U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its inflation-adjusted increases for fiscal year 2027, effective Oct. 16. The annual asylum fee paid each year will be $105, humanitarian parole $1,050, the first work permit (EAD) for asylum, parole and TPS applicants $570, and a TPS application $520. The increases are modest, but because the cutoff is the postmark date rather than the date of receipt, filings that miss the deadline will be returned.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its fees for the new fiscal year, effective Oct. 16. Fees related to humanitarian status that were newly created by law last year are indexed to inflation and will each step up by one increment.
The increases themselves are small, ranging from $3 to $30. But for those affected, they are recurring annual costs, and above all the date rule is tricky: applicants who overlook it will have to send their paperwork again.
Which Fees Are Going Up
Some fees are not rising. The initial asylum application (I-589) stays at $100, and work permit renewals remain at $280 for parole and TPS and $275 for asylum. The Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) petition fee of $250 and the I-94 fee of $24 are also unchanged.
Employment-based petitions, H-4 spouses and work permits tied to green card applications are not affected by this increase. The adjustments are concentrated on humanitarian programs such as asylum, parole, TPS and Special Immigrant Juveniles.
It's the Postmark Date, Not the Date of Receipt
This is the most important point in practice. USCIS goes by the postmark on the envelope, not the date the documents arrive. Any filing postmarked on or after Oct. 16 must include the new fee.
Conversely, a postmark dated Oct. 15 or earlier will be processed at the old amount. If you are preparing your filing now, mailing it within two weeks is the way to save even a few dollars; if it slips past that date, you must be sure to rewrite your check for the new amount. If the amount is wrong, the filing is not accepted at all and is returned in its entirety, which can create a gap if your immigration status or work permit expiration is at stake in the meantime.
The annual asylum fee is somewhat different in nature. It must be paid every year while your case is pending, and skipping a year can lead to adverse consequences. It is safest to mark the payment due date separately on your calendar.
When mailing, the basics are to use a trackable service and keep your receipt. Because the postmark date is the standard, proof of mailing becomes the only evidence if a dispute arises. If you are unsure which category applies to your case, check the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055) yourself or seek free consultations from an immigration attorney or a Korean American community service organization.
The fee structure has changed several times since last year and is adjusted annually for inflation. The most common mistake is writing a check based on the amount you remember paying last year. Making a habit of checking once more right before you mail can prevent a rejection.