The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on September 30, 2026, the annual inflation adjustment for a portion of the fees introduced under the H.R. 1 Act. The notices were published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2026, and the new rates took effect on October 16, 2026. For many Polish-American families, the most significant change concerns ESTA, which is used by relatives traveling from Poland.
Basis of adjustment: 3.36 percent inflation
According to the notification in the Federal Register, fees were adjusted based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) between July 2025 and July 2026, which was approximately 3.36 percent. Most fees were rounded down to the nearest $10, and asylum fees to the nearest dollar. Therefore, some rates increased by a few dollars while others remained unchanged.
ESTA and EVUS: minor increase
According to the DHS and CBP notification, the ESTA fee increases from $40.27 to $40.62 (an increase of $0.35). The fee for an ESTA application that is denied changes from $10.27 to $10.62. The EVUS fee, which is the data update system for certain long-term visa holders, increases from $30.75 to $31.75. The fee for Form I-94 remains at $24, because the calculated adjustment ($0.81) rounds down to zero.
Parole, asylum, TPS, and work authorizations
USCIS lists the following changes effective as of October 16, 2026:
- Form I-131, parole fee: from $1,020 to $1,050,
- Form I-589, annual fee for a pending asylum application: from $102 to $105 (the initial application fee remains $100),
- Form I-765, initial employment authorization for individuals with asylum, parole, or TPS: from $560 to $570,
- Form I-821, TPS application: from $510 to $520.
Fees for renewing work authorization in the parole category ($280) and for asylum applicants ($275) remain unchanged, among others, because the H.R. 1 Act does not provide for an inflation adjustment for them.
Important date: October 16 postmark
USCIS notes that applications mailed with a postmark date of October 16, 2026, or later must include the new fee, and applications without the correct amount will be rejected. Therefore, before mailing, it is advisable to check the current rate on the USCIS website and not rely on old forms or tables from previous months.
What this means for the Polish-American community
For visitors traveling from Poland using ESTA to see family, the change is 35 cents. Increases concerning asylum, parole, and TPS are higher, but affect narrow groups of applicants. For individual matters, especially when the filing deadline is near, it is worth consulting an immigration attorney. The information in this article is of a general nature and does not constitute legal advice.
If you need assistance with applications and government fees, you can find experienced Polish-speaking attorneys in the Polish Pages directory.
