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New Immigration Fees for Asylum Seekers: What You Need to Know

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Significant changes to immigration fees took effect in 2025, impacting asylum seekers and other immigrants across the United States. Understanding these new costs is crucial for anyone navigating the asylum process or applying for work permits.

The Annual Asylum Fee: Currently on Pause

One of the most significant changes introduced in 2025 was a new annual asylum fee of $100 for applications pending more than one year. However, there’s important news: as of October 30, 2025, this fee is temporarily paused due to ongoing litigation.

While no asylum seekers are currently required to pay this annual fee, the pause is temporary. The court has indicated that the government may be allowed to collect the fee again if certain procedural issues are addressed. If you have an asylum application that’s been pending for over a year, you may need to pay this fee in the near future.

Key Points About the Annual Fee:

  • The fee is $100 per asylum application, not per person
  • If your application includes family members, you only pay once
  • The fee covers all previous years your application has been pending
  • No fee waivers are available
  • The fee applies to both USCIS and Immigration Court cases

You can check if you’re able to pay the fee now by visiting the USCIS payment website or the immigration court payment portal, though payment is currently not required.

Initial Asylum Application Fees

Starting in July 2025, it now costs $100 to file a new asylum application. This represents a significant change from the previous policy of free asylum applications.

Filing with USCIS:

If you’re submitting your asylum application to USCIS (which began accepting applications on July 22, 2025), you can pay the fee online or include it with your mailed application. Applications submitted without payment will be rejected and returned.

Filing in Immigration Court:

For those filing in immigration court, the fee requirement started around July 4, 2025, but the payment system wasn’t available until September 23, 2025. This created confusion for applicants during that period. If your application was rejected between July 4 and September 22 due to non-payment, you can now pay the fee and resubmit.

To pay the immigration court fee, visit the court’s online payment portal, enter your A Number, and select the asylum application filing option. Make sure to save your receipt and Payment Tracking ID for your records.

Work Permit Fee Increases

Perhaps the most financially impactful changes affect work permit applications for asylum seekers:

Initial Work Permits:

Previously free, it now costs $550 to apply for your first work permit as an asylum seeker.

Renewal Work Permits:

The cost increased by $275, bringing the total to:

  • $745 if applying online
  • $795 if applying by mail

Replacement Work Permits:

If you need to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged work permit, the fee remains:

  • $470 online
  • $520 by mail

Important note: Fee waivers are not available for initial work permits. For renewals, only partial fee waivers are possible, and for replacements, full fee waivers remain available.

Other Immigration Fee Changes

TPS-Based Work Permits:

Temporary Protected Status applicants also face increased costs:

  • First-time TPS registration: $530
  • Initial work permit: $1,020-$1,070
  • Renewal work permit: $745-$795

Additionally, TPS-based work permits are now valid for only one year or until TPS expires, whichever comes first.

Parole-Based Work Permits:

For those with work permits based on parole:

  • Initial work permit: $1,020-$1,070
  • Renewal work permit: $745-$795

These permits are also limited to one year or until parole expires.

How to Pay These Fees

For USCIS Applications:

When filing online, you can pay with a credit card, debit card, or bank account transfer. For mailed applications, you have several options:

  • Credit or debit card using Form G-1450
  • Bank account transfer using Form G-1650
  • Check or money order (as of October 28, 2025, requires Form G-1651)

If you don’t have a credit or debit card, you can purchase a prepaid card at many large retailers. Just make sure it has enough funds to cover the entire fee.

For Immigration Court Fees:

Most immigration court fees can be paid online through the court’s electronic payment system. Always save your receipt and Payment Tracking ID for your records.

What This Means for Asylum Seekers

These fee increases represent a substantial financial burden for asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing persecution and arrive in the United States with limited resources. The costs can quickly add up:

  • Initial asylum application: $100
  • Annual asylum fee (when reinstated): $100
  • Initial work permit: $550
  • Work permit renewal: $745-$795

For a family filing a single asylum application, the total could reach over $1,500 in the first two years alone.

Asylum application and judge's gavel

Planning Your Immigration Journey

The situation regarding asylum fees remains fluid, particularly with the ongoing litigation over the annual asylum fee. When navigating the asylum process, it’s crucial to:

  • Check official government websites regularly for updates
  • Save all receipts and payment confirmations
  • Plan financially for these fees in advance
  • Understand your payment options and deadlines
  • Keep detailed records of all submissions and payments

How Luqman Law Can Help

Navigating immigration fees and the asylum process can be overwhelming, especially with recent changes and ongoing legal developments. If you’re uncertain about which fees apply to your situation, need help understanding payment procedures, or have questions about your asylum application, Luqman Law is here to assist you.

Our experienced immigration attorneys can:

  • Guide you through the asylum application process
  • Help you understand which fees apply to your case
  • Ensure your applications are properly submitted with correct payment
  • Keep you informed about changes to immigration policies
  • Represent you throughout your immigration journey

Don’t navigate this complex process alone. Contact Luqman Law today for a consultation and personalized guidance on your immigration case.

Note: Immigration fees and policies can change. Always verify current fees and requirements through official government sources or consult with a qualified immigration attorney before submitting applications.

This information is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice specific to your situation, please contact Luqman Law