The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the implementation of a new immigration parole fee mandated by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill. The fee is $1,000 for FY 2025 and will be adjusted annually for inflation. The policy takes effect on October 16, 2025.
Key Points at a Glance
- Amount: $1,000 for FY 2025; increases annually with inflation.
- Effective date: October 16, 2025.
- Who pays: Most noncitizens granted parole or re-parole while physically present in the U.S.
- When collected: After USCIS determines parole or re-parole can be approved, you will receive a payment notice with instructions and a deadline. Do not include this fee when filing Form I-131.
- No general fee waivers: H.R. 1 bars waivers for this fee, except for specific statutory exceptions listed below.
When the Parole Fee Applies
Beginning October 16, 2025, USCIS will require payment of the immigration parole fee when:
- USCIS determines it can approve your parole or re-parole request; and
- You are physically present in the United States at the time of approval.
You will receive an official payment notice instructing you on how and when to pay. USCIS will not grant parole unless the fee is paid in full by the stated deadline.
Do not pay with your Form I-131.Do not include the immigration parole fee when you submit Form I-131 (Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records). The fee is collected when parole or re-parole is granted. Your payment notice will include instructions.
Statutory Exceptions: Who Does Not Have to Pay
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1804(b), the immigration parole fee does not apply if, on a case-by-case basis, DHS determines the parole is for one of the following reasons:
- Medical emergency of the parolee where:
- Necessary treatment is unavailable in the foreign country, or
- The emergency is life-threatening and there is not enough time to seek a visa through normal processes.
- Parent or legal guardian of a minor who qualifies under the medical-emergency exception above.
- Organ or tissue donation needed in the U.S., with insufficient time to obtain a visa.
- Imminent death of a close family member in the U.S., with insufficient time to arrive via normal visa processing.
- Attendance at a funeral of a close family member in the U.S., with insufficient time to arrive via normal visa processing.
- Adopted child who:
- Has an urgent medical condition, and
- Is in the petitioner’s legal custody for a final adoption-related visa, and
- Needs treatment before the expected award of that visa.
- Advance parole for certain adjustment applicants who are lawful applicants for adjustment of status and returning from temporary travel abroad.
- Migrant Protection Protocols/contiguous territory return cases paroled in to attend their immigration hearing.
- Cuban/Haitian entrants as defined by statute.
- Significant public benefit parole for law-enforcement purposes (e.g., assisting U.S. government in a law-enforcement matter where the person is otherwise inadmissible or cannot obtain a visa in time).
Outside these exceptions, the statute bars DHS from waiving or reducing the parole fee. [Sources]
What Happens If You Don’t Pay
- USCIS will not approve parole or re-parole until payment is received.
- Entry, release, or renewal based on parole can be delayed or denied.
Payment timing and consequences are outlined in DHS’s implementation notice and follow-on guidance. [Sources]
Practical Tips
- Wait for the notice: Pay only after USCIS directs you to do so. Keep the notice and your receipt.
- Check eligibility for an exception: If you believe one of the statutory exceptions applies, gather documentation (e.g., medical records, death/funeral notices, proof of law-enforcement cooperation) to support your case-by-case request.
- Coordinate travel carefully: If you need emergency travel, speak with counsel immediately to assess whether an exception could apply.
How Our Firm Can Help
At Richards and Jurusik Immigration Law, we track these changes daily. We can:
- Evaluate whether the parole fee applies to your situation or whether a statutory exception might fit.
- Prepare the supporting evidence for an exception request.
- Guide you through parole and re-parole strategy, timing, and documentation.
Schedule a Consultation with an Immigration Lawyer
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We Can Help!
If you have questions regarding a U.S. immigration matter, we invite you to contact our team at Richards and Jurusik for detailed guidance and assistance. We aim to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to make your immigration process smoother and less stressful. The immigration lawyers at Richards and Jurusik have decades of experience helping people to work and live in the United States. Please read some of our hundreds of 5-star client reviews! Contact us today to assess your legal situation.
JEREMY L. RICHARDS is the founding partner of Richards and Jurusik and has dedicated his career to U.S. immigration law, with a specialized focus on assisting Canadian and Mexican citizens under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to work and live in the United States. (Full Bio)
