Archive · 1 Jan 2026
US Imposes New Immigration Fees and Remittance Tax
Starting in 2026, the US will increase fees for certain immigration applications, such as asylum and employment authorization.
The Trump administration will also impose stricter rules for green card applicants from 19 countries considered security concerns.
Additionally, a new 1% remittance tax will be applied to cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks sent to foreign nations by non-US residents in the US.
This tax does not apply to transactions made through bank accounts, debit/credit cards, or qualified remittance transfer providers.
The changes are part of a broader effort to control immigration and generate additional revenue.
The impact will be significant for countries like India, Mexico, China, and the Philippines, which are major recipients of US remittances.
Certain US immigration fees will increase starting January 1, 2026, due to inflation adjustments.
The fee increases apply to various forms, including asylum applications and employment authorization documents.
The Trump administration will impose heightened scrutiny on green card applicants from 19 countries considered security concerns.
Starting January 1, 2026, a 1% remittance tax will be applied to cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks sent to foreign nations by non-US residents in the US.
The remittance tax does not apply to transactions made through bank accounts, debit/credit cards, or qualified remittance transfer providers.
- Who
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Trump administration, and non-US residents in the US (e.g., NRIs, green card holders, foreign students, and other immigrants)
- What
- Increase in certain immigration fees, heightened scrutiny for green card applicants from specific countries, and a 1% remittance tax on cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks sent to foreign nations
- When
- Effective January 1, 2026 (fee increase and remittance tax), January 1, 2025 (remittance tax for India and other nations)
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To account for inflation, as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, and to impose a new excise tax on remittance transfers made by non-US residents
- Effective Date for Fee Increase
- January 1, 2026
- Annual Asylum Application Fee
- $102 (approx. ₹ 9,165)
- Form I-765 (Initial Asylum Applicant EAD)
- $560 (approx. ₹ 50,300)
- Form I-765 (Renewal or Extension of Parole EAD)
- $280 (approx. ₹ 25,100)
- Form I-821 (Application for TPS)
- $510 (approx. ₹ 45,800)
- Countries with Complete Entry Ban
- Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
- Countries with Partial Entry Restrictions
- Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela
- Additional Funding for ICE and Border Patrol
- $170 billion through September 2029
- Remittance Tax Rate
- 1%
- Taxable Remittance Methods
- Cash, money orders, cashier’s checks
- Exempt Remittance Methods
- Bank accounts, debit/credit cards, qualified remittance transfer providers
Sources
US raises immigration fees from 1 January as Trump expands crackdown— Ready to pay more in 2026?
9 big Green Card rule changes in 2025 that could impact your US residency in 2026
US remittance tax to be levied from January 1: Who pays, what’s taxed and what is exempt?
Amid H1B Visa Overhaul…US Embassy warns against illegal immigration
US Embassy's "Significant Criminal Penalties" Warning For Illegal Immigrants
