In the very early hours of Sunday, November 23, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) quietly posted a final rule to the Federal Register announcing across-the-board fee increases that will take effect on January 1, 2026. The adjustment—about two percent on average—represents the first automatic inflation update required by Section 4303 of the 2025 "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which tied many immigration fees to the Consumer Price Index.
While the dollar amounts look modest at first glance—many rise by just US $5-10—the ripple effect for high-volume corporate mobility programs is significant. As an illustration, a Fortune 500 technology firm that files 300 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals and 100 humanitarian-parole EADs each year will see its annual outlay rise by roughly US $4,500, an expense that will recur and compound every year as indexing continues. Employers that sponsor large numbers of F-1 STEM OPT students, H-4 spouses, or TPS beneficiaries can expect similar budget impacts.
![USCIS Unveils CPI-Linked Fee Increases, Raising Costs for Nearly All Immigration Benefits in 2026]()
The notice touches almost every form type processed by USCIS: I-131 Advance Parole climbs from US $630 to US $640; I-765 EAD from US $650 to US $665; I-821 TPS registration from US $135 to US $138; and the I-912 fee-waiver request—previously free—will now cost US $10 to file, a move certain to spark controversy among advocacy groups. Premium Processing Service remains at US $2,805 for most classifications because those surcharges are controlled by a separate statute, but the underlying base form fees are still subject to the new indexing rule.
USCIS justified the increases as essential to “maintaining timely adjudications and investing in fraud-detection technology,” noting that the agency is mandated by law to fund 96 percent of its operations from user fees rather than congressional appropriations. The agency conceded, however, that the new rule will have disproportionate effects on small businesses and humanitarian applicants—even as it argued that failing to adjust fees would trigger larger backlogs and longer processing times.
For global mobility managers, the practical takeaway is clear: budget forecasts for calendar-year 2026 must be updated immediately, purchase orders amended, and foreign national employees advised of the higher filing costs. Companies should also revisit cost-sharing policies and mobility allowances, particularly for dependent EAD renewals, STEM OPT extensions, and adjustment-of-status filings that often come out of pocket for employees. Finally, employers with H-1B or L-1 populations should remember that the new “visa integrity fee” of US $250—passed last summer but not yet implemented—could layer additional cost pressure on top of Sunday’s CPI jump, once DHS finalizes its collection mechanism next year.
While the dollar amounts look modest at first glance—many rise by just US $5-10—the ripple effect for high-volume corporate mobility programs is significant. As an illustration, a Fortune 500 technology firm that files 300 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals and 100 humanitarian-parole EADs each year will see its annual outlay rise by roughly US $4,500, an expense that will recur and compound every year as indexing continues. Employers that sponsor large numbers of F-1 STEM OPT students, H-4 spouses, or TPS beneficiaries can expect similar budget impacts.
The notice touches almost every form type processed by USCIS: I-131 Advance Parole climbs from US $630 to US $640; I-765 EAD from US $650 to US $665; I-821 TPS registration from US $135 to US $138; and the I-912 fee-waiver request—previously free—will now cost US $10 to file, a move certain to spark controversy among advocacy groups. Premium Processing Service remains at US $2,805 for most classifications because those surcharges are controlled by a separate statute, but the underlying base form fees are still subject to the new indexing rule.
USCIS justified the increases as essential to “maintaining timely adjudications and investing in fraud-detection technology,” noting that the agency is mandated by law to fund 96 percent of its operations from user fees rather than congressional appropriations. The agency conceded, however, that the new rule will have disproportionate effects on small businesses and humanitarian applicants—even as it argued that failing to adjust fees would trigger larger backlogs and longer processing times.
For global mobility managers, the practical takeaway is clear: budget forecasts for calendar-year 2026 must be updated immediately, purchase orders amended, and foreign national employees advised of the higher filing costs. Companies should also revisit cost-sharing policies and mobility allowances, particularly for dependent EAD renewals, STEM OPT extensions, and adjustment-of-status filings that often come out of pocket for employees. Finally, employers with H-1B or L-1 populations should remember that the new “visa integrity fee” of US $250—passed last summer but not yet implemented—could layer additional cost pressure on top of Sunday’s CPI jump, once DHS finalizes its collection mechanism next year.
