As of October 4, 2026, Vega & Associates is tracking a confirmed USCIS fee increase tied to the H.R. 1 reconciliation law. On October 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Federal Register notice that raises several H.R. 1 filing fees for fiscal year 2027, effective October 16, 2026. The agency’s own Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status page lists the current TPS fee, which rises from $510 to $520.
The new fee schedule also touches asylum applications and employment authorization requests. The increases are small, from $3 to $30 per filing, and they apply to requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. A filing postmarked before that date pays the current fee.
1. What Changed in the USCIS Fee Increase
2. Who Is Affected by the USCIS Fee Increase
3. What to Do Now Before Fees Rise
4. How Vega & Associates Can Help
5. What This Means for Your Case
6. Frequently Asked Questions
What Changed in the USCIS Fee Increase
USCIS published a Federal Register notice raising fees created by the H.R. 1 reconciliation law. The text of H.R. 1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, created these fees in 2025 (they took effect July 22, 2025) and requires USCIS to adjust them for inflation every fiscal year. This USCIS fee increase applies to several benefit requests, not just one form. For fiscal year 2027 the adjustment is about 3.36 percent, based on the Consumer Price Index.
Federal Register Notice Basics
The notice confirms the fee increase comes from the reconciliation law, not a routine USCIS fee review. That matters, because reconciliation-based fees follow a different legal process than standard rulemaking. Congress set the fee framework. USCIS implements it. This notice, 91 FR 62540, is the second annual inflation update. The first took effect January 1, 2026.
Forms Named So Far
The notice lists the new amounts by form. The annual fee for a pending asylum application rises from $102 to $105. A first employment authorization document for asylum applicants, parolees, and TPS applicants (Form I-765) rises from $560 to $570. The TPS application, Form I-821, rises from $510 to $520. The immigration parole fee on Form I-131 rises from $1,020 to $1,050. The $100 initial asylum fee, EAD renewals ($275 for asylum applicants, $280 for parole and TPS), and the $250 Special Immigrant Juvenile fee do not change.
Key Takeaway: The USCIS fee increase comes from the H.R. 1 reconciliation law, not a standard fee review. It raises a handful of fees by $3 to $30 for fiscal year 2027: the annual asylum fee, first EADs for asylum, parole, and TPS applicants, Form I-821, and the parole fee. The new amounts apply to filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026.
Who Is Affected by the USCIS Fee Increase
The fee increase reaches a wide group of applicants. Asylum seekers with a pending case pay a slightly higher annual fee. Asylum applicants, parolees, and TPS applicants filing a first employment authorization document (EAD) pay more too. TPS holders filing Form I-821 fall under the same notice. Our immigration law services team is already fielding questions from clients in each of these categories.
Asylum and EAD Applicants
Asylum applicants and first-time EAD filers in the asylum, parole, and TPS categories sit at the center of this fee increase. EAD renewal fees stay at $275 for asylum applicants and $280 for parole and TPS. Many of these clients already file on tight timelines. A higher fee adds one more item to plan around before a deadline hits.
TPS Holders Filing I-821
TPS holders renewing status through Form I-821 also face the new $520 fee. Re-registration windows are often short, so a delay can mean paying the higher rate without much warning. Our update on the Salvadoran TPS work authorization extension covers a related deadline.
What to Do Now Before the Fee Increase Takes Effect on October 16
The new amounts apply to requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. USCIS says it will reject any request postmarked on or after that date without the proper fee. The Federal Register’s USCIS filings page is where the formal notice and any later updates appear.
File or Renew Pending Cases
If you are ready to file an asylum, EAD, or TPS request, a postmark before October 16, 2026 locks in the current fee instead of the new USCIS fee increase rate. The savings are small, $3 to $30, so file when your packet is complete and correct, not rushed.
Gather Documents Early
Pull together your identity documents, prior USCIS notices, and proof of eligibility now. A complete filing moves faster and avoids costly resubmission delays. Use the current form edition too; see our note on USCIS rejecting old I-539 and I-765 forms.
