Washington — The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new $1,000 (approximately ₹88,000) immigration parole charge that will apply to certain migrants requesting temporary permission to enter or remain in the country.
What is immigration parole?
Immigration parole allows individuals to stay in the U.S. without a visa or formal admission, typically for humanitarian or public service reasons. It grants temporary lawful presence under extraordinary circumstances but does not provide permanent immigration status.
What does the new fee cover?
The $1,000 fee applies to all migrants granted parole under Section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act from October 16, 2025 onward. This includes:
Extensions or renewals of existing parole (re-parole)
Parole for those already residing in the U.S.
Parole releases from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody
The charge will be levied in addition to existing filing and biometric fees, not as a replacement. Applicants will be notified by USCIS if they qualify and must pay the amount within a specified period.
USCIS clarified, “We will not grant parole unless you pay the immigration parole fee as instructed and within the specified time period.” The fee will be collected by USCIS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — the three DHS branches overseeing parole.
Who must pay the new fee?
The fee applies to migrants seeking:
Temporary entry for humanitarian or public interest reasons (e.g., refugees from conflict zones awaiting asylum processing)
Re-parole or extension of existing parole
Parole to remain legally in the U.S., such as undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel
Parole release from DHS custody
Who is exempt from the fee?
Certain groups are exempt, including:
Individuals already lawfully in the U.S. who are not applying for new parole (e.g., visa holders such as H-1B or F-1)
Witnesses or informants assisting law enforcement investigations
Individuals in life-threatening emergencies or urgent medical evacuations
USCIS noted that waivers will be granted only in extreme humanitarian cases, such as medical emergencies or immediate threats to life.
