The U.S. government has implemented two new mandatory fees that will begin to apply in 2025:
Initial Filing Fee ($100)
Who must pay? Only clients who file their asylum application (Form I-589) starting from July 22, 2025.
When must it be paid? It is paid once, at the time of submitting the application.
Clarification: If your I-589 was submitted before that date, you DO NOT have to pay this initial fee.
Annual Asylum Pending Fee (AAF) ($100)
Who must pay? ALL asylum applicants with a pending case (both new and old).
How much must be paid? $100 for each full calendar year that your asylum case remains unresolved.
How does it work? This is annual and recurring. The government (USCIS or the Court) will send you a personal notification with exact payment instructions when it’s time to pay, depending on the age of your case.
Important: This fee will only apply if your case has been pending for one year or more at the time of payment.
Key Points to Remember:
Waivers: No payment waivers are allowed.
Required Action: For now, you do not need to do anything. Stay alert for the personal notifications from USCIS or the Court, which will indicate when, how, and which fee you must pay.
