In a significant policy development, the United States has implemented a new fee structure for foreign nationals seeking work authorization, with sweeping implications for asylum seekers, parolees, and those under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). As of August 21, 2025, any application for work authorization submitted without the newly mandated fees will face outright rejection by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
At the heart of the changes is Form I-765, the Application for Employment Authorization. The general filing fee has now been set at $470 for online submissions and $520 for paper filings. This fee applies across the board, including those who had previously been exempt—specifically, individuals granted asylum, parolees, and TPS recipients.
However, for those applying under humanitarian categories such as asylum, parole, and TPS—classified under I-765 eligibility codes (a)(4), (a)(12), (c)(8), (c)(11), (c)(19), and (c)(34)—there’s an additional tiered fee structure. Initial employment authorization applications for these categories now incur a $550 charge, while renewals or extensionscost $275.
In tandem, applicants for asylum using Form I-589 are now subject to a new financial obligation. Filing the asylum application will cost $100, and—critically—individuals with pending I-589 applications must pay an Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) of $100 each calendar year their case remains unresolved. The first AAF is due on the 365th day after filing, with subsequent payments required on the same calendar date in following years.
There is, however, a narrow exemption to these fees. If an applicant receives a new period of parole by filing Form I-131, which covers Travel Documents and Parole Documents, then applies for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), they are eligible for the lower $275 fee—rather than the elevated rates for humanitarian categories.
These newly enacted fees stem from the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill, whose provisions officially took effect from July 22, 2025. USCIS has made it clear that it will reject any form postmarked on or after August 21, 2025, unless the correct, updated fee accompanies the application.
To summarize the key changes:
Form I-765 (general applicants): $470 online / $520 paper.
Form I-765 (asylum, parole, TPS categories): $550 for initial application; $275 for renewals/extensions.
Form I-589 (asylum): $100 filing fee.
Annual Asylum Fee: $100 per calendar year for pending I-589.
Parole-related EAD via Form I-131: $275 (reduced rate).
Strict enforcement: Forms submitted after August 21, 2025, without correct fees will be rejected.
These changes substantially raise the financial bar for vulnerable groups seeking work authorization in the U.S. The addition of an annual fee for pending asylum applicants makes prolonged wait times more costly, and the steep pricing differences between general and humanitarian applicants mark a sharp policy shift.
As these reforms take hold, affected individuals must ensure their filings are complete and accurate, particularly with respect to payment, to avoid administrative denial and procedural setbacks.
