Immigrants in the United States facing deportation will now have to pay significantly higher fees when attempting to challenge their removal, following a new round of price hikes announced Tuesday by the Trump administration.
What’s Changing
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unveiled a series of steep increases on key immigration forms, including those used to appeal deportation decisions, apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and request work or travel permits. These changes are part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes sweeping reforms to immigration policy and funding.
Among the most drastic changes:
- Form EOIR-29, used to appeal decisions made by DHS officers, jumped from $110 to $1,010.
- Forms EOIR-40, EOIR-42A, and EOIR-42B, all used to halt deportation in court, rose from $130 to $700 each.
- Form I-881, for deportation relief under NACARA, increased from $340 to $765.
- Form I-821, for first-time TPS applicants, surged from $50 to $500.
In addition, USCIS eliminated fee waivers for several forms related to TPS and other relief programs last week, further raising financial hurdles for immigrants.
Green Card-Related Forms Now Come With Price Tags
Previously free forms tied to green card applications in immigration court will now carry a $1,050 fee:
- Form I-131, for travel documents and parole;
- Form I-765, for work authorization.
Applicants also face an additional $1,050 fee when challenging a “grounds of inadmissibility” order—doubling the total cost.
A new asylum application fee, previously announced, is now also in effect.
Why It Matters
The changes, part of Trump’s newly implemented immigration budget passed by Congress, are expected to disproportionately impact low-income immigrants—particularly those seeking humanitarian relief or permanent status.
While immigration advocates have slammed the move as a deliberate attempt to price people out of legal protections, USCIS maintains that the agency is primarily funded by filing fees and needs the money to operate effectively.
“Certain forms require additional fees along with any filing fee,” the agency noted in Tuesday’s statement. “These additional fees are not eligible for fee waivers and must be paid separately.”
What’s Next
The new fees apply to all forms postmarked on or after July 22, 2025. USCIS warned that any applications received after August 21 without the correct fees will be rejected.
With no sign of fee reductions on the horizon, immigrants and their advocates are bracing for tougher financial barriers in an already complex legal system.
