Immigrants requesting temporary permission to enter and live in the United States will now be required to pay a $1,000 parole fee, a new provision taking effect under President Donald Trump’s tax and spending package.
The Department of Homeland Security announced in mid-October, stating that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin enforcing the fee for immigrants seeking parole or re-parole while awaiting a lawful avenue to remain in the country. The agency stated that it will notify applicants if their parole request requires payment and will not grant approval unless the fee is paid within the specified timeframe.
“If we determine that we can approve your request for parole or re-parole and that it requires payment of the immigration parole fee, we will notify you that you must pay this fee before we can approve your request,” the agency stated.
The new measure comes as parole approvals have sharply declined, and the number of pending applications continues to rise. From April through June, USCIS approved 73% of parole requests, compared to 82% during the same period last year, according to the agency’s latest data. The agency also processed 58% fewer applications during that time frame, leaving more than 410,000 pending cases awaiting review.
The $1,000 fee aims to offset operational costs as the Trump administration expands its immigration enforcement and border security priorities. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the agency’s “critical work does not stop during the Democrats’ government shutdown,” adding that national security prioritization may temporarily impact processing times.
Certain groups will be exempt from paying the fee, including individuals seeking entry for medical treatment, funerals, law enforcement investigations, or those returning from temporary travel.
The rule reflects a broader tightening of immigration policies under Trump’s second term, as parole pathways narrow and enforcement intensifies. Once granted parole, immigrants may still apply for work authorization, though approval is not guaranteed.
In a related move, the administration earlier this year announced a $100,000 visa fee for companies hiring high-skilled foreign workers, part of a larger effort to restore control of the immigration system and prioritize American labor over foreign alternatives.
