Posted in: 11/06/2026

USCIS Filing Fees and Filing Deadline Changes: Q4 2026

The cost of filing an immigration application in the United States went up again this fall, and the changes are already in effect. On October 16, 2026, USCIS raised USCIS filing fees for asylum, Temporary Protected Status, work permits, and immigration parole, and anyone who submitted a filing postmarked on or after that date with the old amount had their application rejected. A week later, a new deadline rule eliminated weekend and holiday grace periods for age-based filings, while a separate policy from August now allows officers to deny incomplete applications outright, without warning.

Whether you are renewing a work permit, applying for TPS, or managing a pending asylum case, understanding what you now owe and how these procedural shifts affect your filings is the first step toward keeping your case on track. If you have questions about how these changes affect your situation, an immigration lawyer at Brooks Law Firm can help. Call (617) 245-8090 for a free consultation.

The October 16 fee increase is the second annual inflation adjustment under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), signed into law in July 2025. That law created several new immigration fees and requires the Department of Homeland Security to adjust them every fiscal year based on inflation. The first round took effect on January 1, 2026, and this second round covers fiscal year 2027.

USCIS Filing Fees 2026: What Changed on October 16

Four H.R. 1 statutory fees rose on October 16, 2026. USCIS published the notice in the Federal Register on October 1 (91 FR 62540), and the new amounts apply to any filing postmarked on or after October 16. Here is what changed:

Annual asylum fee (for pending asylum applications): $102 → $105
Form I-765, initial EAD (H.R. 1 statutory fee for asylum applicants, parolees, and TPS holders): $560 → $570
Form I-821, Temporary Protected Status (H.R. 1 statutory fee for initial TPS registration): $510 → $520
Form I-131, immigration parole fee: $1,020 → $1,050

The increases range from $3 to $30 depending on the form. USCIS has stated clearly that any filing postmarked on or after October 16, 2026 that does not include the correct fee will be rejected and returned.

Important: These H.R. 1 statutory fees are charged in addition to the standard USCIS regulatory filing fees listed below, not instead of them. For example, a TPS holder filing an initial work permit pays the regular I-765 fee plus the $570 H.R. 1 EAD fee. An initial TPS applicant also pays a $30 biometric services fee on top of the $520 I-821 fee. The two fee layers, the standard regulatory fee and the H.R. 1 statutory fee, must both be included, and USCIS has instructed that they be submitted separately.

New USCIS Fee Schedule: Common Forms and Current Amounts

Not every immigration form was affected by the October increase. The H.R. 1 adjustment touched only those four statutory fees listed above. The broader USCIS fee schedule, set by Form G-1055 (edition 10/07/26), governs the standard regulatory filing fees. Here are the current amounts for the most commonly filed forms:

Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative): $675 paper / $625 online
Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status): $1,440 (includes biometrics; $950 for children under 14 filing with a parent)
Form N-400 (Naturalization / Citizenship): $760 paper / 710online(380 reduced fee available for qualifying households)
Form I-765 (Employment Authorization, general): $520 paper / 470online(260 when filed concurrently with a pending I-485)
Form I-751 (Remove Conditions on Residence): $750 paper / $700 online
Form I-90 (Renew/Replace Green Card): $465 paper / $415 online
Form I-131 (Travel Document / Advance Parole, general): $630
Form I-589 (Asylum Application): $100

Online filing saves $50 on most eligible forms, including the I-130, N-400, I-90, and I-765. The I-485 does not currently offer an online filing option for most applicants.

These amounts are government fees and are separate from any attorney fees. Always confirm the exact amount on the official USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) before submitting any application, because submitting the wrong fee will result in a rejection.

A typical concurrent marriage-based filing inside the United States (I-130 + I-485 + I-765 + I-131) runs approximately $3,005 in government fees alone. An experienced immigration attorney can walk you through all of the costs and filing requirements before you submit anything.

Immigration Application Cost 2026: Why Fees Keep Rising

Immigration application costs have risen significantly over the past two years. The April 2024 USCIS fee rule restructured many fees and folded biometrics costs into base filing fees for most forms. Then H.R. 1 created entirely new fee categories in 2025, including the $100 asylum filing fee, the annual asylum fee, the $24 I-94 immigration fee, and statutory surcharges for certain employment authorization documents. Because these H.R. 1 fees are layered on top of the standard USCIS regulatory fees, the total cost of many immigration filings is now materially higher than it was even two years ago.

