Filing Soon? New USCIS Fees Are Now in Effect

USCIS: What’s New in 2026 & Fee Increases You Should Know

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has rolled out several important updates for 2026 that affect how immigration applications are processed — especially fees.

1. New and Higher Filing Costs

On January 1, 2026, USCIS increased certain application and benefit fees based on federal inflation rules under the H.R. 1 law. If you file an application on or after January 1, 2026, you must pay the new amounts or your case could be rejected.

Here are some of the key fee increases (important to plan your filing costs):

Employment Authorization Document (EAD/work permit) for many categories: increased from about $550 to $560.

EAD renewals and extensions for certain categories: about $275 → $280.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) EAD: similar bump.

TPS filing fee: went up slightly (e.g., $500 → $510).

Other fees linked to travel documents and parole EADs also saw small increases.

In addition to USCIS increases, a new Visa Integrity Fee of about $250 now applies to many nonimmigrant visa applications.

There’s also a $10 charge now required to submit a fee-waiver request instead of it being free.

2. Premium Processing Fee Update

USCIS announced that premium processing fees (used for faster case review) will increase starting March 1, 2026 for certain petitions. Be sure to check the updated amount if you plan to pay for faster service.

3. What This Means for You

✔ Always check the latest fee schedule before filing.

✔ Filing with the old fee amounts could lead to rejection.

✔ Plan for slightly higher costs if you’re applying for work permits, TPS, or using premium processing.

Staying updated on these fee changes helps prevent delays and surprises when submitting immigration paperwork to USCIS.