Asylum deadlines and fees
Key deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| File Form I-589 | Generally within 1 year of arrival |
| Apply for a work permit (I-765, category (c)(8)) | From 150 days after filing; the permit can be granted at 180 days |
| Petition for spouse and children after a grant (I-730) | Within 2 years of the asylum grant |
| Apply for a green card | 1 year after the asylum grant |
Delays you request or cause, such as rescheduling an interview, stop the 180-day clock.
New fees under H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21)
- Asylum application fee: $100 when filing Form I-589 (unchanged for FY 2027). No fee waiver.
- Annual Asylum Fee: $105 from Oct. 16, 2026 (FY 2027; it was $100, then $102) for each year the application stays pending, principal applicant only. Paid online, no waiver, and USCIS cannot approve the case while it is unpaid. USCIS sends a notice with the amount.
- Initial asylum-based work permit: the law added a fee, now $570 for requests postmarked on or after Oct. 16, 2026 (FY 2027), no waiver.
These amounts adjust each year for inflation. Always confirm on the official USCIS page before paying.
Sources
- USCIS, “Asylum”, last updated 08/26/2026 (accessed Oct. 26, 2026).
- USCIS, “I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal” (accessed Oct. 26, 2026).
- Federal Register (DHS/USCIS), “USCIS Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 Reconciliation Bill (July 22, 2025)” (accessed Oct. 26, 2026).
- USCIS, “USCIS Updates Fees Based on H.R. 1” (accessed Oct. 26, 2026).
- Federal Register (DHS/USCIS), “Fiscal Year 2027 Inflation Adjustment to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees (Oct. 1, 2026)” (accessed Oct. 26, 2026).