Here’s what you need to know about the new $1,000 fee for parole:
- Most people who receive parole on or after October 16, 2025 must pay a new $1,000 fee.
- You do not pay this fee when applying for parole. It is due only after your parole is approved.
- The fee covers humanitarian parole, parole in place, and re-parole, unless you qualify for an exception.
- Some people are exempt, such as those facing medical emergencies and applicants traveling on advance parole while their green card cases are pending.
- Your parole may not take effect if you are required to pay the fee and do not pay it.
Who must pay the $1,000 parole fee
You must pay the $1,000 fee if you are granted the following statuses on or after October 16, 2025:
- Parole in place
- Re-parole
- Parole from abroad, such as humanitarian parole or significant public benefit parole
If you applied for parole before October 16, 2025 but the approval happens after October 16, 2025, the fee still applies. Similarly, if you are re-paroled or receive an extension of parole after that date, you will need to pay the fee unless an exception applies.
The fee applies each time parole is granted. This means if you are paroled multiple times, such as when leaving and reentering the U.S. under new grants of parole, you may have to pay again for each new parole decision.
Consult with a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative. Because parole decisions and exceptions can vary from case to case, a professional can prevent mistakes that might delay your entry or affect your status.
“If a person cannot or does not pay the $1,000, my understanding is that they will not be permitted to enter or re-enter the U.S.,” said Jodi Ziesemer, New York Legal Assistance Group’s Policy Director of Immigration Emergency Response.
This information is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney or accredited representative. The content was last updated November 2025.
What if you cannot pay the fee?
If you are required to pay and do not, your parole will not be granted or will be terminated. You are required to pay the fee in full.
When and how is the fee collected?
The $1,000 fee becomes due only after parole is approved. You will not be required to pay this fee when you first submit your application or request, such as Form I-131. Instead, the relevant immigration agency will notify you when your parole is approved and provide payment instructions.
If your parole is granted at a U.S. port of entry, Customs and Border Protection will collect the payment before you are allowed to enter the country.
If your parole is approved while you are already inside the United States, through USCIS or ICE, you will receive a notice explaining how and when to pay the fee. Your parole status will only become official once the payment is received and processed by the government.
It is important to wait for the official notice before paying. The agency will inform you of the payment method options (online, by mail or in person) and provide the submission deadline.
Who does not have to pay?
The rule includes several exceptions for people in specific humanitarian or family situations. You do not have to pay the $1,000 fee if your case falls under one of the following categories:
- You are granted parole due to a life-threatening medical emergency, or you are a parent or guardian accompanying a minor who needs urgent medical care.
- You are coming to the United States to donate an organ or tissue for transplant.
- You are traveling to be with a close family member who is near death or to attend that person’s funeral.
- You are an adopted child in the custody of a U.S. citizen and need medical care before your visa can be issued.
- You are an adjustment of status applicant returning from abroad on advance parole. This means if you already filed Form I-485 for a green card and are using an approved advance parole document to reenter, the fee does not apply.
- You were sent to a contiguous country under expedited removal and are being paroled back for your immigration hearing.
- You are a Cuban-Haitian Entrant as defined by U.S. law.
- You are being paroled for a law enforcement or public benefit reason, such as cooperating with a U.S. investigation.
Each exception must be proven to DHS. You will likely need to show documents (such as a doctor’s letter, adoption paperwork, or official evidence of your pending green card application), to qualify.
After your parole is approved, if the fee notice does apply and you believe you have an exception, you must respond in writing to the relevant agency (CBP, USCIS or ICE) depending on who granted your parole) before the payment deadline stated in the notice.
In your written request, clearly state the exception you are claiming and include evidence such as medical records, donation documentation, adoption paperwork, proof of pending adjustment of status (for advance parole travelers), or relevant law-enforcement cooperation letters.
