The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced new mandatory immigration-related fees, including those for asylum, parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants. The changes, introduced under U.S. law H.R. 1, will take effect on July 22, 2025, with strict enforcement beginning August 21.

According to a Federal Register notice issued by USCIS on July 18, 2025, the new fees are non-waivable and apply to applicants from Nigeria and all other countries seeking immigration benefits in the United States.

The agency emphasized that applications postmarked on or after August 21, 2025, that do not include the required fees will be rejected. However, all applications submitted from July 22 onward must include the new charges to be processed.

The revised fee structure introduces the following costs:

  • $100 application fee for Form I-589 (Asylum and Withholding of Removal).
  • $100 Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) for each year a Form I-589 remains unresolved.
  • $550 for initial Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications under certain categories.
  • $275 for EAD renewals or extensions under categories such as asylum, parolee, and TPS (including (a)(4), (a)(12), (c)(8), (c)(11), (c)(19), and (c)(34)).
  • $275 EAD fee for re-parole applicants using Form I-131.
  • $250 filing fee for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) cases using Form I-360.
  • $500 for TPS registration via Form I-821, a significant jump from the previous $50.

USCIS clarified that these new charges are in addition to the current USCIS fees under 8 CFR part 106 and are not eligible for fee waivers or reductions, unlike existing fees that may be waived with Form I-912.

“Applicants must submit the new fees with benefit requests postmarked on or after July 22, 2025. USCIS will reject any form postmarked on or after Aug. 21, 2025, without the proper fees,” the agency stated.

In addition to the fee hikes, USCIS also announced changes to the validity periods for Employment Authorization Documents:

  • Parolees will receive EADs valid for up to one year or until parole ends, whichever is shorter.
  • TPS beneficiaries will receive initial and renewal EADs valid for up to one year or the duration of their TPS status.

USCIS added that further changes, including fees related to Form I-131 (Travel Document) and Form I-102 (Replacement of Arrival/Departure Record), will be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice and are not part of the current implementation phase.

______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “How to use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion.” Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.   ______________________________________________________________________ “Bridging Theory And Courtroom Practice” — Hagler Sunny Okorie, Nathaniel Ngozi Ikeocha Unveil ‘Functional’ Tort Law Book For Nigerian Legal System The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209. ______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ________________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________