Immigrating to the United States is already a complex and expensive process. If a new House Republican immigration bill passes, USCIS fees could become even more financially devastating. It would affect asylum seekers, parolees, visa applicants, and sponsors.
🧾 Proposed USCIS Filing Fee Increases for 2025
The bill proposes dramatic fee hikes for some of the most vulnerable immigrants:
💰 $1,000 Fee for Asylum Applications
For the first time, immigrants fleeing war, persecution, or violence must pay a $1,000 asylum application fee in the USA. This is a major obstacle for asylum seekers, many of whom arrive with few or no resources.
💰 $1,000 Fee for Humanitarian Parolees
Individuals granted humanitarian parole into the U.S. often get it in urgent or crisis situations. They will also face a $1,000 USCIS filing fee under the bill.
💰 $3,500 Fee for Sponsors of Unaccompanied Minors
If you step up to sponsor an unaccompanied child seeking refuge, the bill imposes a $3,500 sponsorship fee. It also imposes an additional $2,500 penalty if you miss a court date. That’s a potential total of $6,000—just for trying to protect a child.
💰 $400+ Diversity Visa Application Fee
Winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery—meant to promote global fairness and opportunity—would now have to pay filing fees. It could cost at least $400 just to claim their visa.
📈 What the Immigration Fee Hike Means for Applicants
These proposed USCIS fee increases in 2025 do more than raise costs—they represent a shift in immigration philosophy. The bill appears to make the process more inaccessible, particularly for low-income and vulnerable immigrants.
🏛️ Immigration Power Shifts in the Bill
In addition to financial penalties, the bill also includes sweeping changes in how immigration policy is managed:
- The REINS Act would allow the President to eliminate existing regulations unless Congress actively blocks the move. This would give the White House more unilateral power over immigration policy.
- FTC to DOJ Power Transfer: Antitrust enforcement would move from the FTC to the DOJ. This would centralize more power within the executive branch.
📣 Act Now Before the New USCIS Fees Become Law
At Shepelsky Law Group, we believe immigration should be fair, humane, and accessible—not a pay-to-play system that punishes the poor. If you are considering legalizing your status or helping a family member, now is the time to act—before these immigration fee increases are enacted.
📞 Call us today to schedule a consultation and file under the current rules.
✅ Contact Shepelsky Law Group
Brooklyn & Manhattan Offices
☎ 718-769-6352
🌐 www.shepelskylaw.com
📱 WhatsApp: (718) 679-3131