The law also built in a mechanism for annual inflation adjustments, which is why fees went up on January 1, 2026 and again on October 16, 2026. This pattern will continue: USCIS is now required to recalculate these H.R. 1 fees each fiscal year, meaning applicants should expect incremental increases every fall for the foreseeable future.

For families already stretching to cover the cost of immigration filings, even a $10 or $30 increase matters. Knowing whether you qualify for a fee waiver, fee exemption, or reduced fee can make a real difference.

Fee relief worth knowing about:

The N-400 offers a reduced fee of $380 for applicants whose household income falls at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This is simpler than a full fee waiver and does not require a separate form.
Fee waivers (Form I-912) may be available for certain applications, including the I-485 and I-765, depending on your income and circumstances. However, a fee waiver covers only the standard USCIS regulatory fee.
The H.R. 1 statutory fees (including the asylum EAD fee, the TPS fee, and the annual asylum fee) cannot be waived or reduced. This has been a significant concern for asylum seekers and advocacy organizations.

USCIS Fee Increase October 2026: Who Is Affected

The October 16 fee increase targets a specific group of applicants. If you fall into any of the categories below, you are directly affected:

Asylum applicants with pending cases who owe the annual asylum fee (now $105 per year)
First-time work permit applicants in the asylum, parole, or TPS categories filing Form I-765 (now $570 as the H.R. 1 fee, in addition to the standard I-765 fee)
TPS applicants filing Form I-821 for initial registration (now $520 as the H.R. 1 fee, plus a $30 biometric services fee)
Individuals granted immigration parole (now $1,050; note that the parole fee is triggered by the grant of parole, not by the filing of the application, and it applies regardless of when the underlying application was submitted)

If you are filing a standard I-130, I-485, N-400, or general I-765, your fees have not changed as part of this notice. Those forms were last adjusted in the April 2024 fee rule and the January 2026 inflation round.

One additional change to be aware of: EB-5 investor visa fees will change on November 30, 2026, under a separate final rule (91 FR 61940). If you are involved in an EB-5 filing, confirm the applicable fee before that date.

Asylum Fee 2026: The Annual Asylum Fee and the Court Order

The annual asylum fee deserves special attention because its enforcement is currently in litigation. Here is what you need to know.

H.R. 1 created a requirement that every asylum applicant with a pending Form I-589 pay a fee for each calendar year the application remains pending. That fee was originally set at $100 in 2025, rose to $102 on January 1, 2026, and is now 105forfiscalyear2027.TheinitialI-589asylumapplicationfeeitself(100) did not change, because the inflation-adjusted amount ($103.36) rounds back down to $100.

On July 21, 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts issued an order in Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts v. USCIS that temporarily blocked several enforcement provisions tied to this fee. Under that order:

USCIS may not reject asylum applications solely because the applicant failed to pay the annual asylum fee
USCIS may not terminate work authorization solely for nonpayment
USCIS may not initiate removal proceedings based solely on failure to pay

However, the court’s order does not stop USCIS from collecting the fee itself. If you have received a payment notice, you may still be expected to pay according to USCIS’s instructions. The distinction is between the collection of the fee and the consequences for nonpayment, and the consequences are temporarily on hold while the case continues.

This is a situation where speaking with an attorney is especially important. The rules around the annual asylum fee have shifted multiple times since late 2025, including an earlier stay in ASAP v. USCIS (October 2025) and subsequent policy memoranda from EOIR. Your obligations may depend on when you received a notice, whether your case is with USCIS or in immigration court, and the current status of the litigation.

TPS Fee 2026: What TPS Holders Should Know

Temporary Protected Status holders face two fee increases as of October 16, 2026. The H.R. 1 statutory fee for Form I-821 (initial TPS registration) rose from $510 to $520, and the H.R. 1 fee for an initial EAD went from $560 to $570. These amounts are charged on top of the standard USCIS regulatory fees and are not waivable.

In practice, a TPS holder filing an initial registration and an initial work permit now faces a substantial total. The I-821 alone costs $520 (H.R. 1 fee) plus a $30 biometric services fee, and the initial I-765 costs 570(H.R.1fee)plusthestandardI-765regulatoryfee(520 paper / $470 online). That adds up quickly, and the exact total depends on your filing method and category. Confirm your fees on Form G-1055 before filing.

The renewal or extension of TPS-based employment authorization carries a separate H.R. 1 fee of $280, which did not change in this round.

TPS holders should also be aware that the July 2026 court order in Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts v. USCIS touched on TPS-related work authorization policies as well. Parts of the government’s policies on TPS-based EAD expiration were temporarily stayed, though some of that relief was later partially lifted. Because the litigation is ongoing, the exact scope of what is and is not stayed may change. If your TPS-based work permit is approaching its expiration date, consult with an attorney about your options.

