US immigration and border fees to rise in 2026: Impact on Indian applicants explained

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by US President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025.

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced that several immigration and border-related fees will increase from January 1, 2026. The changes are part of mandatory annual adjustments required under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as HR-1.

Under this law, DHS is required to revise certain immigration fees every year to account for inflation. The latest update affects the Electronic Visa Update System, the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, and the parole fee for foreign nationals who are allowed to enter the United States temporarily.

While these changes do not impact all Indian travellers, some categories will see higher costs. In particular, people applying for parole to enter the US will have to pay slightly more.

Parole allows a person to enter and stay in the United States temporarily without a visa or formal admission status. It is granted only in limited situations, usually for humanitarian reasons or when it serves the public interest.

According to a notice issued by US Customs and Border Protection, the parole fee will rise from US$1,000 to US$1,020 starting January 1, 2026.

The fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation will increase by $0.27, moving from $40 in FY 2025 to $40.27 in FY 2026. However, this change does not affect Indian citizens, as India is not part of the US Visa Waiver Program. ESTA is only required for travellers from countries included in that program.

The Electronic Visa Update System fee will increase from $30 to $30.75. This system applies only to Chinese citizens holding B-1 or B-2 visas who are required to periodically update their information.

DHS also confirmed that the fee for Form I-94 applications will remain unchanged for FY 2026. It will continue to be charged at US$30. Form I-94 is the Arrival and Departure Record that certain foreign visitors must submit upon entering the United States.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by US President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025. The legislation introduced several changes across different areas of government, including new immigration fees and increases in existing ones.

Under the law, minimum fees were set for FY 2025, with a requirement that future fees be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. These inflation-linked changes are now being applied for the upcoming fiscal year.