Migratory procedures will cost more starting from January 2026 in the United States, according to the federal government’s announcement through the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Eight critical forms will see increases in their fees, affecting especially asylum seekers, work permits, and temporary protection applicants. The announcement confirms that migratory procedures will cost more for those seeking to regularize or maintain their legal migratory status in the US.
New prices for main processes
- The Annual Request for Asylum Fee will rise from $100 to $102 (currently suspended).
- The Form I-765 (initial EAD for asylum seekers or TPS) will go from $550 to $560.
- Renewals for work permits (EAD) associated with temporary permission or TPS will increase from $275 to $280.
- The Form I-131 (new periods of ‘re-parole’) will also increase from $275 to $280.
- The Request for Temporary Protection Status (Form I-821) will rise from $500 to $510.
Fee adjustments for inflation and payment changes
The rule establishes that, starting from 2026, all migratory procedures will cost more each fiscal year, as fees will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index (IPC-U) determined in July. This means that continuous increases will affect those managing any of these migratory procedures in the following years.
Migratory procedures will cost more: new payment methods
Another relevant change is that migratory procedures will cost more and, in addition, can no longer be paid by money order or check. From October 2025, only payments through a special form allowing debit, savings, or credit card will be accepted. This responds to Executive Order 14247 aimed at modernizing payment methods in the US, reducing fraud risks, and streamlining processes.
Impact on Dominicans and migrant communities
With over two million Dominicans residing in the United States, especially in cities like New York and Miami, the news that migratory procedures will cost more generates concern in a community that frequently renews TPS, asylum requests, and work permits. Representatives of migrant organizations have pointed out that this increase may affect the economic stability of migrant families, as added to legal services costs, the annual amount could exceed $1,000 per person.
Why migratory procedures will cost more?
According to USCIS precedents, the fee adjustments aim to cover the agency’s high operational costs, which depend almost exclusively on service income. Periodic increases have been a constant since the 1990s, although this new annual adjustment linked to inflation marks a precedent in US migration policy.
The announcement about migratory procedures will cost more from 2026 is relevant not only for Dominicans abroad but for all migrant communities. Experts recommend planning ahead for any procedure, as the new prices and payment methods are mandatory for all applicants from January of that year.
