Law Office of Joseph B. Caraccio

Initial Asylum Filing Fee

Is there a fee to apply for asylum?

Yes. While applying for asylum was previously free, the U.S. government announced new fees in July 2025. The initial fee to apply for asylum is now $100, and there is an annual fee to maintain your pending case.

This fee is per asylum application (Form I-589), not per person. For example, if you include your spouse and children on a single application, the total fee for the entire family is $100. However, if each family member files their own separate Form I-589, each person must pay the $100 fee.

How to pay the initial fee to USCIS

Most people applying for asylum with USCIS are required to file online using the USCIS online account. You can pay the filing fee at the end of the online application using a credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account. If you do not have a card, you can use cash to purchase a pre-paid card at many large retail stores. Ensure the card has sufficient funds to cover the fee.

How to pay USCIS by mail (e.g., Unaccompanied Minors)

If you are applying by mail, you may pay using the following methods. Always include the payment form on top of your asylum application:

• Credit, Debit, or Pre-paid Card: Fill out Form G-1450.
• Bank Account (ACH): To pay by electronic debit from a U.S. bank account, fill out Form G-1650.
• Check: Sign and include Form G-1651 (Exemption for Paper Fee Payment). Make the check payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” and write your A-Number (e.g., A# 000-000-000) on the check.
• Money Order: Sign and include Form G-1651. Money orders can be purchased at post offices, banks, and some retail stores. Make it payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” and write your A-Number on the money order.

How to pay the initial fee to the Immigration Court

Before submitting your asylum application to the court, you must pay the $100 fee online:

1. Visit the Immigration Court payment website.
2. Enter your A-Number.
3. For “Filing Type,” select “Court – I-589, Application for Asylum (Initial Filing).”

Important: After paying, save a copy of the receipt and your Payment Tracking ID. Print the receipt and include it with your asylum application. The immigration court may reject your application if this receipt is missing.

Lost your receipt? If you did not save a copy, you can access it on the receipt webpage using your A-Number and Payment Tracking ID. If you do not know your Payment Tracking ID, you can retrieve it within 5 days of payment by returning to the main payment page, entering your A-Number, and selecting the “Court – I-589 (Initial Fee)” filing type again. After 5 days, you must contact your immigration court to request the ID.

Annual Asylum Fee

USCIS Annual Asylum Fee

USCIS charges an annual asylum fee of $102 once your application has been pending for more than 1 year. USCIS will send a notice giving you 30 days to pay. Because some applicants report not receiving their notice by mail, you should regularly check your status online.

What happens if I do not pay on time?
Failure to pay within 30 days will result in USCIS rejecting your asylum application, canceling your work permit, and rejecting any pending work permit applications related to your asylum case. If you have no other valid immigration status, USCIS may initiate deportation proceedings. (USCIS will begin enforcing these steps after May 29, 2026).

How to check if your USCIS annual fee is due:

1. Go to the USCIS payment website.
2. Enter your A-Number.
3. Enter the receipt number from your original asylum application or your annual fee notice. (If you do not know your receipt number, call USCIS at 800-375-5283 and say “Infopass” to ask an agent for it).

If your fee is due, the page will display a blue “Pay and Submit” button. If it is not due, an alert will read: “At this time, the Annual Asylum Fee payment is not due for this case. USCIS will issue a notice the first time the Annual Asylum Fee is due.” It is recommended to check this site weekly once your case has been pending for a year.

How to pay the USCIS annual fee:

1. Click the blue “Pay and Submit” button.
2. Provide your credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account information. You can also use a pre-paid cash card.
3. CRITICAL: After entering your payment details, you will see an “Agency Tracking ID.” Take a screenshot or write this down immediately. It will not appear again and is vital proof of your payment.
4. Check the box at the bottom and click “Continue” to submit.
5. You will see a success screen. USCIS will issue a final receipt to your online account or by mail.

Fee details: The fee is $102 per application. Fee waivers are not available. If a single application covers a family of four, the fee is $102 total. If you received a notice in 2025 stating the fee was $100, pay the amount displayed on the website during checkout.

If you have not received a receipt 2 months after paying, call USCIS at 800-375-5283 and say “Infopass.”

Immigration Court Annual Asylum Fee

Immigration courts also charge a $102 annual fee for cases pending more than 1 year. The immigration judge will issue a written order with a deadline. Note: Deadlines can be extremely short, sometimes as little as 1 day. Check your mail, email, and court accounts constantly.

If you miss the deadline, the judge will likely deny or dismiss your application. However, you do not have to wait for the order—you may proactively pay the fee once your case hits the 1-year mark.

How to pay the Immigration Court annual fee:

1. Go to the Immigration Court payment website.
2. Enter your A-Number.
3. Select “Court – Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF).”
4. Follow the instructions to pay via card or bank account.
5. Save a copy of the receipt and Payment Tracking ID.
6. Submit a copy of the receipt to the immigration court.

Lost your Immigration Court receipt?
Retrieve it via the receipt webpage using your A-Number and Tracking ID. If you lost the Tracking ID, you can recover it within 20 days by returning to the main payment page and selecting the Annual Fee filing type again. You can also contact ECAS Support at 1-877-388-3842 or ECAS.techsupport@usdoj.gov. After 20 days, you must contact your specific court.

BIA Annual Asylum Fee

For cases on appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) will not charge the annual fee without first issuing a written order. Check your mail and accounts regularly. If you receive an order, pay by the listed deadline to prevent your case from being denied or dismissed.

Where Should You Pay?

Where you pay depends on where your case is currently pending.

Step 1: Check the Immigration Court System
Enter your A-Number on the Immigration Court website or call the automated hotline at 1-800-898-7180.

• If your case is “docketed,” pending, or scheduled for a hearing: You are in Immigration Court. Pay the court fee.
• If an appeal was received: Your case is with the BIA.
• If the judge made a decision and no appeal was received (or the BIA issued a negative decision): Your case may be over, and you do not owe the fee.
• If your information is not found: Proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Check USCIS
If you have a USCIS receipt for Form I-589, enter the receipt number on the USCIS Case Status website.

• If action is being taken: Your case is with USCIS.
• If the receipt is invalid, closed, or transferred: You do not have an active USCIS case.

Special Circumstances

• Moved from USCIS to Immigration Court: This happens if you applied with USCIS but received a Notice to Appear. If you already paid USCIS, try sending a copy of that receipt to the court with a letter explaining the situation, and bring a copy to your first hearing. If you haven’t paid yet, you can wait for a judge’s order or pay via the court website once the case is officially open.
• Administratively Closed Cases: If your court case is “administratively closed,” it is paused. However, it is still considered pending, meaning the annual fee may still apply.