New $1,000 Parole Fee Goes into Effect — Big Shift for Immigrants

📌 What happened:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective October 15, 2025, individuals who are paroled into the U.S. under the immigration parole program must pay a fee of $1,000. USCIS
The rule is tied to the larger immigration-reform legislation under H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill and allows for the fee to be adjusted annually for inflation. The Economic Times
Some exemptions remain for humanitarian and “public interest” cases — meaning not everyone facing parole will pay, but many will. The Economic Times

💡 Why it matters:

For newly-paroled immigrants (those granted temporary entry under parole rather than typical visa/green-card paths), a six-figure fee now adds a major financial hurdle.
Legal and non-profit advocates warn this may reduce access to parole for lower-income individuals or push them into making rushed or risky decisions.
Employers and immigrant-serving organisations should update guidance materials: this fee becomes part of the “what to expect” list for parole cases.

🔑 What’s Changing?

Before: Parole could be granted under various humanitarian, public-interest, or other grounds without a set high fee attached.
Now: A $1,000 fee must be paid for parole applications (with annual inflation adjustments).
Exemptions exist, but the default becomes fee-paying.
USCIS and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) say the change is to “reduce abuse” of parole and ensure program sustainability. Department of Homeland Security

🧾 What Are the Options Now?

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If you’re applying for parole: review eligibility for fee exemptions (humanitarian, public-interest) and budget accordingly.
Legal practitioners should update client intake checklists and flag potential cost issues.
Community orgs may need to assist with fee-funding or provide referrals for fee-waiver support if available.
Keep track of the annual inflation adjustment — next year the fee may increase further.

⚠️ Important Reminders:

This fee applies only to parole grants under the DHS/USCIS program — other immigration pathways (visas, adjustment of status) may not be affected in the same way (though changes could be coming).
Fee exemptions are not automatic; you must meet the specific humanitarian or public interest criteria.
Because this is a major cost shift, delays or errors in fee payment may lead to application rejection or processing delays.
While fee rules are in place now, policy/legal challenges could arise (so stay alert for updates).