What Applicants Need to Know
On July 18, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Federal Register Notice [1] implementing fee changes mandated by the new H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill [2],” which was passed by Congress on July 3, 2025 and signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025. This bill was passed through the budgetary process called reconciliation, which allows for bypassing the usual Senate rules requiring 60 votes for passage.
According to the press release from USCIS [3] , these following adjustments apply to a range of immigration forms and benefit requests, with new rates taking effect for benefit requests postmarked on or after July 22, 2025. Any form postmarked on or after August 21, 2025 without the updated fee payment will be rejected by USCIS.
To help you navigate these changes, we’ve broken down the new fees, critical deadlines, and practical tips for ensuring your filings remain compliant and your applications stay on track.
Effective Dates and Deadlines
- July 22, 2025: All benefit requests postmarked on or after this date must include the new H.R. 1 fees.
- August 21, 2025: USCIS will reject any submissions lacking the correct fees if postmarked on or after this date.
Be sure to double-check postage dates and fee amounts before mailing your packet to avoid costly delays or outright rejections.
Asylum Application Fees and Annual Asylum Fee
- Form I-589 (Application for Asylum [4] and for Withholding of Removal [5])
- New H.R. 1 Fee: $100 (in addition to any existing filing fees)
- Annual Asylum Fee (AAF):
- $100 per calendar year for any asylum application pending more than 365 days.
- USCIS will issue personalized notices when your AAF is due, including payment instructions and deadlines.
Important: Applicants who filed Form I-589 on or after October 1, 2024, need not proactively track the 365-day mark; USCIS will alert you when the first AAF payment is required.
Updated Employment Authorization Document Fees
For certain categories of Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization—EAD), including asylum seekers, parolees, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries—USCIS has introduced tiered fees:
- Initial EAD Applications: $550
- EAD Renewal/Extension Applications: $275
Exception: If you request an EAD following approval of a re-parole (via Form I-131), you pay the reduced fee of $275 for your first EAD under the new parole period.
SIJ and TPS Registration Fee Changes
- Form I-360 (Special Immigrant Juvenile Petition [6]) as a Special Immigrant Juvenile: New Fee: $250
- Form I-821 (TPS Registration [7]): Increased from $50 to $500 maximum registration fee.
These adjustments reflect H.R. 1’s goal to better fund USCIS operations and the Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA), while returning excess revenue to the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.
New EAD Validity Periods
H.R. 1 also limits how long employment authorizations can remain valid:
- Parolees: EAD valid for up to one year or the duration of parole—whichever is shorter.
- TPS Beneficiaries: Initial and renewal EADs valid for up to one year or the duration of TPS status—whichever is shorter.
Plan ahead for renewals by noting these shorter validity windows on your calendar.
Fee Payment and Waiver Guidelines
- All H.R. 1 fees must be submitted separately and in addition to any existing USCIS fees under 8 CFR § 106.
- While existing fees may be waived under Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) or a written waiver request, the new H.R. 1 fees are not waivable or reducible.
- USCIS will continue to adjust fees annually for inflation, as required by law.
Need Help With Your Filing?
Navigating USCIS procedures and laws can be complex. FitzGerald Law Company’s immigration attorneys in Boston [8] are here to help you with:
- Advice on the best strategy to obtain lawful immigration status in the U.S., including, non-immigrant U.S. visas [9], family-based legal permanent residency [10], employment-based legal permanent residency [11], asylum [4], TPS [7], U.S. citizenship [12], etc.
- Prepare your immigration petition according to eligibility and submission standards, ensuring you provide the appropriate supporting evidence
- Prepare you for immigration appointments, interviews and hearings
- Sue the USCIS for improper delays and decisions [13]
Call us today at 617-523-6320 or request a consultation online [14] to ensure you obtain experienced legal representation and caring personalized service for all your immigration, criminal defense and personal injury needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What if I submit my form without the new fee?
USCIS will reject any form postmarked on or after August 21, 2025, without the proper H.R. 1 fee. You’ll receive a rejection notice and have to resubmit with the correct fee.
- Can I request a waiver of the H.R. 1 fees?
Unfortunately, no. While you may still seek a waiver for existing fees under 8 CFR § 106.3(a), the new H.R. 1 fees are not waivable or reducible.
- How will I know when my Annual Asylum Fee is due?
USCIS will send you a personalized notice around your application’s one-year anniversary detailing the AAF amount (currently $100), payment deadline, and submission instructions.
- Will there be more fee changes under H.R. 1?
Yes. This notice covers only a subset of H.R. 1 fees. USCIS will announce additional changes—such as for Forms I-131 and I-102—in a future Federal Register notice.
- Is there a Chart of the New USCIS Fees?
Following is a chart that summarizes the new USCIS Fees as published in the Federal Register Notice [CIS No. 2829-25] [1]
Table 1. USCIS Immigration Benefit Request with Additional Fees from HR-1
(Click to Enlarge)
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