The USCIS fee increase story in 2026 has two chapters. Chapter one is the sweeping April 2024 fee rule that raised most immigration filing fees significantly, bundled biometrics into base fees, and added new fee categories like the Asylum Program Fee. Chapter two is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in 2026, which added a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for nonimmigrant visa applicants. Together, these changes made 2026 one of the most expensive years ever for US immigration applicants.
+17.6%
I-485 green card fee increase (2024)
+215%
I-765 EAD fee increase (2024 + HR-1)
+$250
New Visa Integrity Fee (2026)
Calculate Your Current Immigration Fee
Open USCIS Fee CalculatorChapter 1: The April 2024 USCIS Fee Rule
The 2024 USCIS fee rule, which took effect April 1, 2024, was the first major fee overhaul since 2016. USCIS argued that the old fee structure was inadequate to fund agency operations, resulting in processing backlogs. The new rule raised almost every filing fee, introduced new fee categories, and bundled the previously separate $85 biometric services fee into base fees for most forms.
Key changes from the 2024 fee rule:
New or significantly increased fees:
- I-765 HR-1 add-on: +$560 initial, +$280 renewal
- I-140 Asylum Program Fee: $600 (standard), $300 (small employer), $0 (nonprofit)
- I-485 adult: $1,225 → $1,440 (+$215)
- N-400 online: $640 → $710 (+$70)
- N-400 paper: $725 → $760 (+$35)
- I-131: $575 → $630 (+$55)
- I-140 base: $700 → $715 (+$15)
Simplified or reduced:
- Biometrics ($85) bundled into base fee — no separate charge
- Online filing discount: $50 off for most forms
- I-485 child discount: $950 for children under 14 with parent (was $750)
- N-400 reduced fee: $380 for income ≤400% FPG (paper only)
Before vs. After: USCIS Fee Comparison
This table shows fees before the 2024 rule versus current 2026 fees. All changes took effect April 1, 2024 (2024 rule) unless noted as 2026 additions.
| Form / Fee | Pre-2024 | 2026 Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-485 (adult 14+) | $1,225 | $1,440 | +$215 (+18%) |
| I-485 (child under 14, with parent) | $750 | $950 | +$200 (+27%) |
| I-765 Work Permit (initial) | $410 | $820 | +$410 (+100%) |
| I-765 Work Permit (renewal) | $410 | $540 | +$130 (+32%) |
| I-131 Advance Parole | $575 | $630 | +$55 (+10%) |
| I-130 Family Petition | $535 | $675 | +$140 (+26%) |
| N-400 Naturalization (online) | $640 | $710 | +$70 (+11%) |
| N-400 Naturalization (paper) | $725 | $760 | +$35 (+5%) |
| I-140 Base Fee | $700 | $715 | +$15 (+2%) |
| I-140 Asylum Program Fee (standard employer) | $0 | $600 | NEW +$600 |
| I-751 Remove Conditions | $595 | $750 | +$155 (+26%) |
| I-90 Green Card Renewal | $540 | $415 | -$125 (-23%) |
| I-129 H1B Base Fee | $460 | $730 | +$270 (+59%) |
| I-129F K-1 Petition | $535 | $675 | +$140 (+26%) |
| Biometric Services Fee | $85 (separate) | $0 (bundled) | Eliminated |
| Visa Integrity Fee (NEW — 2026 legislation) | $0 | $250 | NEW +$250 |
I-90 green card renewal is the rare case where the fee went down — the bundling of biometrics into base fees effectively reduced the total cost for renewals.
Chapter 2: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act — 2026
In 2026, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which added additional immigration fees. The most significant new fee is the Visa Integrity Fee (VIF).
Visa Integrity Fee (VIF) — $250
The VIF applies to most nonimmigrant visa applicants — people applying for B-1/B-2 tourist visas, F-1 student visas, H-1B visa stamps, L-1 visas, and similar temporary status visas. It is collected at the consulate in addition to the standard Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee.
Applies to (nonimmigrant visas):
- B-1/B-2 tourist/business visa
- F-1 student visa
- H-1B visa stamp
- L-1 intracompany transfer
- J-1 exchange visitor
- O-1 extraordinary ability
Generally does NOT apply to:
- Immigrant visa (green card) applicants
- Adjustment of Status (I-485) filers
- US citizens (no visa required)
- Lawful permanent residents
- Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) travelers
Note: VIF applicability may vary by visa category and is subject to regulatory guidance. Always verify current requirements at travel.state.gov.
Real-World Impact: Who Is Most Affected?
