In a significant development for immigrants, employers, students, and legal practitioners, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a Federal Register notice confirming that a new round of USCIS fee increases for FY 2026 will take effect on January 1, 2026.
The announcement marks an inflation-based revision of multiple immigration benefit fees, impacting individuals both inside and outside the United States.
The notice forms part of the annual update mandated under federal law, which requires USCIS to adjust certain fees in line with changes in the Consumer Price Index. For FY 2026, this has resulted in a calculated adjustment of approximately 2.7%, leading to revised costs across a spectrum of filings.
The update comes at a time when applicants are already managing shifting immigration policies and rising processing queues, making the 2026 USCIS fee hike an important development for anyone planning to submit an application in the new year.
What is Driving the USCIS Immigration Fee Increase 2026?
Under the governing statute, USCIS must apply annual inflation adjustments to designated immigration-related fees. These include a variety of applications and petitions tied to benefits such as:
- Employment authorization
- Humanitarian protections
- Certain temporary statuses
- Select employer-driven filings
This year’s adjustment is rooted in the CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) change from July 2024 to July 2025. Although modest, the 2.7% upward revision means several fees will rise, while others, due to rounding requirements, will remain at their current levels.
The increase is not part of a broader restructuring (such as the large-scale fee overhaul introduced in previous years), but rather a legally required inflation update. Nevertheless, these changes still have wide-reaching implications for applicants preparing for the new immigration fees January 2026 US regulatory cycle.
The updated USCIS fee schedule 2026 will include revised amounts for specific HR-1-mandated fees. While not every immigration form is affected, the increases will still impact several widely used applications.
Categories potentially touched by the update include:
1. Employment Authorization Documents (EAD)
Fees for filing or renewing EAD applications, especially for asylum applicants, TPS beneficiaries, and other categories, may increase slightly.
2. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Filings
Some TPS-related forms fall directly under the HR-1 inflation adjustment and will reflect the new fee amounts.
3. Employer Filings & the Visa Integrity Fee
Although the core H-1B filing fees are not directly part of the inflation adjustment, employers should remain attentive to related changes, particularly those associated with the Visa Integrity Fee USA, which has been implemented in recent years for select visa categories and may be referenced in future fee updates.
4. Non-Immigrant Worker Filings
While the Federal Register notice does not explicitly modify the base petition fees for H categories this cycle, employers planning for FY 2026 should be prepared for indirect impacts, especially if they file associated benefits such as EADs or travel documents.
This means the H-1B visa fee hike of 2026 may not be a direct inflation adjustment but could still tie into holistic cost increases that employers experience throughout the sponsorship cycle.
When will USCIS fees increase?
USCIS has confirmed that the updated fees will apply to any application postmarked on or after January 1, 2026.
This means:
- Applications filed before January 1, 2026, may use the old fees.
- Applications filed on or after the effective date must use the new fee schedule.
- Incorrect fees will result in rejection, causing delays and complications, especially for time-sensitive filings such as H-1B cap-subject petitions, extensions, and EAD renewals.
For applicants working with attorneys or service providers, advance planning will be essential to avoid issues at the start of the new year.
What Should Applicants Do Now?
To prepare for the changes, applicants should:
- Review the upcoming USCIS fee schedule 2026 as soon as the agency posts the final chart.
- Plan filings should be strategically submitted before January 1, 2026, when possible.
- Double-check fees before mailing any form or submitting online.
- Consult qualified immigration counsel if unsure which fee applies to your case.
- Monitor USCIS announcements in early December for potential clarifications.
A Modest Increase With Major Timing Implications
Although the USCIS immigration fee increase for 2026 is relatively small due to the limited inflation adjustment, the stakes remain high for applicants, especially those facing urgent timelines. From the H-1B visa fee hike 2026 concerns to student filings and family-based petitions, the updated fees shape the financial landscape for anyone interacting with the U.S. immigration system in the coming year.
With the new immigration fees for January 2026 US becoming effective soon, applicants, employers, and institutions must stay informed, act early when possible, and ensure every filing aligns with the revised fee chart to avoid costly delays.
