New USCIS Fees from October 16, 2026: Table

New USCIS Fees from October 16, 2026: Table

The new USCIS fees from October 16, 2026, require careful verification before any immigration application, petition, or request is submitted. Paying an outdated amount can cause U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to reject an otherwise complete filing before it receives substantive review. This guide explains how to identify the controlling fee, compare commonly used filing amounts, and account for additional charges that may apply to a case.

USCIS filing costs are more complicated than a single updated price list. The correct payment may depend on the form number, filing method, requested classification, applicant's age, employer size, nonprofit status, eligibility for a fee waiver, and whether another form is filed concurrently. Statutory surcharges and separate service fees can also increase the total beyond the amount displayed beside the primary form.

References to new USCIS fees from October 16, 2026, should always be checked against the official USCIS Fee Schedule, the instructions for the current edition of the form, and any Federal Register notice establishing an effective date. A date appearing in an article, search result, or filing checklist is not legal authority by itself. This article provides an updated reference framework, but applicants must confirm the exact amount on the day USCIS receives or accepts the filing.

What Are the New USCIS Fees from October 16, 2026?

The phrase new USCIS fees from October 16, 2026, may refer to a revised fee schedule, an inflation adjustment, a statutory charge, or a change affecting only selected immigration benefits. These categories are not interchangeable. A broad USCIS fee rule can modify many form prices, while a separate announcement may affect premium processing, humanitarian filings, employer petitions, or payment procedures without changing every base filing fee.

The effective date is particularly important because USCIS usually applies the fee in effect when it receives a request, not necessarily when the applicant signs the form or sends the package. Online filing is generally treated as submitted when the electronic process and payment are completed successfully. A paper package mailed before an effective date but delivered afterward may therefore require the later amount, depending on the language of the controlling notice and any transition rule.

Important Note: Do not assume that every USCIS form changed price on October 16, 2026. Read the scope of the official notice and verify whether it applies to the specific form, filing category, submission method, and receipt date involved in your case.

Applicants should also distinguish a base filing fee from the total cost of submission. An employment-based petition may include a base fee, an Asylum Program Fee, a fraud prevention fee, or another congressionally required charge. An applicant requesting faster adjudication may need a separate premium processing payment, and an adjustment applicant may have separate charges for employment authorization or travel documentation.

Who Can Benefit from the Updated Fee Information?

Anyone preparing a USCIS filing around the October 16, 2026, date can benefit from reviewing the updated payment rules. The information is especially relevant to people who began preparing a case under an older schedule but plan to submit it after a new effective date. Attorneys, accredited representatives, employers, nonprofit organizations, and family sponsors should also update their internal checklists and client instructions.

• Family-based applicants filing Form I-130, Form I-485, Form I-751, or related applications should verify whether separate fees apply to each requested benefit.

• Employment-based petitioners using Form I-129 or Form I-140 should calculate both the form fee and every classification-specific surcharge.

• Visitors and students filing Form I-539 should compare online and paper fees and confirm that their classification is eligible for online filing.

• Naturalization applicants should review the standard fee, online filing option, reduced-fee criteria, and fee-waiver requirements before submitting Form N-400.

• Humanitarian applicants should determine whether a special statutory fee, exemption, initial filing charge, renewal charge, or annual fee applies.

• Applicants requesting premium processing should verify the correct Form I-907 fee for the underlying benefit and the applicable processing period.

The new USCIS fees can also affect people whose packages were rejected and must be resubmitted. A rejected package does not preserve the original receipt date in most circumstances, and a later submission may be governed by a different fee schedule or form edition. This can be especially consequential when a filing deadline, expiring status, age-related eligibility rule, or visa availability issue is involved.

Updated USCIS Fee Table for Common Forms

The following table presents established reference amounts for frequently used forms and identifies common variables that can change the final payment. It should not be read as a substitute for the official schedule governing a filing received on or after October 16, 2026. Because different legal authorities can modify selected charges at different times, every amount must be rechecked using the current Form G-1055, USCIS fee calculator, form instructions, and applicable agency notice.

