Effective July 22, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement a new schedule of fees for immigration-related processes.
This change stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the Act) signed into law by the Trump administration earlier, on July 4.
These changes will significantly impact individuals applying for various immigration benefits and are crucial for anyone involved in the immigration process to understand.
What is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also called H.R 1 was passed by Congress on July 3, 2025 after it passed the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
This landmark legislation emerged from months of intensive negotiations through a process called reconciliation, which Congress can use to change laws that affect the country’s budget.
On the afternoon of the 4th of July, President Trump signed the legislation into law.
With nearly 1,000 pages of provisions, the Act aims to reshape federal policy across nearly every major sector of the American economy through significant policy shifts, funding reallocations and regulatory changes.
These sectors include:
- immigration and border security
- healthcare and public health initiatives
- tax reforms and incentives
- Nenergy policy and environmental regulations
- defense and national security provisions
- education funding and policy changes
- agricultural supports and rural development
- transportation and infrastructure investments
This blog zooms in on immigration. You can view a copy of the Act here.
What are the changes in the One Big Bold Beautiful Bill Act to immigration?
The legislation introduces new or higher fees for immigrants seeking asylum, temporary protected status, humanitarian parole and certain employment authorizations.
Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. Asylum applications
For the first time ever in America’s immigration history, the Act introduces a $100 asylum application fee, and an additional $100 fee for each year that a person’s asylum application remains pending at the USCIS which it calls Annual Asylum Fee (AAF).
Additionally, when an individual files an initial application for work authorization based on a pending asylum application, he or she must pay $550, plus another fee of $275 for renewal of that authorization.
2. Temporary Protected Status application
The Act increases the fee from $50 to $500 to register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Similar to Asylum, an additional fee of $550 for filing an initial work authorization application under TPS, and $275 for renewal of such application which, when granted or renewed, is valid for a year or the validity of the TPS grant, whichever is shorter.
3. Humanitarian Parole
There is a fee of at least $1,000 for anyone entering the U.S. under a grant of parole.
Also, individuals paroled into the U.S. and who are seeking authorization for employment are required to pay $550 for the initial work authorization, and $275 for renewal which will also be valid for one year if granted or renewed as the case may be.
4. Visa issuance fee
A non-waivable $250 fee for any person issued a non-immigrant visa such as a student or tourist visa. However, this fee is reimbursable if the person can prove they complied with all the visa’s conditions and didn’t try to extend their stay.
5. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
The Act creates a new fee of $250 for any individual who files a Form I-360 for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status.
Other fees include:
- Lawful Permanent Resident application: The fee is increasing from $1,140 to $1,500.
- Waiver of grounds of inadmissibility: A new fee of $1,050 is required.
- TPS application in immigration court: A separate fee of $500 will be required, in addition to the existing $500 filing fee for TPS.
- Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals: The fee is increasing from $110 to $900.
- Motion to reopen or reconsider: A new fee of $900 will be required, except for motions based on improper notice.
- Cancellation of removal: The fee for lawful permanent residents will be $600, and $1,500 for non-lawful permanent residents, increasing from $130.
- Unauthorized border crossers and deportation cases: A fee of $5,000 for individuals apprehended between ports of entry without authorization or ordered deported by an immigration judge for failure to appear in court.
It should be noted that the new immigration fees imposed by the Act are in addition to any other fees already authorized by law and regulations. According to the USCIS, “The fees in H.R. 1 do not supersede or replace those promulgated by the USCIS Fee Rule, rather they will be charged ‘in addition’ to current fees.”
Also, the Act sets aside a total of $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border security efforts:
- $45 billion to expand ICE’s detention centers.
- $30 billion to fund ICE’s arrest and every stage of the deportation process.
- $46 billion to Customs and Border Protection to build walls, barriers and related projects along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Additional $12 billion to fund Border Patrol agent vehicles, facilities, training, hiring and bonuses.
- $10 billion to the Department of Homeland Security to support its “mission to safeguard the borders of the United States.”
- $13.5 billion to compensate states for their immigration enforcement and border security actions.
When do these changes take effect?
The new immigration-related fees went into effect on July 22, 2025.
In the Notice announcing the fees, USCIS stated that the fees “must be submitted for any immigration benefit requests postmarked on or after July 22, 2025. Any form postmarked on or after August 21, 2025 without the proper filing fee will be rejected.” Although USCIS appears willing to accept filings with incorrect fees during the initial transition period, this has not yet been confirmed with certainty.
Are there waivers for these fees?
There are no fee waivers for any of these applications. The fees imposed by the Act cannot be waived or reduced.
What Applicants Should Do Now
If you are planning to file for asylum, work authorization, TPS, or special immigrant juvenile status, take these steps:
- Review the new fees carefully
- Prepare to submit the correct fee for each application
- Pay fees separately, as required
- Stay updated with USCIS notices regarding annual fees and payment deadlines
With these changes, more than ever it is more important to stay informed and proactive. Submitting applications with the correct fees and understanding the new structure will help avoid processing delays and rejections.
If you’re unsure how these changes affect your case, it’s a good idea to consult with an experienced immigration attorney. They can help ensure that your forms are completed correctly, your supporting documents are strong, and that you’re meeting all deadlines and fee requirements. A small mistake could mean delays or denials. Seeking professional guidance can make a huge difference.
How does The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki support you with your immigration case?
At The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki, we offer private legal advice to help you navigate these new changes. It is crucial that you have clear and up-to-date information. We will help you prepare your paperwork correctly, avoid costly mistakes, and protect your immigration status.
Every day, we represent clients in removal defense, asylum cases, family petitions, and more. We know the system and we know how to fight back.
If you’re worried about how this Act could affect you or your loved ones, do not wait. Call us on +1516963701 or fill this form to book a consultation today.