Pro Tip: Pro tip: check your mailing date against the October 16, 2026 effective date. For these H.R. 1 fees, USCIS goes by the postmark date, so a package postmarked on or after October 16 needs the new amount. A few days can be the difference between the old rate and the new one.
How Vega & Associates Can Help With Your USCIS Filing
Vega & Associates has guided Houston-area clients through asylum, EAD, and TPS filings for years. That experience matters more now that a fee increase changes the cost of filing late. Our Houston immigration attorney team reviews each case for accuracy before it reaches USCIS. We also track USCIS fee changes so clients are not caught off guard.
Case Review Before Filing
We check every form for errors that cause delays or rejected filings. A clean filing avoids the added cost of resubmitting under a higher fee.
Tracking USCIS Fee Updates
Our team watches USCIS and Federal Register updates on this fee increase. Clients hear from us as soon as new fee amounts or dates are confirmed.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Common mistake: assuming the USCIS fee increase applies the same way to every form. The notice covers only the H.R. 1 fees: the annual asylum fee, first EADs for asylum, parole, and TPS applicants, Form I-821, and the parole fee. Other USCIS fees, such as green card and naturalization fees, are not part of this notice, so do not guess. Confirm your specific form before you file.
What the USCIS Fee Increase Means for Your Case
This fee increase is a cost issue, not a denial risk. Filing with the wrong fee can still delay your case, though. USCIS made a similar inflation adjustment to these fees on January 1, 2026. The federal government’s immigration and citizenship resources page outlines how these federal processes generally work.
Cost, Not Eligibility
The fee increase changes what you pay. It does not change whether you qualify for asylum, EAD, or TPS. Eligibility rules stay separate from the fee schedule.
Plan Your Filing Budget
Build the higher fee into your filing budget now. That way, the October 16 change will not catch your household by surprise. For other USCIS costs, see our green card application fees in 2026 breakdown.
What This Means for You: The USCIS fee increase raises your filing cost, but it does not change your eligibility for asylum, EAD, or TPS. Build the expected higher fee into your plans now. If your packet is postmarked before October 16, 2026, you pay the current rate. If you cannot, budget for the difference and keep your paperwork ready so there is no added delay.
The USCIS fee increase tied to the H.R. 1 reconciliation law raises costs for asylum applications, employment authorization requests, and TPS filings like Form I-821. The new amounts are published: a $105 annual asylum fee, $570 for a first asylum, parole, or TPS EAD, $520 for Form I-821, and $1,050 for parole. They apply to requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026.
If you have a pending or upcoming filing, a postmark before October 16, 2026 keeps the current fee. Vega & Associates can review your case and help you file correctly before the higher rate takes hold. Schedule a case review with Vega & Associates to talk through your specific form and timeline. This article is general information, not legal advice. Talk to an immigration attorney about your own situation.
Client Insight from Janak Badu, Google Review: I am extremely satisfied with the way they handled my case. They did my N-400 case and the entire process was carried very professionally and I am glad I chose them. Paloma is very quick to respond to any query. I highly recommend them.
Key Takeaway: The USCIS fee increase comes from the H.R. 1 reconciliation law and raises a few asylum, EAD, TPS, and parole fees by $3 to $30 for filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. Confirm your form’s fee on the current USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055), and work with Vega & Associates to avoid costly delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the USCIS fee increase announced for fiscal year 2027?
The USCIS fee increase is a Federal Register notice tied to the H.R. 1 reconciliation law. It raises several H.R. 1 fees by $3 to $30 for fiscal year 2027, effective October 16, 2026. The fee increase covers the annual asylum fee, first EADs for asylum, parole, and TPS applicants, Form I-821, and the parole fee.
Which forms does the USCIS fee increase affect?
The USCIS fee increase names Form I-589 (annual pending asylum fee, $105), Form I-765 (first EAD for asylum, parole, and TPS applicants, $570), Form I-821 (TPS, $520), and Form I-131 (parole, $1,050). The $100 initial asylum fee, EAD renewals, and the Special Immigrant Juvenile fee do not change.
When does the USCIS fee increase take effect?
