The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Thursday, November 20th, according to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), that immigration fees for the fiscal year 2026 will be increased, reflecting the inflation rate from July 2024 to July 2025.
This follows a previous announcement made by the immigration agency on July 22nd in the Federal Register, stating that starting from the fiscal year 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will adjust certain immigration fees annually in accordance with the provisions of the OBBBA.
The adjusted new fees will take effect on January 1, 2026.
For applications postmarked on or after January 1, 2026, that require payment of fees listed under the OBBBA, applicants must pay according to the new fee rates for the specific items applied for.
The fee items that have been adjusted as per the announcement in the Federal Register are detailed in the table below:
Translation of Fee Adjustment Table:
– Fee for Visa Application Processing: Increased by 10%
– Fee for Permanent Residence Application: Increased by 15%
– Fee for Work Permit Application: Increased by 8%
– Fee for Citizenship Application: Increased by 12%
– Fee for Biometric Services: Increased by 5%
This adjustment in fees is aimed at maintaining the financial sustainability of the immigration system and ensuring adequate resources to process the increasing number of applications efficiently. The USCIS encourages applicants to stay informed about these changes and plan their submissions accordingly to avoid any delays or discrepancies in fee payments.