US Citizenship and Immigration Services increased several immigration fees effective today, October 16, 2026. These changes cover asylum, employment authorisation, and other benefits due to annual inflation adjustments. While H-1B workers and students are not automatically affected, they must check if their specific applications require the new, higher fee payments.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has increased several immigration-related fees, including those linked to asylum applications, employment authorisation, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and certain immigration parole benefits. The changes are effective from today, October 16, 2026

These changes are related to the annual inflation adjustment mandated under the H.R. 1 reconciliation law. Earlier, USCIS mentioned the revisions account for inflation between July 2025 and July 2026 and are relatively minor.

As per a September 30 notification, the revised fees take effect on October 16. Applicants submitting requests postmarked on or after that date must include the updated fee applicable to their immigration benefit. Applications submitted with an incorrect fee may be rejected.

H-1B workers and international students are not automatically subject to these revised charges merely because they hold those visa categories. The same applies to green card applicants: the announcement does not prescribe a blanket increase in green card application fees.

However, individuals in these groups who apply separately for an immigration benefit covered by the revised schedule may be affected, depending on their circumstances.

Applicants should check whether their request falls under one of the affected categories and verify the applicable fee before submitting it. USCIS has warned that requests postmarked on or after 16 October with an incorrect fee will be rejected.

The announcement does not state that every pending immigration application will automatically attract an additional charge. The revised fees apply to requests postmarked on or after the effective date that require one of the adjusted payments.

For Indian applicants, the key distinction is between these targeted immigration-benefit fee increases and the separate charges that may apply to visa petitions, visa applications and green card processing.