US to Raise Travel and Immigration Fees from January 1 — Impact on Indians

The United States announced that several travel and immigration service fees will increase from January 1, 2026, under an annual inflation-linked revision mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1). The new fee structure affects the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and the parole processing charges for foreign nationals entering the U.S. temporarily without a visa.

Although the changes will not directly affect most Indian travellers—since India is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, making ESTA irrelevant for Indian passport holders—some applicants seeking humanitarian or emergency parole entry may experience higher costs.

The fee for parole applications will increase from $1,000 to $1,020, translating to approximately ₹90,300. Meanwhile, the EVUS fee for Chinese B1/B2 visa holders will increase slightly from $30 to $30.75, and the ESTA fee will increase from $40 to $40.27. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed that the Form I-94 fee will remain unchanged at $30 for the 2026 fiscal year.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security raised charges for forms commonly used by asylum seekers, individuals under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and those applying for employment authorization. The updated fees include:

Initial Asylum EAD (Form I-765): $560

Renewal Parole EAD: $280

TPS EAD initial application: $560

TPS EAD renewal: $280

Form I-821 TPS application: $510

The adjustments were outlined in a notice issued in the U.S. Federal Register.

Officials clarified that while the fee changes reflect inflation and rising processing expenses, they could increase the financial burden on vulnerable groups, including asylum petitioners.

For most Indian travellers arriving on regular U.S. visas such as H-1B, F-1 student visas, visitor B-1/B-2 visas, or employment-based permits, the announced revisions do not currently impact standard visa application charges. However, experts note that further fee revisions may be proposed later as part of larger immigration reforms.