Important Update: Rising USCIS Fees Impacting Immigrant Communities
As a non-profit committed to providing high-quality legal services for immigrants, we believe it’s important to keep both our supporters and clients up to date on the latest changes in immigration law.
What’s Happening?
Recent federal actions have led to major, sudden increases in the fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for many types of immigration filings. These fee hikes have a big impact, especially on the most vulnerable people in our community and the organizations working to help them.
Why Do These Fee Increases Matter?
Greater Financial Burdens: Many immigrants we serve are already facing significant financial difficulties. The increased fees make it even harder to apply for legal relief, keep legal status, or apply for work permits.
Barriers to Justice: Higher costs can create new obstacles, making it difficult for individuals and families to seek protection, lawful status, or employment authorization.
Greater Need for Support: As fees rise, more clients will need help covering legal and filing expenses. This puts extra demand on our legal aid and financial assistance programs.
Our Mission Remains Critical
Our organization’s mission is more important than ever: to ensure that access to justice isn’t limited to those who can afford higher fees. With your ongoing support, we can help close the gap—so that legal opportunities and hope stay available to everyone in our community, no matter their financial situation.
What Changed?
Starting July 22, 2025, USCIS increased the fees for many immigration applications.
These changes come from new federal budget laws.
The increases affect people applying for protection (like asylum), work authorization, and relief from deportation—all through legal channels.
Thank you for standing with us and with our immigrant neighbors as we adapt to these changes. Your support helps keep justice and opportunity within everyone’s reach.
For Clients: What You Need to Do
If you are thinking about applying—or renewing—your asylum, TPS, or work permit applications:
Ensure you are prepared to pay the updated fees.
Submit your application with the correct fee amount or risk rejection.
Reach out to our team if you need guidance or are concerned about your ability to pay.
What Do These New Fees Look Like?
USCIS Immigration Fees Have Increased
Many fees are now significantly higher as of July 22, 2025, affecting applications for asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and work permits.
New and Ongoing Fees for Asylum and TPS
Asylum Application:
Original fee: $0 (no fee previously)
New fee: $100 for Form I-589 application
Plus: New annual $100 maintenance fee for pending asylum claims.
TPS Registration:
Original fee: $80 (Filing + Biometrics fees)
New fee: $530 for initial Form I-821 registration
Higher Costs for certain Work Permits
Applies to categories such as asylum seekers, parolees, and TPS holders.
Example: Initial EAD Application for those with pending Asylum cases (Form I-765):
Original fee: $0
New fee : $550
Example: EAD Renewal, including for those with pending Asylum cases, certain paroled entry statuses, or TPS:
Original fee: $520
New fee: $795
Strict Application Timing and Fewer Fee Waivers
All new fees apply to applications postmarked on or after July 22, 2025.
Fee waivers are now limited:
Previously: More categories allowed full fee waivers for initial and renewal filings, if the filer’s household fell at or below 150% of the federal poverty line.
Now: partial waivers may apply in select cases.
Applications missing the new required fees will be rejected starting August 21, 2025.
uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees
uscis.gov/i-821
federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/22/2025-13738/uscis-immigration-fees-required-by-hr-1-reconciliation-bill
Where to Get More Information
For the full official fee schedule and instructions, visit the USCIS Filing Fees page:
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees8Direct policy and details from the Federal Register notice:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/22/2025-13738/uscis-immigration-fees-required-by-hr-1-reconciliation-bill11Details on asylum fees and maintenance:
https://www.uscis.gov/i-5894TPS fee information:
https://www.uscis.gov/i-8215
Work permit (EAD) changes:
https://www.uscis.gov/i-765