USCIS Introduces $1,000 Fee for Temporary Entry Permit, "Parole"

Starting October 16, 2025, any foreign national granted a temporary entry or stay in the United States under the "parole" system will be required to pay a mandatory fee of $1,000. This new directive, issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and signed by Secretary Kristi Noem, was published in the Federal Register. The measure, significantly impacting the migrant community, stems from provisions in the recent HR-1 Act (The One Big Beautiful Bill Act) championed by the Trump administration.

Understanding "Parole" and Its Users

The immigration "parole" is a legal mechanism that allows the Department of Homeland Security to authorize temporary entry or stay of foreign nationals in the U.S. for "urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit." It does not equate to legal admission into the country but serves as a temporary, discretionary permit. This can be granted:

• At ports of entry by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• To detainees or individuals already within the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or USCIS.

This mechanism has been crucial for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, particularly under the "humanitarian parole" program promoted by the Biden administration. The new regulation imposes a $1,000 fee for both initial parole grants and renewals (re-parole). This payment will be required post-approval of the application, not upon submission.

USCIS clarifies: “USCIS will charge the immigration fee for temporary stay permits if you are physically in the United States and we grant you the temporary stay permit or a new period of the temporary stay permit (also known as re-parole).” The notice further specifies: “The notification will include payment instructions and a deadline. The permit will not be granted unless the fee is paid as instructed and within the set timeframe.”

Implications of the New Fee

The fee is applicable in all cases, including initial parole requests, renewals, parole in place, and even those granted to individuals under DHS custody. The process will continue using Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document), which was previously used. However, the prior fee ranged between $580 and $630 USD, depending on the method of submission. Now, this additional $1,000 fee is required after approval.

Legal Foundation: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The fee originates from the HR-1 Act, commonly known as The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted on July 4, 2025. This legislation modified several government programs and established new immigration fees with the aim of “funding border control and legal immigration programs, and reducing the immigration system's reliance on the state budget and American taxpayers.” The amount may be adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Exemptions to the Fee

The regulation outlines ten scenarios where the fee will not be charged, including:

• Medical emergencies or inaccessible treatments in the country of origin.
• Parents or guardians of children in such situations.
• Urgent organ donors.
• Visits to terminally ill relatives or attendance at funerals.
• Medically urgent adoptions.
• Applicants adjusting status after travel.
• Participation in immigration hearings from neighboring countries.
• Individuals admitted as "Cuban or Haitian entrants" under the 1980 Act.
• Cooperating with authorities as witnesses or informants.

Impact on Cuban Nationals

According to the legal section of the independent outlet elTOQUE, Cuban nationals who have already obtained humanitarian parole will not be subject to the new fee. There are two key legal foundations:

1. Non-retroactivity: The regulation takes effect on October 16, 2025, and does not impact applications or permits granted before this date. “As a general principle, laws do not apply to events occurring before they come into force. This is no exception,” states elTOQUE.
2. Exemption for “Cuban Entrants”: The directive exempts those identified as “Cuban entrants” as per section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980. This category encompasses any Cuban admitted under parole without a final deportation order or another immigration status. “The term ‘Cuban entrant’ applies to anyone applying for parole to enter the U.S. without a prior deportation or removal order.”

This means that beneficiaries of the CHNV humanitarian program (Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans), as well as Cuban migrants entering via the southern border using the CBP One app, would be covered by this exemption, provided they qualify as “Cuban entrants.”

Concerns for Non-Cuban Family Members

A troubling issue arises for the dependents of Cuban citizens: spouses or children of other nationalities seeking family parole may not be automatically exempt from the fee. “Although the Cuban Adjustment Act allows dependents […] of the applicant to regularize their immigration status regardless of nationality, the exemption in the new directive does not appear to extend the same protection,” warns elTOQUE. This could potentially impose a significant financial burden on many Cuban families undergoing reunification.

The introduction of this fee occurs amidst numerous reports of fraud associated with humanitarian parole, misuse of public funds, and potential human trafficking networks. It also coincides with a broader tightening of immigration policies, marked by efforts to restrict the Cuban Adjustment Act, in effect since 1966.