The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced new non-waivable fees for certain immigration benefit requests, effective July 22, 2025.
These changes are part of H.R. 1, a U.S. law aimed at funding the country’s immigration system.
According to a federal register notice released by USCIS on late Friday the new fees will apply to applicants in Nigeria and other countries seeking U.S. immigration.
The new fees are significant, with a $100 application fee introduced for Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal.
Additionally, a new $100 Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) will be imposed on all pending Form I-589 applications for each year they remain unresolved.
USCIS clarified that this AAF must be paid online, and personal notices will be issued to applicants when payment is due.
USCIS will also begin charging new fees for employment authorization under specific categories.
The fee for initial EAD (Employment Authorization Document) applications will be $550, while EAD renewals or extensions will cost $275, specifically for asylum, parolee, and Temporary Protected Status categories.
However, for aliens applying for re-parole using Form I-131, the EAD fee will be reduced to $275, aligning with the H.R.1 fee structure.
Other notable changes include a $250 filing fee for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) cases under Form I-360 and a tenfold increase in the cost to register for Temporary Protected Status using Form I-821, from $50 to $500.
According to USCIS, the new fees are in addition to those already established under 8 CFR part 106, meaning they will be charged in addition to the current USCIS fees and cannot be waived or reduced.
“Applicants must submit the new fees with benefit requests postmarked on or after July 22, 2025,” the agency said.
“USCIS will reject any form postmarked on or after Aug. 21, 2025, without the proper fees.”
The agency also confirmed that some fee changes under H.R.1, such as those related to Form I-131 and Form I-102, will be announced in a future Federal Register Notice and are not covered under this implementation phase.
The duration of work permits will also depend on the category of application. For parolees, initial EADs will be valid for no more than one year or until the end of their parole, whichever is shorter.
For TPS beneficiaries, both initial and renewal EADs will be valid for no more than one year or the duration of TPS status, whichever is shorter.
These changes are expected to impact applicants seeking U.S. immigration benefits, particularly those in asylum and TPS categories.
Author
Leave a comment