The new fees apply to requests postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. USCIS published the notice in the Federal Register on October 1, 2026. A filing postmarked before October 16 pays the current amount.
Does the USCIS fee increase change TPS eligibility?
No. The USCIS fee increase changes what applicants pay, not who qualifies. TPS eligibility rules stay separate from the new fee schedule. Applicants still need to meet the same requirements. The fee increase only affects the cost of filing Form I-821.
How can Vega & Associates help with the USCIS fee increase?
Vega & Associates reviews your pending case and checks which fee applies before you file. The firm tracks USCIS fee increase updates as USCIS confirms them. That helps clients avoid rejected filings. Contact the firm to plan your filing timeline.
Step-by-Step Process
Step-by-Step Process to Beat the USCIS Fee Increase
1. Review your pending USCIS forms and current filing fees now.
2. Confirm whether your specific form faces this fee increase.
3. Gather identity documents and proof of eligibility early.
4. Contact Vega & Associates to review your case details.
5. Prepare Form I-821 or your other affected application carefully.
6. Pay the fee that matches your postmark date (new amounts from October 16, 2026).
7. Submit your application through the correct USCIS filing channel.
8. Track your USCIS receipt notice and case number closely.
9. Renew TPS or EAD status well before expiration dates.
10. Follow up with Vega & Associates on your case status.
Quick Reference: What Is the USCIS Fee Increase?
The USCIS fee increase is a Federal Register notice that raises certain USCIS filing fees for fiscal year 2027. Congress created the legal basis for these fees in the H.R. 1 reconciliation law. The increase touches asylum applications, first employment authorization requests, parole, and TPS cases filed on Form I-821. The new amounts ($105 annual asylum fee, $570 first EAD, $520 TPS, $1,050 parole) apply to filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. Filings postmarked earlier pay the current rate.
Additional Resources
• Learn about our Houston immigration team’s background with USCIS filings on the Vega & Associates legal team page.
• Browse general immigration guidance and prior USCIS updates on our firm resources page to stay current on filing rules.
• Read more about Vega & Associates and the firm’s approach to asylum, EAD, and TPS cases.
Reviewed by Adan Vega, Board-Certified Immigration Attorney, Founding Partner · Updated
About the author
Board-Certified Immigration Attorney, Founding Partner · Texas Board-Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1985); Admitted, U.S. Supreme Court (2004); Admitted, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1980); J.D., The University of Texas at Austin School of Law (1979); B.A., Rice University (1976); Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (1982); Texas Super Lawyers — Thomson Reuters (2004); Special Service Award — Migration and Refugee Services, United States Catholic Conference
Adan G. Vega is a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney and the founding partner of Vega & Associates, PLLC in Houston, Texas. He has practiced immigration and nationality law exclusively for more than 45 years, making him one of the longest-serving immigration attorneys in Houston. He earned a B.A. from Rice University in 1976 and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 1979. In 1985 the Texas Board of Legal Specialization awarded him a Certificate of Special Competence in Immigration and Nationality Law, authorizing the title Board Certified Specialist. He is admitted to practice before the Texas state courts, the EOIR Immigration Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court, and has presented oral argument in the Fifth Circuit on three occasions, including one published opinion.
On August 23, 1988, Vega testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law, on the effects of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. He has served as immigration legal counsel to foreign governments in the United States, including the governments of Mexico and El Salvador, and to multinational companies on employment-based immigration.
A member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1982, he co-chaired the AILA Texas Chapter Conference in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2004, and has lectured on immigration law at AILA conferences and at the University of Texas. He authored the Guide of United States History and Government in 1989. The Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Catholic Conference presented him with a special service award for outstanding commitment and dedicated service to newcomers.
Vega was a founder and initial director of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1984, served as President of Consejo Hispano from 1987 to 1988, and has served as special immigration legal counsel, board director, vice president and president of the Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston. He has provided pro bono immigration services to Texas's indigent community throughout his career. He has been recognized as a Top Texas Lawyer by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) since 2004. He represents individuals, families and businesses before USCIS, the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
