USCIS Announces Fee Increases for Immigration Forms Effective Oct 16

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced a scheduled increase in filing fees for several critical immigration benefits, effective October 16, 2026. This adjustment is part of the agency's ongoing efforts to manage operational costs and process backlogs. The fee hikes affect a range of documents, including the Annual Asylum Application, Form I-131 (Application for Travel Documents), and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization).

This change follows a broader trend of administrative adjustments within the US immigration system as the government enters the 2027 fiscal year. Applicants must be aware that any request postmarked on or after the October 16 deadline that does not include the updated fee will be summarily rejected by the agency. This creates a strict window for those currently preparing their documentation to finalize and submit their filings under the existing fee structure.

This policy change directly impacts individuals applying for initial asylum-based employment authorization, parole-based employment authorization, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) employment authorization. It also affects those filing for travel documents or parole records and individuals seeking asylum status in the United States.

Makutet expects that these fee increases will place additional financial pressure on vulnerable applicant groups, potentially leading to a surge in last-minute filings before the mid-October deadline. We anticipate that USCIS lockbox facilities may experience processing delays in late October as they manage the transition to the new fee schedule and handle the influx of applications submitted just prior to the cutoff.