USCIS Immigration Fees in 2026: Detailed Guide to H.R. 1 Inflation Increases

Last updated: February 1, 2026

USCIS Immigration Fees in 2026: Inflation Adjustments Under H.R. 1

From 1 January 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has increased a defined set of immigration‑related fees under an inflation adjustment required by the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), as set out in the Federal Register rule Inflation Adjustment to HR‑1 Immigration Fees. The updated amounts apply only to specified asylum, parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS)‑linked charges listed in H.R. 1, and any covered request postmarked on or after 1 January 2026 must include the revised fee or it may be rejected as improperly filed.

H.R. 1 and the 2026 Federal Register notice: the legal backbone
The 2026 fee changes are anchored in H.R. 1, which created a statutory schedule of minimum immigration fees and requires the Department of Homeland Security to update those amounts periodically using a CPI‑based formula. USCIS has implemented the current update through the Federal Register rule on Inflation Adjustment to HR‑1 Immigration Fees, published on 21 November 2025 and also available in full via the GovInfo version of 90 FR 52693.

In that notice, DHS explains that it calculates the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI‑U), applies that percentage to each H.R. 1 fee, and then rounds the figures according to statutory rules set out in the legislation and its implementing guidance. The National Immigration Project’s overview of H.R. 1 fee changes, summarised in its Final Fee Increases – H.R. 1 guide, and AILA’s brief note on USCIS’s FY 2026 inflation increase for H.R. 1 fees both emphasise that this CPI‑linked mechanism operates on top of USCIS’s separate, broader authority to adjust other form fees.

Which fees increase from 1 January 2026
Only the fees expressly listed in H.R. 1 and tied to the CPI‑U formula change on 1 January 2026; most USCIS form fees are not affected by this particular rule. The updated amounts are presented in a table in the Federal Register docket, and practitioner summaries highlight modest but concrete increases across several categories, including the employer‑funded asylum fee, selected employment authorization (EAD) categories and TPS‑related charges.

Employer‑focused alerts, such as Envoy Global’s H.R. 1 immigration fee adjustments alert, explain that the asylum‑related employer fee created by H.R. 1 ticks up by a few dollars after the CPI‑U adjustment, with the precise amounts set out in the Federal Register table rather than in secondary summaries. The same alert and other firm updates, including Jeelani Law’s immigration fee increases for 2026 explainer, describe small increases for specified Form I‑765 categories linked to asylum, parole or TPS, and for Form I‑821 TPS applications and associated benefits, generally in the range of 5 to 10 USD per filing.

These sources stress that, although the absolute dollar changes are limited, they can become significant over time for applicants who repeatedly renew benefits and for employers supporting large sponsored‑worker populations, and they consistently advise checking the Federal Register fee table and the current USCIS fee information before filing in 2026.

USCIS reminders and the risk of rejection for underpayment
In late December 2025, USCIS used its public‑facing channels to reinforce the practical impact of the rule, posting a reminder that “effective Jan. 1, 2026, certain immigration-related fees will increase” and directing users to consult the updated schedule. That message, shared via the agency’s social accounts and captured in an official USCIS fee‑increase reminder, also warned that requests postmarked on or after 1 January 2026 without the proper filing fee could be rejected.

Practice alerts from law firms and non‑profit organisations, such as Badmus Law’s USCIS immigration fee increases for FY 2026 briefing, pick up this point and emphasise that there is no formal grace period for H.R. 1 CPI updates: once the effective date arrives, underpayments in affected categories are treated as filing defects rather than minor errors. These commentaries recommend updating internal fee charts, revising payment templates and double‑checking both the required fee and acceptable payment methods before submission, particularly as USCIS encourages greater use of electronic payments in certain contexts.

How the 2026 fee increases fit into wider cost and policy changes
The 2026 inflation adjustment is part of a broader period of rising costs across the U.S. immigration system, rather than an isolated change. Earlier USCIS rules in 2024–2025 implemented more extensive fee reforms across family, employment and humanitarian categories, and advocacy materials like the National Immigration Project’s H.R. 1 fee analysis and Tahirih Justice Center’s 2026 fee‑increase update highlight that applicants are now managing both these broader increases and the recurring CPI‑linked adjustments for H.R. 1 fees.

Legal commentary, including firm blogs and December 2025 immigration updates such as Cyrus Mehta’s Immigration Update – December 29, 2025, notes that repeated small adjustments can become meaningful over multiple renewal cycles or in large caseloads. These financial changes also intersect with other policy developments—such as the processing holds and re‑reviews introduced in 2025 for applications by nationals of certain countries—creating an environment in which both fees and scrutiny are trending upward for many users of the system.

Reading 2026 as a cost‑management and compliance landscape
For applicants, sponsors and representatives, the 2026 USCIS fee adjustments are best understood as part of an ongoing cost‑management and compliance landscape shaped by H.R. 1 and recent fee rules. Across official and practitioner guidance, the consistent advice is to verify the correct fee immediately before filing by consulting the current Federal Register table for H.R. 1 fees and the relevant USCIS fee information, to update internal processes and budgets to reflect incremental increases, and to build in time to correct any underpayment‑related rejection where statutory or program deadlines are tight.

Analysis of H.R. 1 and the 2026 rule suggests that similar CPI‑based adjustments are likely in future fiscal years as long as the statutory mechanism remains in force, meaning that regular attention to fee tables, Federal Register notices and USCIS announcements has become a structural part of navigating U.S. immigration filings. Immigration Monitor will continue to track these updates as each new adjustment is announced, with a focus on which categories are affected, how the amounts move over time, and what that means for applicants and employers planning their filings.

The content in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and policies are subject to change, and the application of the law to specific situations may vary. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified immigration attorneys or accredited representatives for advice on their individual circumstances. Immigration Monitor does not provide personalized immigration services or legal representation.