notify each applicant when their yearly fee is due.
  
  

Work Permit (EAD) Fees – Up to ₹45,800 (approx $550):
People applying for a work permit related to asylum, parole, or TPS using Form I-765 must now pay:

• $550 for first-time applicants
  
• $275 for renewals
  
• If applying after getting extended parole (Form I-131): Only $275 applies
  
• Translation: A work permit, officially known as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), allows immigrants to legally work in the US while their case is pending.
  
  

TPS Registration – Now ₹41,700 (approx $500):
The registration cost for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) using Form I-821 has gone up from $50 to $500.

• TPS is a program that allows people from certain countries affected by war or disaster to live and work in the US for a temporary period.
  
  

Special Immigrant Juvenile Fee – ₹20,800 (approx $250):
Children who are abused, abandoned, or neglected and applying for a special visa under Form I-360 must now pay $250.

• These minors fall under a category called Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) and are seeking protection under US law.
  
  

What Happens If You Don’t Pay on Time?
If your asylum case has been pending for over a year (filed after October 1, 2024), USCIS will send you a personal letter asking for the Annual Asylum Fee (AAF). You will need to pay this every year on the anniversary of your original application, as long as your case remains pending.

Validity of Work Permits is Also Changing:

• Parolees (temporary permission to stay in the US):
  Can only get work permits valid for one year or until their parole ends, whichever is shorter.
  
  
• TPS Applicants:
  Work permits are valid for up to one year or until TPS ends, whichever comes first.
  

Important: These New Fees Do Not Replace the Old Ones
You still have to pay the existing USCIS fees listed under 8 CFR Part 106. These new fees from H.R. 1 are additional and must be paid separately.

If you qualify for a fee waiver on existing charges, you can still submit Form I-912, but you cannot waive the new H.R. 1 fees—everyone has to pay them.

More Fees to Come
Not all fee changes under H.R. 1 have been announced yet. USCIS will share more updates later about increased charges for:

• Form I-131: Used to request permission to travel while your immigration case is in process.
  
• Form I-102: Used to replace lost or incorrect travel records (I-94 document).