DHS to Begin Charging $1,000 Fee for Humanitarian Parole Starting Oct. 16, 2025
Beginning October 16, 2025, immigrants entering or remaining in the United States under humanitarian parole will be required to pay a new $1,000 immigration parole fee, according to a notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The fee stems from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—the budget reconciliation law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025. While the law created multiple new immigration-related fees, DHS is only now beginning to implement the parole fee through official publication in the Federal Register.
When will the new parole fee go into effect?
The new $1,000 immigration parole fee will officially take effect on October 16, 2025, the same day it’s published in the Federal Register by the Department of Homeland Security.
Starting that date, USCIS, ICE, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin collecting the fee from anyone being paroled or re-paroled into the United States, unless they qualify for one of ten humanitarian or public-benefit exceptions.
When and how will the fee be paid?
Immigrants should not pay the fee when submitting Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document). Instead, DHS will send a payment notice only after deciding that a parole request can be approved and that the individual is required to pay. Parole will not be finalized until the $1,000 payment is received.
Who will be impacted by the new $1,000 fee?
Under the new policy, anyone being paroled or re-paroled into the U.S., including those already inside the country requesting an extension, will have to pay the $1,000 fee before DHS or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can approve the parole.
| ➡️ In immigration, parole means temporary permission to enter or stay in the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. It’s commonly used for people fleeing crisis situations, medical emergencies, or other extraordinary circumstances. |
Exceptions to the new $1,000 parole fee
The Federal Register lists ten humanitarian or public-benefit exceptions to the $1,000 parole fee, including:
- Individuals entering the U.S. for medical emergencies or organ donation
- Parents or guardians of minors in medical emergencies
- Those coming to attend or prepare for a family member’s funeral or to visit a dying relative
- Adopted children with urgent medical needs
- Adjustment of status (I-485) applicants returning from travel on advance parole
- Those paroled back from contiguous countries for immigration hearings
- Cuban and Haitian entrants covered by the Refugee Education Assistance Act
- Individuals assisting in law enforcement matters at the request of the U.S. government
Why is DHS implementing a new fee on parole?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is implementing a new $1,000 parole fee to comply with congressional requirements under the 2025 reconciliation legislation (H.R. 1), which mandates additional immigration-related fees to recover the full costs of processing benefits.
DHS explains that the fee will help offset the administrative expenses of parole adjudications and reduce reliance on taxpayer funding. However, the policy also aligns with broader efforts by the current administration and the government to tighten immigration pathways and shift financial responsibility to applicants.
Moving forward
The new $1,000 humanitarian parole fee marks a significant policy shift in how the U.S. manages humanitarian immigration. As the rule takes effect on October 16, 2025, those applying for parole should review the listed exceptions carefully and prepare for additional documentation and payment requirements in the months ahead.
