The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new $1,000 immigration parole fee for certain individuals granted parole into the country.
The rule, introduced under the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, took effect on October 16, 2025, and will be adjusted annually to reflect inflation, according to a USCIS statement.
“The fee is $1,000 for FY 2025 and is subject to annual adjustments for inflation. You must pay this fee when you are paroled into the United States, unless you qualify for an exception,” the agency said.
What is Immigration Parole?
Immigration parole allows noncitizens to enter or remain temporarily in the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons or public benefit, even if they do not hold a visa.
Under the new rule, most individuals entering or re-entering the U.S. on parole will be required to pay the $1,000 fee. This applies whether they are seeking to enter, extend, or renew their parole status.
The policy affects anyone granted parole or re-parole on or after October 16, 2025.
USCIS noted that some individuals may qualify for exemptions, which will be detailed in a forthcoming Federal Register notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Payment Process
USCIS emphasized that applicants should not pay the fee upfront when filing their parole application (Form I-131).
Instead, the agency will first review the request. If approved, USCIS will issue a payment notice containing instructions and a payment deadline.
“Do not pay the immigration parole fee when you submit Form I-131,” USCIS advised. “The fee will be collected when you are paroled into the United States.”
Failure to pay the required fee, the agency warned, will result in automatic denial or cancellation of parole.
Broader Immigration Fee Changes
The new parole fee is part of a wider overhaul of U.S. immigration costs implemented under the H.R. 1 legislation earlier in 2025.
Other recent adjustments include:
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$100 filing fee for new asylum applications (Form I-589)
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$100 annual asylum maintenance fee for pending applications
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$550 fee for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and $275 for renewals or re-parole applications
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$250 fee for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ) under Form I-360
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$500 registration fee for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), up from $50
Why It Matters
The $1,000 parole fee represents a significant policy shift, potentially adding financial pressure on asylum seekers, refugees, and humanitarian applicants who depend on parole programs for urgent entry into the U.S.
While the USCIS maintains that the fee aligns with administrative cost recovery goals, immigration advocates have expressed concern that it could discourage access to humanitarian relief for vulnerable groups.
Emmanuel Bassey is a Financial Expert that has worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for over 15+ years across different banks in Nigeria
