The U.S. government has introduced a new charge of US $1,000 (approximately ₹88,000) for certain migrants applying for immigration parole, in a move announced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The new fee takes effect 16 October 2025 and applies to individuals seeking temporary admission or stay in the country under extraordinary circumstances, though a number of exemptions also apply.
Under U.S. law, “parole” allows non-citizens who are not admitted via the usual visa process to enter or remain temporarily in the U.S. for specific public-interest or humanitarian reasons — yet it does not grant them full immigration status. The fee applies to those who are physically present in the United States and are being granted parole, or a new period of parole, under Section 212 (d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The application of the fee is fairly broad: it covers new parole grants, extensions of an existing parole period (known as “re-parole”), and parole granted to individuals released from the custody of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). When individuals file Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document) and are determined eligible for parole, USCIS will instruct whether the fee needs to be paid and will not grant the parole unless the applicant pays the fee within the specified time frame. This is in addition to any existing biometric or filing fees that applicants may already owe.
However, the fee is not universal. Several categories are explicitly exempted, including those already present in the United States who are not being granted new parole, such as individuals admitted under a visa (for example H-1B or F-1) who are not applying for parole. Also exempt are witnesses or informants assisting in investigations or legal proceedings, and cases involving emergency medical evacuations or urgent humanitarian rescue where immediate danger is present. In these high-risk or emergency contexts, a waiver of the fee may be granted.
From a policy perspective, the new fee reflects an effort by U.S. immigration authorities to recoup the cost of processing parole requests and to regulate the parole program more actively. By imposing the fee, the government signals it views parole as a special, exceptional status rather than a routine immigration benefit.
For applicants, the key practical takeaways are: check whether you are being granted parole (rather than merely holding a visa or seeking another immigration benefit); await instruction from USCIS on whether you must pay the fee; and ensure you pay in full and on time if required, since parole will not be granted without that payment. Also note the high dollar amount — US $1,000 — which may affect applicants’ planning and ability to pay.
Given the exemptions, individuals in immediate distress (such as urgent medical cases or fleeing danger) may not face the fee, but most other applicants seeking parole under the cited statute should anticipate this cost. It remains important for applicants and their advisers to monitor USCIS communications closely and to verify eligibility and fee status.
In summary: Effective 16 October 2025, U.S. immigration law will require a US $1,000 fee for most users of the parole pathway. While some humanitarian and emergency categories are exempt, the vast majority of individuals granted new parole, extensions of parole, or released on parole by DHS will be subject to the fee. Applicants are advised to understand whether they qualify, await USCIS direction, and budget accordingly.
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