Foreign nationals seeking employment authorisation in the United States will now be required to pay new filing fees, including those who were previously exempt. The changes, which affect applications related to Form I-765 and Form I-589, take effect from August 21, 2025.These newly introduced fees apply to a range of applicants, including asylum seekers, parolees, and individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that any application submitted without the required fees from the effective date onwards will be rejected.Revised fees for Form I-765 applicationsAll foreign nationals intending to work in the US must possess an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), issued upon the approval of Form I-765. The updated filing cost for Form I-765 is now set at $470 for online submissions and $520 for paper submissions.The new fee structure applies to several previously exempt categories. Foreigners filing Form I-765 under categories (a)(4), (a)(12), (c)(8), (c)(11), (c)(19), and (c)(34)—which include asylum seekers, parolees, and TPS recipients—must now pay $550 for initial EAD applications. For EAD renewal or extension applications under these same categories, the fee is set at $275.Annual asylum fee for pending Form I-589Foreign nationals with a pending Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, must now pay a new annual Asylum Fee (AAF). This fee is $100 and is required for each calendar year that the application remains pending. The fee must be paid online.In addition, a $100 fee now applies at the time of filing Form I-589. All foreign nationals who file Form I-589 on or after October 1, 2024, must pay the AAF annually, beginning on the first anniversary of the filing date and continuing on the same calendar date each year as long as the application remains pending.New fee structure for US work authorisation and asylum filings
Exemptions and adjusted feesThere is one exemption to the new fee schedule. A lower fee of $275 applies to foreign nationals who file Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, to request an EAD after being granted a new period of parole (re-parole) by USCIS.Changes to EAD validity periodsThe validity period of Employment Authorization Documents has also been revised under H.R. 1. For foreign parolees, initial EADs are now valid for a maximum of one year or for the duration of their parole, whichever is shorter.For TPS recipients, both initial and renewal EADs are valid for up to one year or for the length of their TPS status, whichever period is shorter.Enforcement of fee rulesFrom August 21, 2025, any Form I-765 or Form I-589 filed without the required fees will be rejected by USCIS. The changes apply across all platforms, including online and paper-based submissions. The new rules mark a shift from previous practices, where certain categories were not required to pay for employment authorisation.These fee adjustments form part of broader updates to US immigration procedures affecting employment eligibility for non-citizens.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
About the Author