TPS designations, re-registration deadlines, and EAD extension policies vary by country of designation and change frequently. USCIS maintains a TPS designation page with the most current information.

Filing Deadline and Evidence Changes: Don’t Wait Until the Last Day

Beyond the fee increases, two major procedural changes now in effect make the way you prepare and submit your filings more important than ever.

Age-Based Deadlines No Longer Get a Weekend Extension

On October 23, 2026, USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-15 took effect, reversing a 2023 policy that had extended the “next business day” grace period to age-based filing deadlines. Under the new rule, if a paper filing deadline is tied to an applicant’s age (such as a child turning 21), and that birthday falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the deadline does not automatically move to the next business day.

This matters for families with children approaching age 21, including those with pending Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJS) petitions, derivative beneficiaries on family-based petitions, or anyone whose eligibility depends on being under a certain age. A young person whose 21st birthday falls on a Saturday can no longer count on a Monday delivery; practically speaking, the paper filing must reach USCIS by Friday.

The “next business day” rule still applies to paper-filing deadlines stated as a specific number of days (for example, a 30-day window to respond to a notice). But for deadlines set by age or by the expiration of an authorized stay, the grace period is gone.

The new rule applies to paper filings USCIS receives on or after October 23, 2026. Online filings follow separate rules. And because USCIS counts the date it receives the filing, not the date you mail it, delivery planning is now part of deadline compliance.

USCIS Can Now Deny Applications Without Issuing an RFE

Since August 5, 2026, under Policy Alert PA-2026-05, USCIS officers have restored discretion to deny an application or petition outright, without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), when required initial evidence is missing or the filing otherwise fails to establish eligibility. The policy applies to filings pending or submitted on or after August 5, 2026.

Previously, USCIS guidance generally encouraged officers to issue an RFE before denying a case for incomplete evidence. That safety net is no longer guaranteed. An incomplete filing can now result in a straight denial, with no second chance to supplement the record. Officers also have discretion to set shorter response deadlines when they do issue an RFE (the maximum remains 12 weeks) or a NOID (maximum 30 days).

The practical takeaway is straightforward: every filing you submit should be treated as though USCIS will make its decision based on what is in the initial package alone. Missing documents, unsigned forms, or incomplete evidence packets carry significantly more risk than they did a year ago.

Other Q4 2026 Changes Worth Tracking

EOIR court fees (October 1, 2026): Immigration court fees also went up at the start of fiscal year 2027. An appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) now costs $1,060.
Mandatory electronic filing (August 11, 2026): An interim final rule (91 FR 51924) now allows USCIS to require electronic filing for certain benefit requests. USCIS has a waiver process for individuals who cannot file online, but this is a shift that may affect how you prepare your applications going forward.
EB-5 fee changes (November 30, 2026): A final rule published on September 30, 2026 (91 FR 61940) adjusts EB-5-related fees starting November 30.

What to Do Now

If you have an immigration application to file in the coming weeks or months, the most important thing you can do is confirm the correct fee and submit a complete filing the first time. USCIS rejects filings with incorrect fees, and under the new evidence policy, an incomplete application can now be denied without warning.

Check Form G-1055 on USCIS.gov for the current fee that applies to your specific form, filing category, and method. Remember that H.R. 1 statutory fees are paid in addition to the standard regulatory fee and must be submitted separately.
File online when possible to save $50 on eligible forms and reduce the risk of a paper-filing error.
Submit a complete package. Include every required document, supporting statement, and form with your initial filing. Do not rely on USCIS sending you an RFE to fix gaps.
Watch age-based deadlines closely. If eligibility depends on a birthday or status expiration, plan for the filing to arrive well before the cutoff, especially for paper submissions.
If you have a pending asylum case, understand your obligations around the annual asylum fee and track the ongoing litigation. Do not ignore a fee notice, but do not assume the consequences for nonpayment are currently being enforced either. An attorney can clarify your specific situation.
If you hold TPS, keep track of your country’s re-registration deadlines and confirm the new fee amounts, including both the regulatory and H.R. 1 fees, before filing.

Immigration fees and filing rules are one part of a bigger picture. Whether you are applying for a green card, seeking asylum, renewing your work permit, or pursuing citizenship, the cost of getting it right the first time is almost always lower than the cost of a rejection, a missed deadline, or a filing error. Reach out to Brooks Law Firm today at (617) 245-8090 to schedule a free consultation, and we will give you an honest look at where your case stands and what it will take to move it forward.