A first-time Temporary Protected Status application with a work permit now costs roughly $1,650 in TPS fees, and re-registering with a renewed work permit runs about $1,325 to $1,375. Those totals reflect the H.R. 1 surcharges that took effect January 1, 2026, which added $500 to Form I-821 and a separate surcharge to Form I-765. Fee waivers are still available for applicants who qualify, and USCIS now requires electronic payment for most paper filings.
Initial TPS Registration
First-time applicants file Form I-821. The base filing fee is $50, plus a separate $30 biometric services fee for fingerprinting and background checks. TPS is one of the few immigration categories where USCIS still bills biometrics as its own line item.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Frequently Asked Questions on the USCIS Fee Rule
On top of that, USCIS began collecting a $500 H.R. 1 surcharge on TPS applications on January 1, 2026, bringing Form I-821 to roughly $580.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status The H.R. 1 amounts adjust annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, so confirm the current total in the USCIS fee calculator before you file.
Most initial applicants also need work authorization on Form I-765, which now carries its own H.R. 1 surcharge on top of the existing filing fee. That pushes the initial EAD to approximately $1,070 whether you file online or on paper. Together, an initial I-821 plus I-765 lands near $1,650.
Re-Registration and Work Permit Renewal
TPS holders must re-register during each designated period to keep their status. Under the old fee structure, re-registering on Form I-821 was free. That is no longer true. The H.R. 1 surcharges apply the same way to re-registrations as to initial filings, so re-registering also costs about $580.
Renewing a TPS-based work permit is somewhat cheaper than the first one. Form I-765 renewal runs approximately $745 online and $795 on paper. A re-registering TPS holder who also renews the work permit is looking at roughly $1,325 to $1,375, up sharply from the few hundred dollars the same package cost before 2026.
Travel Document Costs
TPS holders who need to leave the United States and return must file Form I-131 for a TPS travel authorization document before departing. Traveling without it can result in abandonment of your TPS.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records The I-131 filing fee varies by category and may also carry an H.R. 1 surcharge, so check the fee calculator before filing. An incorrect fee can trigger rejection and a gap in your ability to travel lawfully.
Fee Waivers
Form I-912 lets you ask USCIS to waive these fees. You only need to meet one of three criteria.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver
- You, your spouse, your child, or your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled) currently receive a means-tested benefit such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, Section 8, or WIC.
- Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file. For 2026, that is $23,940 for a single person and $49,500 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states; Alaska and Hawaii have higher thresholds.5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- You face extreme financial hardship, such as unexpected medical bills or sudden loss of income, even if your income would otherwise be too high.
Documentation decides most waiver requests. For a means-tested benefit, include a current agency letter or notice. For income, include tax returns, pay stubs, or an employer letter. For hardship, include the specific records: medical bills, a termination notice, or similar proof. Waiver requests without clear supporting documents are almost always denied.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
How to Pay USCIS
USCIS overhauled its payment system in late 2025. The old habit of mailing a check made out to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” no longer works for most filers. Paper-filed applications now require electronic payment through one of two methods.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS to Modernize Fee Payments with Electronic Funds
- Credit or debit card using Form G-1450, which authorizes USCIS to charge the card through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov system. Prepaid cards are accepted, which helps if you do not have a U.S. bank account.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
- ACH bank transfer using Form G-1650, which authorizes a direct debit from a U.S. bank account. You will need a U.S. routing and account number.
Personal checks, money orders, and cashier’s checks are no longer accepted unless you get an exemption by filing Form G-1651. That exemption requires you to certify that you lack access to banking or electronic payment systems, or that using them would cause undue hardship.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment Most applicants will use G-1450 or G-1650.
If you file online, you enter payment information directly in the USCIS portal and no separate payment form is needed.
What Happens If the Fee Is Wrong
USCIS will reject any application postmarked on or after January 1, 2026, that does not include the correct H.R. 1 fee.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status A rejected filing is not considered properly filed, so you lose your filing date. When you resubmit, you get a new filing date and pay the fees again. Using the wrong payment method, such as mailing a personal check without a G-1651 exemption, will also cause rejection.
For re-registering TPS holders, a rejected payment can push the resubmission past the designated window. That creates gaps in work authorization and forces you to explain the late filing. Run your numbers through the USCIS fee calculator before filing, confirm you are using an accepted payment method, and make sure any card you authorize has enough available credit for the full amount.
Late Re-Registration
Missing your TPS re-registration window does not automatically end your eligibility, but it does cause problems. USCIS may accept a late re-registration if you show good cause in a written explanation with your application.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Temporary Protected Status The fees are the same as an on-time re-registration, so there is no financial penalty for lateness. The real cost is practical: processing delays, gaps in your work authorization while USCIS decides whether to accept the explanation, and the uncertainty that comes with waiting.