The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the introduction of a new $1,000 fee for applying for or extending immigration parole status. This decision, which took effect on October 16, may affect Ukrainians who are in the United States under the Uniting for Ukraine (U2U) program.
USCIS has announced that, in accordance with H.R. 1, a new fee for applying for or extending immigration parole status will take effect on October 16, 2025. The fee is $1,000 and is subject to annual indexation.
Parole is a temporary permit to stay in the US for humanitarian or emergency reasons. This is the status granted to Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in the United States under the U2U program.
According to USCIS, the fee will be charged after the application is approved, not when it is submitted. However, there are exceptions in cases involving humanitarian situations, extraordinary circumstances, or “significant public benefit.”
For Ukrainians who are already in the United States under the U2U program, this means that when they extend or renew their residence permit, they may be required to pay the new fee. At the same time, the final details of the application of the rule to certain categories of humanitarian parole are still being clarified.
USCIS emphasizes that the purpose of the innovation is to cover the administrative costs of the service and ensure the stability of funding for immigration processes.