United States: Immigration Fees, Address, and Payment, What Changes in October 2026

In October 2026, two rounds of immigration fee increases take effect in the United States, fifteen days apart. This guide shows you which date applies to your case, which forms are affected, and how long you have to report a move. It also explains how to pay and where to check the official amounts before you send in an application.

What Changes in October 2026: Overview

The fees created by H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) must be adjusted every year by USCIS^[1]. For fiscal year 2027, the calculation is based on the change in the CPI-U price index between July 2025 and July 2026^[1].

These adjustments follow two schedules:

• October 1, 2026: new fees for certain DHS forms filed with EOIR, the Executive Office for Immigration Review^[2].
• October 16, 2026: new H.R. 1 fees from USCIS^[1].
• October 16, 2026: new parole, ESTA, and EVUS fees^[3].

EOIR Fees Starting October 1

The Department of Justice notice covers four DHS forms when they are filed with EOIR: I-485 (permanent residence or adjustment of status), I-589 (asylum), I-601 (waiver of inadmissibility grounds), and I-821 (TPS)^[2]. For fiscal year 2027, it sets the fees created by H.R. 1 at $1,590 for the I-485, $1,100 for the I-601, $520 for the I-821, $100 for an initial asylum application, and $105 for the annual asylum fee^[2].

These fees are added to those in the DHS fee schedule (section 286(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), which the notice does not change and which refers to USCIS fees. The amount shown on the payment portal and the EOIR website is the sum of both^[2]. For an I-601 filed with the court, you therefore pay both the $1,050 from the USCIS fee schedule^[4] and the $1,100 in H.R. 1 fees^[2]. Check the exact total on the EOIR portal before you pay.

The full list of new amounts appears in the notice published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2026 (91 FR 61447)^[2].

USCIS and CBP Fees Starting October 16

Parole

H.R. 1 parole fees rise from $1,020 to $1,050 for fiscal year 2027^[5]. The Form I-94 stays at $30^[5]. CBP, USCIS, and ICE apply this new parole fee starting October 16, 2026^[5].

ESTA and EVUS

According to AILA, the fees for the ESTA authorization and EVUS enrollment also increase starting October 16, 2026^[3]. Check the new amounts in the CBP notice published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2026 (91 FR 62534).

Asylum, Initial Work Permits, and TPS

USCIS increases cover the annual asylum fee and requests for TPS, parole, and initial work permits (EAD) for asylum seekers, parolees, and TPS holders^[3]. For an application sent to USCIS on or after October 16, 2026^[1], the USCIS notice sets the following amounts^[1] (before the immigration court, the EOIR schedule applies from October 1, see above):

• annual asylum fee: from $102 to $105^[1];
• initial work permit for asylum seekers, parolees, and TPS holders: from $560 to $570^[1];
• Form I-821 (TPS): from $510 to $520^[1].

For USCIS fees, the postmark date is what counts. An agency spokesperson told Newsweek that applicants must "submit the correct amount for any application postmarked on or after the effective date"^[6].

Reporting Your Address Change to USCIS

If you are a foreign national in the United States, you must report any address change to USCIS within 10 days of moving^[7]. Holders of A and G visas and visa-exempt visitors are not subject to this requirement^[7].

You have two ways to file the report:

• Online, from your USCIS account. This report meets the legal requirement and updates your address in the agency's systems almost immediately^[7].
• By mail, using the paper Form AR-11. This report also meets the legal requirement^[7].

If a request is already pending with USCIS, the agency asks to be notified as soon as possible of any change of address, so that you receive all of its mail and decisions without delay^[7]. USCIS's "How to Change Your Address" page provides instructions for certain categories of people^[7].

Paying Your Fees: USCIS Payment Rules

Since October 28, 2025, USCIS no longer accepts paper checks or money orders^[8]. According to New York City's municipal immigrant services office (MOIA), payments must come from a U.S. bank account^[8].

The USCIS immigrant fee has its own rules. It can be paid online, by a valid credit or debit card, or by direct debit from a checking account at a U.S. bank^[9]. A family member, a friend, an employer, a lawyer, or an accredited representative may pay it on your behalf. They will then need your A-number and your Department of State case number^[9]. If you are paying for relatives who will live with you, all fees must be paid in a single transaction^[9].

USCIS recommends paying this fee after you have received your immigrant visa and before traveling to the United States^[9].

Pitfalls, Scams, and Points of Attention

• Wrong amount, rejected application: any request with a postmark dated October 16, 2026 or later that does not include the correct amount will be rejected^[1]. If you are mailing your request around this date, include the new fee.
• Two different dates: October 1 applies to forms filed with EOIR, while October 16 applies to USCIS and CBP. The same form, for example the I-821, appears in the EOIR notice^[2] as well as in USCIS's increases^[3]: the date and amount therefore depend on the agency to which you send it.
• Parole: the grant date matters. The obligation to pay arises when parole is actually granted, not when the application is filed^[5]. The new fee applies to anyone who is granted parole on or after October 16, 2026, regardless of when they applied^[5]. These fees are due for each grant: initial parole from abroad, parole inside the U.S., renewal, or parole upon release from DHS detention^[5].
• Paper Form AR-11: it does not automatically update your address in USCIS systems, and the agency strongly recommends the online tool^[7]. An address that is not updated may cause you to miss important mail.
• Green card not received: you may pay the immigrant fee after arrival, upon USCIS request, but you will not receive your permanent resident card until it has been paid^[9]. The card is mailed to the address given to the Department of State at the visa interview, or to the address provided to CBP upon arrival if it has changed^[9].
• Scams: USCIS advises sharing sensitive information only on official, secure .gov websites^[9]. Pay only through official portals.

Where to Verify Before Acting: Checklist

• USCIS amounts as of October 16: the Federal Register notice of October 1, 2026 on govinfo.gov (91 FR 62540).
• Parole, ESTA, EVUS, and I-94: the CBP notice of October 1, 2026 (91 FR 62534).
• EOIR fees: the notice of September 29, 2026 (91 FR 61447) and the EOIR payment portal.
• USCIS general fee schedule: the G-1055 schedule of September 9, 2026 on uscis.gov^[2] and the section 8 CFR 106.2 on ecfr.gov.
• Change of address: your online USCIS account, within 10 days.
• Special cases (court proceedings, parole, TPS): consult a lawyer or accredited representative before filing.