Under a new Trump administration rule, asylum seekers will need to pay an annual fee to keep their cases active. Those with pending asylum applications should receive a notice in the mail, with 30 days to pay the $102 fee.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has set a strict deadline so that most asylum seekers will need to pay this fee by May 29, 2026.
The fee will be charged per application. Asylum applications can be submitted on behalf of both an individual as well as families, meaning a single applicant and a family of four would pay the same annual fee of $102.
The new rule applies to applicants with affirmative asylum cases, and payments must be made through the USCIS portal, not other federal agencies. Asylum applicants can look up their cases using the ‘A-Number’ used as an immigration ID number, and the receipt number from their asylum application.
Asylum seekers are encouraged to check the USCIS portal even if they haven’t received a notice, and to check after making a payment to ensure it was received.
Those with asylum cases in immigration court should consult their attorneys about following a written order to pay the asylum fee; this is a form with instructions from immigration judges on the required payment.
In late April, the Department of Homeland Security announced strict penalties for asylum applicants who have not paid this Annual Asylum Fee by the due date. The consequences include immediate rejection of an asylum application, and the cancellation of existing work permits and rejection of any pending work permits.
These new fees are mandated under H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. According to USCIS, these fees are designed to “increase funding for immigration enforcement operations and ensure aliens pay for immigration services.”
This fee is separate from the $100 that new asylum applicants must pay as part of their initial filing. Additionally, there are higher fees charged annually for asylum workers applying for or renewing work authorization.
Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) provides detailed guidelines and a video on submitting payment for the Annual Asylum Fee and other fees. You can also find guidance in Spanish here.
Image credit: John Englart published under CC License 2.0
This story was published as part of Aquí Estamos/Here We Stand, a collaborative reporting project of American Community Media and community media outlets across California.
