The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a notice in the Federal Register implementing a new immigration-parole fee under the provisions of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”

Below is a summary of the key facts, plus context and what this means for individuals who are paroled into the United States.

What the fee is and when it takes effect

The fee for being paroled into the United States has been set at $1,000 for Fiscal Year 2025.
The fee is required when the individual is physically present in the United States and is granted parole or a new period of parole (“re-parole”) by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or via DHS/U.S. Customs and Border Protection / U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (depending on the case).
The effective date for collecting the fee on parole or re-parole is October 16, 2025. From that date forward, if USCIS determines a parole approval requires the fee, payment must be made before parole can be granted.
The fee is subject to annual adjustment for inflation as directed in the legislation.

How the process works

If you are physically present in the U.S. and apply (or are otherwise eligible) for parole or re-parole, and USCIS determines that your case triggers the new fee, you will receive a notification from USCIS explaining: (1) the fee amount, (2) payment instructions, and (3) a deadline for payment. You must pay according to those instructions.
USCIS will not approve the parole (or new parole) until the fee is paid in full, by the deadline, and in the correct manner.
Important: Do not pay the parole fee at the time you submit Form I-131 (Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records). Payment is required only when you are granted parole or re-parole, not at the initial form submission.

Who qualifies for an exception?

The notice from DHS/USCIS explains that there are ten exceptions to this fee requirement. The specifics of those exceptions, and how they apply, are spelled out in the Federal Register notice and include the following:
1. The alien has a medical emergency and the alien cannot obtain necessary treatment in the foreign state in which the alien is residing; or the medical emergency is life-threatening and there is insufficient time for the alien to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process.
2. The alien is the parent or legal guardian of an alien described in paragraph (1) and the alien described in paragraph (1) is a minor;
3. The alien is needed in the United States to donate an organ or other tissue for transplant; and there is insufficient time for the alien to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process;
4. The alien has a close family member in the United States whose death is imminent; and the alien could not arrive in the United States in time to see such family member alive if the alien were to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process;
5. The alien is seeking to attend the funeral of a close family member; and the alien could not arrive in the United States in time to attend such funeral if the alien were to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process;
6. The alien is an adopted child who has an urgent medical condition; who is in the legal custody of the petitioner for a final adoption-related visa; and whose medical treatment is required before the expected award of a final adoption-related visa;
7. The alien is a lawful applicant for adjustment of status under section 245 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1255); and is returning to the United States after temporary travel abroad;
8. The alien has been returned to a contiguous country pursuant to section 235(b)(2)(C) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(2)(C)); and is being paroled into the United States to allow the alien to attend the alien’s immigration hearing;
9. The alien has been granted the status of Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-422; 8 U.S.C. 1522 note); or
10. The Secretary of Homeland Security determines that a significant public benefit has resulted or will result from the parole of an alien who has assisted or will assist the United States Government in a law enforcement matter; whose presence is required by the United States Government in furtherance of such law enforcement matter; and who is inadmissible or does not satisfy the eligibility requirements for admission as a nonimmigrant or for which there is insufficient time for the alien to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process.

It’s therefore crucial that individuals review the notice or seek qualified legal counsel to determine whether they qualify for an exception.

What happens if you don’t pay?

If the fee is required for your parole or re-parole decision, and you fail to pay by the deadline or fail to follow the payment instructions, USCIS will deny or withhold approval of your parole or re-parole. The notice makes clear that payment is a precondition for approval.
Because the fee is non-waivable in most cases under the legislation, failing to pay means surrendering the opportunity for parole under those circumstances.

Conclusion

The implementation of the new $1,000 immigration parole fee represents yet another financial barrier being imposed on immigrants under the Trump administration. This measure marks a significant shift in how parole into the United States is administered, transforming what was once a humanitarian process into one burdened by added costs. Beginning October 16, 2025, anyone seeking parole or re-parole must pay this new fee before approval, unless a narrow exception applies. Failure to pay will result in denial of parole, underscoring the administration’s continued pattern of using immigration fees as a deterrent rather than a means of efficiency.

If you have questions regarding the above, please e-mail PSBP Partner Chris Prescott at cprescott@psbplaw.com