Important Update – New USCIS Asylum Annual Fee Requirements

USCIS has implemented new fees for asylum applicants that affect both new and pending cases. It is very important for all asylum applicants to understand these new requirements to avoid having their cases closed.

🔹 Who Must Pay the Fee

There are now two separate asylum-related fees:

1. Initial Filing Fee ($100): Applies only to applicants who filed Form I-589 on or after July 22, 2025.
2. Annual Asylum Fee ($100): Applies to all asylum applicants whose cases have been pending for one year or longer.

If your asylum case has been pending for more than a year, you will soon be required to pay the Annual Asylum Fee.

🔹 How to Check If You Need to Pay

If you have not yet received a notice about the annual asylum fee and you applied for asylum at least a year ago, you can check your case online:

👉 https://my.uscis.gov/accounts/annual-asylum-fee/questionnaire

Enter your A-Number and your receipt number (from your asylum receipt notice).
The system will tell you whether you can pay now or if you should wait for your official notice. You can check weekly for updates.

If you do not have your receipt notice, contact our office and we will provide it to you.

🔹 For Immigration Court (EOIR) Cases:

If you are in removal proceedings and have a pending asylum application, you must pay the $100 fee using the following link:

👉 https://epay.eoir.justice.gov/index

Enter your Alien Registration Number (A-Number) and then select:
“Court – I-589, Application for Asylum (Initial Fee)”

🔹 Important Details

• The annual fee is $100 per asylum application (Form I-589), not per person.
• The payment must be made online through your myUSCIS account.
• USCIS does not accept checks or money orders for this fee.
• Failure to pay the required fee will result in USCIS closing your asylum case, and it cannot be reopened.

🔹 Need Help?

If you would like our firm to monitor your asylum case and remind you each year when the fee is due, we offer this service for a $400 annual management fee.

Please reach out if you have any questions or would like us to check your case status.