US Immigration Costs to Rise in 2026 Under New HR-1 Mandate

US Immigration: In a move driven by mandatory inflation adjustments, the United States is set to revise several immigration and border-related fees starting January 1, 2026. The update—announced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1)—requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revise specific charges annually. This shift marks the latest phase of the law’s inflation-aligned recalibration, now widely recognized as part of the US Immigration Fee Increase 2026 initiative.

The updated fee structure impacts the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and the parole fee applicable to non-citizens permitted temporary entry into the United States. While the revisions are modest, they will affect select categories of travellers and applicants planning to visit the US in the coming year.

US Immigration: How Indians Will Be Affected

For most Indian travellers, these adjustments may not bring major changes. Since ESTA applies only to Visa Waiver Program countries—and India is not part of the program—Indian passport holders are not required to pay ESTA fees.

However, Indians applying for parole into the US may experience a slight increase in costs. Parole allows non-citizens to enter the country temporarily without a visa, usually due to urgent humanitarian needs or public interest considerations.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also confirmed that the cost of Form I-94, which records the arrival and departure of foreign visitors, will remain unchanged at $30 for FY 2026.

A Breakdown of the Revised Fees

According to the updated Federal Register notice, the following changes will take effect on January 1, 2026:

Parole Fee

• Increased from $1,000 to $1,020
  This fee applies to individuals temporarily entering the United States without formal admission.

ESTA Fee

• Increased by $0.27 — from $40 to $40.27
  Since India is not in the Visa Waiver Program, this hike does not impact Indian travellers.

EVUS Fee

• Increased from $30 to $30.75
  EVUS is applicable only to Chinese citizens holding valid B-1/B-2 visas.

US Immigration: Revised Fees for Key Immigration Forms

In addition to travel-related adjustments, DHS has revised fees for several immigration and employment-related forms, particularly affecting asylum seekers, TPS beneficiaries, and parole-based employment authorization applicants:

• Annual asylum application fee: $102 (previously $100; currently court-suspended)

• Form I-765 (initial asylum EAD): $560 (previously $550)

• Form I-765 (initial parole EAD): $560 (previously $550)

• Form I-765 (renewal/extension of parole EAD): $280 (previously $275)

• Form I-765 (initial TPS EAD): $560 (previously $550)

• Form I-765 (renewal/extension of TPS EAD): $280 (previously $275)

• Form I-131, Part 9 (EAD on re-parole): $280 (previously $275)

• Form I-821 (TPS application): $510 (previously $500)

These changes apply across the board and reflect the annual inflation-indexed fee recalibration mandated by HR-1.