The $1,000 Immigration Parole Fee: What It Is and Why It Probably Doesn’t Apply to You

Recently, we've received many questions from clients about the new $1,000 fee for certain parole requests. This past weekend, USCIS uploaded a notice about the fee to many people's USCIS accounts, even if the fee doesn't apply to them. For most of our family- and employment-based clients the fee does not apply.

What Is the $1,000 Parole Fee?

In late 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a $1,000 fee for certain individuals granted parole into the United States. This fee is required by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill. This fee applies when someone is granted parole or re-parole. That means when a person is allowed to enter or remain in the U.S. temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. It is not part of normal visa or green card processes.

The key takeaway: this is not a new filing fee that most applicants pay with their immigration petitions. It’s an additional fee charged only in specific parole situations, usually after approval.

When the $1,000 Parole Fee Applies

The fee applies in limited circumstances, including:

• Humanitarian parole or re-parole under INA §212(d)(5)(A).
• Parole in place (for example, for certain undocumented family members of U.S. military personnel).
• Re-parole (extension of an existing parole).
• Release from DHS custody under parole authority.
• Parole granted on or after October 16, 2025—even if the application was filed earlier.

If any of these situations fit your case, DHS will notify you when and how to pay the fee.

When the $1,000 Parole Fee Does Not Apply

For most people filing family- or employment-based immigration cases, the $1,000 parole fee does not apply. In general, the fee would not apply to you if:

• You entered the U.S. with a valid visa (such as H-1B, F-1, TN, etc.) and are applying for adjustment of status (Form I-485).
• You are applying for a green card through family-based sponsorship and entered legally.
• You have advance parole as part of a pending green card application (Form I-131). This type of travel document is not subject to the new fee.
• Your parole was granted before October 16, 2025.
• You qualify for one of DHS’s statutory exceptions (see below).

Who Is Exempt from the Fee

In addition the situations listed above where the fee does not apply, the Department of Homeland Security has listed several exceptions where the fee is waived entirely. These include:

• People entering for urgent medical treatment when a visa isn’t available in time or the foreign national cannot obtain the required medical treatment where they are living;
• Parents or guardians accompanying a minor receiving medical care as described above;
• Organ or tissue donors entering to complete the donation process and there is insufficient time to complete the normal visa process;
• Individuals entering to attend a funeral or end-of-life visit for an immediate family member in the U.S.;
• The foreign national is an adopted child who has an urgent medical condition (there are additional requirements for this situation);
• The foreign national has applied for adjustment of status and is returning the U.S. after temporary travel abroad;
• Certain Cuban and Haitian entrants as defined by law;
• Individuals whose parole serves a significant public benefit, such as law-enforcement assistance, as determined by the Secretary of DHS.

The Bottom Line

The $1,000 parole fee applies only to certain humanitarian or public-benefit parole situations. If you’re applying for a green card, a work visa, or a family-based petition, you’re most likely not affected. That being said, immigration law and policy can change quickly, so you should verify your specific case type before assuming you owe or don't owe this fee.

If you are not yet a Sumner Immigration Law client and you’re looking for an experienced, empathetic, and efficient team to help you navigate the process with confidence, please contact us today to set up your initiation consultation to get the process started! You can set an appointment online. You can also call us at 804-214-7870 or send us an email at info@sumnerimmigration.com.

We are immigration lawyers in Richmond, VA, but we serve clients throughout the U.S. and around the world. For more information on our firm visit Who We Are and What Makes Us Different! We look forward to hearing from you!

As always, the above information is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Please speak with a qualified immigration lawyer before taking action.