Not all applicants feel the fee increases equally. Here is how the increases play out in real-world scenarios for different types of applicants.
Employer Sponsoring an H1B Worker (Large Company)
Pre-2024 Total
$4,125
Base + ACWIA + fraud + registration
2026 Total
$2,945
Same components, updated fees
With Premium
$5,750
+ Premium Processing $2,805
Note: H1B base fee increased from $460 to $730, but the overall employer cost decreased slightly due to registration fee structure changes. Premium Processing fee ($2,805) is unchanged.
Single Adult Applying for Green Card (Adjustment of Status)
Pre-2024 Total (USCIS fees only)
~$2,215
I-485 ($1,225) + I-765 ($410 + $85 bio) + I-131 ($575)
2026 Total (USCIS fees only)
~$2,890
I-485 ($1,440) + I-765 ($820) + I-131 ($630)
Increase: +$675 (+30%) for government fees alone. A single adult now pays significantly more to apply for a green card.
Family of 3 Applying for Green Cards (2 adults + 1 child under 14)
Pre-2024 USCIS Fees
~$5,145
Adults x2 + child ($750) + EADs + I-131s + biometrics
2026 USCIS Fees
~$6,730
Adults x2 ($2,890 each) + child I-485 ($950)
Increase: +$1,585 (+31%) for a family of 3. This does not include medical exams or attorney fees.
Tourist Visa Applicant (B-1/B-2)
Pre-2026 Total
$185
MRV fee only
2026 Total
$435
MRV ($185) + Visa Integrity Fee ($250)
The new Visa Integrity Fee ($250) more than doubles the cost of a tourist visa application.
Why Did USCIS Raise Fees?
The 2024 USCIS fee rule was driven by a funding crisis. USCIS is an almost entirely fee-funded agency — it receives very little congressional appropriations. Between 2020 and 2023, USCIS burned through reserves while processing pandemic-related backlogs, and the old fee structure was insufficient to sustain operations.
Funding the agency without appropriations
USCIS relies on fee revenue for approximately 97% of its budget. The fee increase was necessary to maintain staffing, technology systems, and the field offices needed to process applications.
Asylum program cost shifting
The Asylum Program Fee on I-140 petitions was specifically designed to shift some of the cost of asylum processing from the asylum program to employment-based immigration petitioners. Nonprofits are exempt.
HR-1 statutory add-on for work permits
The HR-1 statutory add-on for I-765 was added by Congress to fund additional border security and immigration enforcement activities through the work permit fee stream.
How to Minimize the Impact of Fee Increases
File online to save $50
Most USCIS forms are eligible for a $50 online filing discount. Filing via myUSCIS instead of paper saves $50 per eligible form. For a family, this can add up to $150+ in savings.
Check fee waiver eligibility
If your income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or you receive Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI, you may qualify for an I-912 fee waiver on eligible forms. Use our Fee Waiver Eligibility Checker.
File concurrent forms to avoid multiple fees
When I-765 and I-131 are filed simultaneously with I-485, the fees may be covered by the base I-485 fee for some categories. Check with an attorney whether concurrent filing reduces your total fees.
Reduce RFE risk to avoid wasted fees
The biggest waste of money is paying the filing fee and then getting denied or issuing an RFE because of an avoidable error. Thorough preparation — or working with an experienced attorney on complex cases — reduces this risk significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did USCIS raise fees in 2026?
The major fee increases took effect April 1, 2024 and remain in effect for 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2026 added a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for most nonimmigrant visa applicants. Most immigration fees are unchanged from the 2024 rule, but the cumulative increase since 2023 is substantial for most applicants.
When did the USCIS fee increase take effect?
The 2024 USCIS fee rule took effect April 1, 2024. Applications postmarked or received before that date were processed at old fees. Applications received on or after April 1, 2024 are subject to the new fee schedule. The Visa Integrity Fee was added by the 2026 legislation.
What is the I-765 fee in 2026?
The I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) fee is $820 for initial applications (most categories) and $540 for renewals. This includes the base fee ($260) plus the HR-1 statutory add-on ($560 initial / $280 renewal). The pre-2024 fee was $410 for both initial and renewal.
Are any fees going down in 2026?
The I-90 green card renewal fee went down from $540 to $415 because biometrics ($85) are now bundled into base fees and the I-90 was recalculated. This is one of the rare cases where the net fee decreased. Most other fees increased.
Can I still pay old fees if I already started my application?
No. The fee that applies is determined by the date USCIS receives your application — not when you started preparing it. If you mail a payment based on old fees, USCIS will reject your application as improperly filed and return it without processing.