USCIS Announces Inflation-Based Fee Adjustments for FY 2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released an update announcing that several immigration filing fees will increase starting January 1, 2026. These adjustments are required under the H.R. 1 legislation, which directs USCIS to apply annual inflation-based updates to certain immigration fees.

The notice, published in the Federal Register, outlines which fees are changing and clarifies that any application postmarked on or after January 1, 2026, must include the updated fee. USCIS has stated that filings submitted with the incorrect amount will be rejected, so applicants need to plan ahead to avoid delays.

What Is Changing?

The updated fees mainly affect certain categories of Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications. Some of the notable adjustments include increases for:

• Form I-765 – Initial EAD for Asylum Applicants → now $560
• Form I-765 – Initial Parole EAD → now $560
• Form I-765 – Parole EAD Renewal/Extension → now $280
• Form I-765 – Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Initial EAD → now $560
• Form I-765 – TPS EAD Renewal/Extension → now $280

A full list of the updated fees is available in the Federal Register notice.

What Is Not Increasing?

For FY 2026, the following filing types will not receive a fee increase:

• I-589 Asylum application fee
• I-765 renewal/extension for asylum-based EADs
• I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions

These categories will continue at their current fee levels.

Anyone preparing to file an immigration application near the end of 2025 should double-check their fee before mailing or submitting the packet. Because USCIS will reject filings that do not include the correct amount, using an outdated fee schedule could lead to processing delays or missed deadlines.

At Zhang-Louie PLLC, we monitor all USCIS regulatory updates so our clients stay informed and prepared. If you’re planning to file an EAD renewal, TPS request, parole application, or any form affected by these changes, our team can help ensure your submission reflects the correct requirements and timelines.