For visa applicants and travelers, the bill establishes a new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” per application. This fee is non-waivable, although it may be reimbursed if the applicant fully complies with visa conditions and departs the U.S. timely or otherwise maintains lawful status.
Other travel-related fee updates include:
- I-94 Fee: $24
- ESTA Fee: $13
- EVUS Fee (for certain Chinese nationals): $30
New Fees for Humanitarian-Based Immigration Benefits
The legislation imposes new and increased filing fees across several humanitarian immigration programs, including asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and humanitarian parole. Notably:
- Asylum Applications: A $100 filing fee is now required, plus a $100 annual fee while the application remains pending.
- Asylum Applicant EADs: An initial $550 fee and $275 per renewal.
- TPS Applications: A new $500 application fee, with EADs similarly priced at $550 initially and $275 per renewal.
- Parole Applications: A $1,000 application fee, with EADs also subject to the $550/$275 pricing structure.
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions: A $250 application fee.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is granted authority to increase these fees by regulation, beyond the statutory baseline. Beginning FY2026, fees will also be adjusted annually for inflation.
Significant Expansion of Immigration Enforcement Funding
The budget bill also provides unprecedented funding levels for immigration enforcement and border security:
- $46.5 billion for border infrastructure and the wall system
- $45 billion for immigration detention capacity
- Nearly $30 billion for ICE operations, including recruitment and training
- $10 billion each for state border security assistance and DHS border operations
- Additional billions for CBP personnel, technology, facilities, and inspection tools
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Employers and individuals relying on humanitarian programs or visa processes should prepare for higher application costs and increased administrative burdens, particularly due to the shorter validity periods for EADs and more frequent renewals. These changes may also cause processing delays as USCIS manages increased caseloads.
Additionally, U.S. employers should be aware of the potential for more worksite compliance inspections and audits as a result of expanded DHS and ICE enforcement capabilities.
Next Steps
We are monitoring the implementation of this legislation closely and will provide updates as DHS and USCIS begin issuing regulations and guidance on these changes. If you have any questions regarding how this bill may impact your employees or immigration compliance obligations, please contact our office.
You can access our previous Client Alerts here.