The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the implementation of a new $1,000 Immigration Parole Fee pursuant to HR-1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. 119-21). The fee applies to any noncitizen paroled into the United States unless they qualify for one of ten limited statutory exceptions. Significantly, Advance Parole granted as part of an I-485, Adjustment of Status, process is exempted from the $1,000 fee requirement. This rule is effective upon publication in the Federal Register (October 16, 2025) and will apply to all parole grants made on or after that date, regardless of when the underlying application was filed.
Who Must Pay the Fee: The $1,000 “Immigration Parole Fee” applies to every instance of parole, including:
| Situation | Applies? |
| Parole granted outside the U.S. to enter at a port of entry | Yes |
| Parole in place (for those already in the U.S.) | Yes |
| Re-parole (extension of previous parole) | Yes |
| Parole from DHS custody | Yes |
| Application or travel document filed, but parole not yet granted | No, the fee attaches only upon the grant of parole |
The operative trigger is the actual grant and effectuation of parole, not the filing or issuance of travel authorization.
Fee Exceptions: HR-1 outlines 10 limited circumstances in which the $1,000 fee will not apply, including for those with pending I-130 or I-140-based adjustment of status (I-485) applications who have received advanced parole. DHS will waive the fee only if the foreign national proves eligibility under one of these categories:
| Exception Category | Summary |
| Medical Emergency | Life-threatening or urgent condition requiring U.S. treatment unavailable abroad. |
| Parent/Guardian of Minor Patient | Parent or legal guardian accompanying a minor with a qualifying medical emergency. |
| Organ or Tissue Donor | Urgent need to enter the U.S. for organ or tissue donation. |
| Imminent Death of Family Member | An entry is needed to see a dying relative when visa processing is too slow. |
| Funeral Attendance | Entry to attend the funeral of a close relative when a visa delay would prevent attendance. |
| Adopted Child with Urgent Medical Need | Child under the petitioner’s legal custody, awaiting final adoption visa, who needs immediate treatment. |
| Adjustment Applicant Returning from Travel | Lawful adjustment applicant (INA § 245) returning after temporary travel abroad. |
| Returned Under INA § 235(b)(2)(C) | Aliens returned to a contiguous country but were paroled back to attend an immigration hearing. |
| Cuban or Haitian Entrant | As defined in the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980. |
| Law Enforcement/Public Benefit Parole | Individuals providing assistance to U.S. law enforcement where timely visa issuance is not possible. |
If DHS determines that any of these exceptions apply, no fee will be charged.
Collection Procedures: Each DHS component will manage collection separately:
| DHS Component | Jurisdiction | Collection Process |
| CBP | Aliens presenting at ports of entry for inspection and requesting parole. | Collects the fee upon determining parole eligibility; provides payment instructions at port of entry. |
| ICE | Aliens already in the U.S. or in DHS custody under ICE’s authority. | Issues individual notification and payment instructions upon approval. |
| USCIS | Aliens physically present in the U.S. seeking parole in place or re-parole (Form I-131). | Issues a conditional approval notice requiring payment before final adjudication—failure to pay results in denial. |
Key Takeaway: The new parole fee represents a significant policy shift intended to reinforce DHS’s cost-recovery and deterrence mechanisms. Parole, already a discretionary, case-by-case privilege, will now carry a substantial financial cost, underscoring the importance of thorough pre-filing eligibility analysis and precise documentation of any potential fee exemptions.