A Major Change for Immigrants Seeking Parole into the U.S.

Starting October 16, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began charging a new $1,000 fee for most people who are granted parole to enter or stay in the United States. This fee was created under the new immigration law H.R. 1 and will affect many families, including those applying for humanitarian parole or parole in place.

What Is Immigration “Parole”?

Parole allows someone to enter or remain in the United States temporarily, even if they don’t have a visa or are not eligible for formal admission. It’s often used for urgent or humanitarian reasons — for example, when someone needs medical treatment, to reunite with family, or for safety concerns.

There are different types of parole, such as:

• Humanitarian parole: For urgent situations like medical emergencies or threats to safety.

• Parole in place: For certain family members of U.S. military personnel.

• Re-parole: An extension of a person’s existing parole period.

Until now, there was no separate fee charged for being granted parole. That’s what has changed.

The New $1,000 Parole Fee

As of October 16, 2025, anyone who is granted parole or re-parole must pay $1,000 — unless they qualify for a specific exception.

Here’s how it works:

• You do not pay this fee when you first file your application (for example, Form I-131).

• If USCIS decides to approve your parole, they will send you instructions to pay the $1,000 before finalizing your case.

• The fee amount will be adjusted every year based on inflation.

This fee applies to most types of parole cases, whether you are applying from inside the U.S. or from abroad.

Who Has to Pay — and Who Doesn’t

Most people granted parole will have to pay this new $1,000 fee. However, there are some exceptions, which USCIS has listed in its official notice.

You may be exempt if:

• You need emergency medical treatment that cannot wait or be done outside the U.S.

• You are a parent or guardian of a child who needs urgent care in the U.S.

• You are donating an organ or tissue for transplant in the U.S.

• You must attend the funeral of a close U.S. family member on very short notice.

• You are already applying for a green card and are returning to the U.S. with advance parole.

For most other situations — including humanitarian parole, family reunification parole, and parole in place — the $1,000 fee will apply.

Unfortunately, this fee cannot be waived using the regular fee waiver form. That means even if you have financial hardship, USCIS will likely still require payment before approving parole.

Why This Fee Matters

This is not a small change. For many immigrants, $1,000 is a significant amount of money — especially for families applying for multiple members.

It’s important to plan ahead so that you are not caught off guard when USCIS requests payment. If you don’t pay the fee on time after approval, your parole request could be delayed or even denied.

The government says the purpose of this fee is to cover costs and discourage misuse of the parole process. But in practice, it adds another financial burden for people already going through stressful immigration situations.

What You Should Do Now

If you or your family are considering a parole application — or already have one pending — here are a few important steps to take:

1. Plan your budget early. Make sure you can set aside the $1,000 fee in case your parole is approved.

2. Check if you might qualify for an exception. USCIS has listed a few narrow situations that are exempt. An immigration attorney can help determine if you qualify.

3. Watch for updates from USCIS. They may send you a notice or update your online account with payment instructions once your case is approved.

4. Don’t send the fee upfront. Wait for official instructions. If you send it too early, it may be rejected.

Getting Professional Help

Immigration laws are changing fast, and new fees like this can be confusing. If you’re not sure whether this $1,000 parole fee applies to your situation, it’s important to talk with an immigration attorney.

An attorney can help you:

• Understand if you qualify for an exception,

• Prepare your parole application correctly, and

• Make sure you don’t miss any important payment or deadline.

At Tran Flores Law, we stay up to date with every new USCIS rule to help families like yours navigate the immigration process with confidence. We can review your situation and guide you through what to do next.

Conclusion

The new $1,000 immigration parole fee is now in effect, and it will affect most people who are approved for parole or re-parole into the United States. This change makes it more important than ever to plan ahead and seek qualified legal guidance.

If you need help understanding how this new rule affects your case, schedule a consultation with Tran Flores Law by calling (512) 894-9984.