The change and its date
USCIS announced an FY 2026 inflation increase for certain immigration-related fees, with effective filing dates stated in the agency notice.
Specified statutory fees created or governed by recent legislation were adjusted for inflation; the update did not mean every USCIS form fee changed by the same amount.
Current status
Effective for covered requests filed on or after the stated implementation date.
This status is stated as of September 5, 2026. Readers should check the linked agency page before relying on it because court orders, implementation instructions, form editions, and agency guidance can change.
Why the distinction matters
Mixed packages can contain ordinary form fees, statutory add-on fees, and non-waivable charges with different rules.
An announcement date, publication date, effective date, filing date, and decision date can produce different consequences. Keep a dated copy of the official instruction that governed the action actually taken.
Practical preparation steps
This archive explains public information; it is not individualized legal advice. Do not change status, travel, employment, benefits, or filing strategy without checking the current rule and obtaining qualified legal advice where needed.
- Confirm the postmark or online-submission date
- List each fee and legal source separately
- Recheck amounts immediately before payment
- Avoid combining payments when current instructions warn against it