Form or RequestReference Base FeeWhat Must Be Verified for October 16, 2026Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative$625 online or $675 on paper under the April 2024 scheduleCurrent online and paper amounts, filing eligibility, and any later statutory adjustmentForm I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence$1,440 for many applicants; $950 for certain children under 14 filing with a parentAge-based rules, humanitarian exemptions, concurrent filing, and separate ancillary benefit feesForm I-765, Application for Employment Authorization$470 online or $520 on paper for many standalone filings; $260 for certain adjustment applicantsEligibility category, filing method, initial or renewal request, and category-specific statutory feesForm I-131, Application for Travel Document$630 for many requests under the April 2024 scheduleDocument type, applicant category, exemptions, and whether a different form or fee now appliesForm I-539, Application to Extend or Change Status$420 online or $470 on paper under the April 2024 scheduleOnline availability, classification, biometrics policy, and the current fee on the submission dateForm N-400, Application for Naturalization$710 online or $760 on paper; $380 for qualifying reduced-fee applicantsIncome criteria, military provisions, fee-waiver eligibility, and current filing method pricesForm I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant WorkerVaries by classification; examples include $780 for many H-1B filings and $1,055 for many O filingsWorker classification, employer size, nonprofit status, Asylum Program Fee, and other surchargesForm I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers$715 base fee under the April 2024 scheduleAsylum Program Fee, petitioner type, self-petition treatment, and any new statutory amountForm I-907, Request for Premium ProcessingVaries according to the underlying petition or applicationBenefit category, current inflation-adjusted premium fee, processing period, and separate payment rules

The amounts in the reference column show why relying on a single statement about new USCIS fees is risky. Even before any October 2026 change, online and paper filings could have different prices, and a lower fee could apply to a narrowly defined group. Some employment petitions also used different base amounts for small employers and nonprofit organizations.

USCIS may reject a filing if the payment is below the required total, above the required amount when exact payment is required, unauthorized, or submitted through an unacceptable method. Applicants should not round a fee or combine unrelated charges unless current instructions expressly permit that approach. When multiple payments are required, the payer must ensure that each transaction can be processed.

Why the Total USCIS Cost May Exceed the Base Fee

Separate Fees for Related Benefits

A principal application does not always include every related immigration benefit. For example, adjustment applicants may need to pay separately for Form I-765 employment authorization and Form I-131 travel documentation. A person who assumes that these benefits remain included with Form I-485 could underpay the package or omit a required form-specific payment.

Likewise, premium processing is optional and requires Form I-907 with a separate fee. Paying for premium processing does not replace the fee for the underlying Form I-129, Form I-140, Form I-765, or Form I-539 request. It also does not guarantee approval; it purchases action within the applicable premium processing timeframe, which may include a decision, a request for evidence, or another permitted agency action.

Employer and Classification-Specific Charges

Employment petitions can carry several layers of charges. Depending on the classification and petitioner, a filing may require an Asylum Program Fee, Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act fee, or another statutory payment. Some charges apply only to initial petitions or changes of employer, while others can apply more broadly.

Employer size and nonprofit status may alter the amount of the base fee or an associated program fee. The petitioner should retain reliable records supporting the selected fee category, such as employee-count documentation or evidence of qualifying nonprofit status. Choosing the lower amount without meeting its definition can lead to rejection, delay, or a later request for clarification.

Fee Waivers and Reduced Fees

A fee waiver is available only for designated forms and applicants who satisfy the applicable criteria. It is not enough to show that paying would be inconvenient, and not every immigration benefit permits Form I-912 or a written waiver request. Applicants should consult the current fee-waiver list and provide the required evidence of means-tested benefits, income, or financial hardship.

Important Note: Never subtract an expected waiver from the payment unless the form is eligible and a complete waiver request is being filed. If USCIS denies the waiver at intake, the entire submission may be rejected and returned without a receipt number.

Step-by-Step Process for Paying the Correct Fee

A systematic review is safer than copying an amount from an old filing, saved checklist, or third-party article. The following process should be completed shortly before submission because USCIS can update forms, fees, addresses, and payment instructions. Keep a dated copy of the sources used to calculate the total.

Step 1: Identify Every Form and Benefit Request

List each form in the package, including supplements, dependent applications, employment authorization requests, travel requests, and premium processing forms. Identify who is signing each form and whether that person is an applicant, beneficiary, petitioner, employer, sponsor, or derivative family member. A family package may contain several applications that each require an individual fee.

Step 2: Confirm the Form Edition and Filing Method

Open the official USCIS page for each form and confirm the accepted edition date. Then determine whether the request will be filed online, by mail, or through another authorized process. An online price should never be used for a paper submission merely because the form was prepared electronically.

Step 3: Review the Current Official Fee Sources

Check Form G-1055, the USCIS online fee calculator, the form-specific filing-fee section, and any notice announcing the new USCIS fees from October 16, 2026. If the sources appear inconsistent, look at their publication and effective dates and determine whether one applies only to a specific category. Do not rely exclusively on a cached search result because it may display an amount from a superseded page.

