US immigration visa fee hike: Costs rise by up to 600% in some categories

New US immigration fees are in effect for asylum, parole, TPS and SIJ cases under H.R. 1. Most Indians on work and study visas remain unaffected

Now, anyone filing for certain immigration benefits in the United States will have to pay extra charges. A Federal Register notice published on July 22, 2025, confirmed that the new fees, introduced under the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, apply to asylum, parole, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) cases.

 

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said the new amounts are on top of existing filing charges. “From August 21, we will reject any case that does not include the required payment,” USCIS said in a statement.

 

This fresh round of higher fees comes against the backdrop of a sweeping immigration crackdown under Donald Trump’s second term.

 

 

What has changed in US Visa Fees

 

The rule introduces mandatory charges that, in most cases, cannot be waived:

 

Asylum applications (Form I-589): $100 filing fee, plus $100 each year while the case is pending.

Work permit for asylum seekers (Form I-765, category (c)(8)): $550 for the first card; $275 for each renewal, in addition to the existing filing fee of $470–$520, marking a 50% increase

Parole-based work permits: $550 for an initial card; $275 for a renewal. For many categories this means combined totals of $1,020–$1,070, marking a 50% increase

Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821): $500 new fee on top of the existing $50 filing charge and $30 biometrics cost, taking the total to $580 (more than 600% rise)

Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions (Form I-360): $250, where no fee was charged before.

 

USCIS has said all these amounts will rise annually with inflation. 

 

Who will be affected by US Visa Fee Hike

 

For Indians, the changes mainly touch those using humanitarian or special categories:

 

• Indians applying for asylum will now face new costs at every stage of the process.

• Those granted humanitarian parole or other parole entry routes will pay higher fees for work permits.

• Children of Indian origin qualifying under SIJ protections must budget for the new $250 charge.

• If India were ever designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), applicants would face the $500 surcharge. 

 

Who will not be affected

 

Most Indian migrants are not within the scope of these changes:

 

• Professionals on H-1B, L-1, O-1 and other work visas do not need EADs.

• F-1 students on OPT and STEM OPT continue paying the standard EAD fee without the $550 add-on.

• Family and employment-based Green Card applicants remain unaffected, as adjustment of status and related work permits are not part of the H.R. 1 list.

 

Other fee hikes this year

 

The United States has also raised a series of other immigration charges in 2025. Earlier this year, the State Department increased the B1/B2 visitor visa fee — covering tourist and business travellers — from $185 to $245, the first rise in more than a decade.

 

Bond amounts under the “Catch and Release” programme were revised upwards, with minimums jumping from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on case type. At the same time, USCIS adjusted its broader fee schedule, making H-1B extensions, family petitions, adjustment of status and naturalisation applications more expensive.

 

Wider crackdown under Trump

 

The Trump administration has also announced that it is reviewing the records of all 55 million valid US visa holders worldwide for potential violations that could trigger revocation or deportation. Alongside this review are steps such as pausing certain worker visas, reviving the Visa Integrity Fee, and sharply raising application costs. Together, these measures form part of the administration’s broader strategy of tightening the immigration system and making it harder — and costlier — for foreigners to enter or remain in the United States.