• Source:JND
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The United States is set to implement a series of fee hikes on travel and immigration services starting January 1, 2026, as part of mandatory annual adjustments tied to inflation. The changes fall under former President Donald Trump’s legislative package popularly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (HR-1), which requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revise specific immigration-related charges every fiscal year.

The latest updates affect the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), and the parole fee that applies to non-citizens granted temporary entry into the US. The revised fee structure was formally published in the Federal Register on July 22.

What Changes From January 1?

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that the revised fees reflect inflation between July 2024 and July 2025, and will apply to all applications postmarked on or after January 1, 2026.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) outlined the following adjustments:

Parole Fee: Increasing from USD 1,000 to USD 1,020.

Parole allows an individual temporary entry into the US without a visa or formal admission, a category where the hike may impact applicants from countries including India.

ESTA Fee: Increasing by USD 0.27 from USD 40 to USD 40.27.

However, this change does not apply to Indian travellers, as India is not part of the Visa Waiver Program.

EVUS Fee: Rising by USD 0.75, from USD 30 to USD 30.75.

EVUS applies exclusively to Chinese B-1/B-2 visa holders, meaning this adjustment also does not affect Indian passport holders.

The fee for Form I-94, used to record entry and exit data for foreign visitors, remains unchanged at USD 30.

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Updated Fees For Forms And Permits

The CBP notice also lists new charges for several forms used by asylum seekers, parole applicants, and individuals under Temporary Protected Status (TPS):

Annual Asylum Application Fee: USD 102 (up from USD 100)

Form I-765 (initial asylum EAD): USD 560 (up from USD 550)

Form I-765 (initial parole EAD): USD 560 (up from USD 550)

Form I-765 (parole EAD renewal): USD 280 (up from USD 275)

Form I-765 (initial TPS EAD): USD 560 (up from USD 550)

Form I-765 (TPS EAD renewal): USD 280 (up from USD 275)

Form I-131 (Part 9, re-parole EAD): USD 280 (up from USD 275)

Form I-821 (TPS application): USD 510 (up from $500)

Will These Changes Affect Indian Applicants?

For most Indian travellers, the impact will be minimal:

ESTA and EVUS fee hikes do not apply to Indian citizens.

The parole fee increase may affect only those seeking temporary humanitarian or special-situation entry into the US. Applicants filing employment authorization or asylum-related forms will see slightly higher costs. Overall, the changes are modest but reflect a continuing trend of annual fee adjustments mandated by federal law.

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