Step 4: Add Surcharges and Optional Services

Calculate the base amount first and then list every additional charge separately. Review the rules for premium processing, employer-related fees, humanitarian program fees, biometrics, and dependent applications. Writing out the calculation makes it easier to catch an omitted payment and explain the total to another reviewer.

Step 5: Verify the Accepted Payment Method

Follow the payment instructions for the filing location and submission method. USCIS payment policies have changed over time, so applicants should not assume that a check, money order, credit card authorization, or bank-account authorization remains acceptable for a particular filing. Confirm whether separate payments are required and whether combining charges could cause the entire package to be rejected if one transaction fails.

Step 6: Conduct a Final Date-Based Review

Repeat the fee check immediately before submitting the case, especially if the delivery date will be close to October 16, 2026. For mailed filings, consider the likely USCIS receipt date rather than looking only at the postmark. Save copies of the completed payment authorizations, courier tracking, fee calculation, and official instructions used.

Required Documents and Payment Records

The documents needed to establish eligibility vary by immigration benefit, but every fee-sensitive filing should contain a clear payment record. Organizing these materials does not change the amount owed, yet it reduces the risk of using the wrong category or being unable to reconstruct a rejected transaction. The checklist below focuses on fee verification rather than the substantive evidence required to win the case.

Document or RecordDescriptionRequiredCurrent USCIS formThe accepted edition of each application, petition, or request being submittedYesFee calculation worksheetAn itemized list of base fees, surcharges, optional services, and dependent paymentsRecommendedPayment authorizationThe currently accepted payment form or electronic transaction required for the filing methodYes, unless exempt or waivedFee-waiver requestForm I-912 or another permitted request with supporting financial evidenceOnly when applicableReduced-fee evidenceIncome, household, nonprofit, employer-size, or classification evidence supporting a lower amountWhen claiming a reduced feeOfficial fee source copyA saved copy or printout of the schedule and instructions consulted before filingRecommendedDelivery or submission confirmationCourier tracking, online confirmation, or another record showing the submission dateRecommended

A complete payment record is particularly useful when a fee change occurs near the delivery date. If USCIS returns the package, the rejection notice should be reviewed before resubmission because it may identify a payment error, outdated form edition, missing signature, or incorrect filing location. The applicant should then recalculate every charge under the rules applicable to the new submission date.

Do not resend a rejected package mechanically. Forms may have been stamped, separated, or marked during intake, and a deadline may have passed while the package was in transit. When timing affects status or eligibility, obtaining advice from a qualified immigration attorney can be important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did all USCIS fees increase on October 16, 2026?

Not necessarily. A USCIS announcement can apply to all forms, a limited group of benefits, one surcharge, premium processing, or only a payment procedure. Applicants should read the scope and effective-date provisions of the controlling notice rather than assuming that every listed form received a new price.

Which USCIS fee applies if I mailed my case before October 16, 2026?

The answer generally depends on when USCIS considers the filing received and on any transition language in the fee notice. Mailing a package before the effective date may not preserve the earlier amount if USCIS receives it afterward. Review the official notice and retain proof of mailing and delivery.

Can I use an old USCIS fee if I signed the form before the increase?

Usually, the signature date alone does not determine the required payment. USCIS generally evaluates whether the proper fee and form edition were submitted under the rules in effect when the filing was received or electronically submitted. A form prepared months earlier should therefore undergo a final edition and fee review.

Where can I verify the new USCIS fees?

Use the official USCIS page for the form, the current Form G-1055 Fee Schedule, the USCIS fee calculator, and the relevant Federal Register or agency notice. Compare the effective dates and confirm that the amount applies to the exact classification and filing method. Archived pages and third-party charts can provide context but should not control the payment.

Will USCIS accept my case if I accidentally overpay?

Applicants should not assume that overpayment will cure uncertainty. USCIS expects the correct fee and may reject a filing when the payment instrument or amount does not comply with its instructions. Calculate the exact total, follow rules about separate payments, and verify that the account or card can cover every authorized transaction.

Conclusion

The new USCIS fees from October 16, 2026, should be approached as a form-specific and date-sensitive issue rather than as a single universal increase. Verify the current form edition, filing method, receipt-date rule, base payment, statutory surcharges, optional services, and any valid exemption or reduction. A final review immediately before submission can prevent avoidable rejection, lost time, and the need to rebuild an immigration package under a later set of rules.

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