The U.S. government will charge a mandatory annual fee of $102 to asylum applicants starting May 29, 2026. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that payment is a condition to keep the petition active. This measure impacts those with pending applications and changes the federal immigration system.
The new regulation responds to the need to finance operations and administrative services related to immigration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicates that the fee, called “Annual Asylum Fee” (AAF), must be paid electronically. Failure to pay within 30 days of notification will result in rejection of the application, according to the Federal Register.
The origin of this policy stems from Congress’s approval of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). This law introduced significant changes in asylum and immigration matters. According to the DHS, the new fee aims to ensure funding for administrative procedures and strengthen immigration controls.
When Does the Fee Take Effect and Who Pays?
The $102 annual asylum fee takes effect on May 29, 2026, according to the official DHS publication in the Federal Register Notices 2026. This date marks the beginning of enforcement of the new fee for all primary applicants with pending Form I-589 before USCIS.
Payment will be mandatory upon receipt of notification sent by the agency. Applicants will have 30 days to pay the corresponding amount and avoid administrative penalties. The provision affects all primary applicants with pending asylum cases before USCIS, as specified by the DHS.
The measure applies to both individual and family petitions, as the amount is applied per case and not per family member. Beneficiaries affected will receive an official notification detailing the amount, deadline, and payment instructions. It also includes defensive applicants whose case has been transferred from immigration courts to USCIS jurisdiction.
How to Pay and What Happens If You Don’t?
The Annual Asylum Fee payment must be made exclusively electronically through the official USCIS portal. The applicant must have an active account in the system and enter the case number.
