New Asylum Application and Work Authorization Fees: What You Need to Know Effective July 22, 2025

The federal government implemented significant changes to asylum-related immigration fees under H.R.1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” These changes affect both asylum applications and employment authorization requests tied to pending asylum cases. As of  August 21, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began rejecting submissions that do not include the proper fees.

⚠️  Important Note: Government guidance on these new fees remains incomplete and inconsistent. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

📝 Asylum Application Fees

• Initial Filing Fee for Form I-589: $100
• Annual Fee for Pending Applications (1+ years): $100
• Fee Waivers: Not available for either fee

Defensive Filings in Immigration Court

As of  September 23, 2025, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) updated its payment portal to accept the $100 initial asylum fee:

🔗 EOIR Payment Portal

Payment methods include ACH (bank account), debit, or credit card. However,  the portal does not currently support payment of the annual fee, and EOIR has not provided guidance on how to pay it.

Reports from immigration courts across the country show inconsistent handling of the annual fee:

• Some Immigration Judges (IJs) are threatening to pretermit applications without proof of payment.
• Others are issuing orders to show cause.

The EOIR Practice Manual (Chapter 3.4(b)(2)) suggests the fee may apply to other forms of relief filed through Form I-589, including:

• Withholding of removal
• Protection under the Convention Against Torture

However,  8 CFR § 1103.7(b)(ii)   clearly states that no fee applies to Form I-589 when filed solely for withholding of removal or CAT protection.

🗂️  USCIS Filings

USCIS currently accepts the $100 asylum fee via:

• Paper check
• Money order
• Credit card
• ACH transaction

⚠️  Starting October 28, 2025, USCIS will no longer accept paper checks or money orders.

🔗 USCIS Fee Payment Modernization

USCIS has also clarified that:

• Applications filed on or before October 1, 2024 will be subject to the $100 annual fee if still pending on September 30, 2025.
• Applicants will receive personal notices detailing when and how to pay, and the consequences of non-payment.

💼  Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Fees – Category (c)(8)

Initial Applications

• New Fee: $550
• Waivers: Not available

Renewal Applications

New Fee Structure:

• Online Submission:  $745
• Mail Submission:  $795
• Waivers:  Only the base $520 fee may be waived (mail submission only); the $275 H.R.1 fee is  non-waivable Automatic Termination of EAD

Under H.R.1, (c)(8) EADs will automatically terminate upon final denial of the asylum application:

• Defensive Filings: Termination occurs after a final order of removal and expiration of the appeal period, or immediately if the BIA affirms the denial.
• Affirmative Filings:  EAD remains valid if referred to EOIR, but terminates if USCIS denies the case without referral.

📌  Final Thoughts

These changes represent a major shift in asylum processing and work authorization. Applicants and attorneys must stay informed and proactive to avoid delays or denials due to fee-related issues.

If you or someone you know is affected by these changes, contact Buenaventura Koss, PLLC for guidance and representation. We are closely monitoring updates and can help navigate this evolving landscape.

📞 Call us at (813) 200-6103

🌐 Visit us at www.thebklaw.com