Trump Admin Makes Major TPS Change

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced Thursday that it is scrapping fee waivers for some immigrants seeking to extend their stay in the country, including those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

In an update to its "fee schedule", the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency said it was lifting the option to file a form known as I-131 for free, meaning most will have to pay $630 to get travel documentation.

"Removing access to fee waivers will directly impact immigrants, many of whom are low-income or working-class families," AK Poku, an immigration attorney in Manassas, Virginia, told Newsweek.

Why It Matters

The change comes as the Trump administration looks to tighten immigration controls and against the backdrop of TPS being revoked for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. Fee waivers have traditionally been offered to those who would struggle to pay, such as those fleeing persecution or dire financial situations in their home countries.

What To Know

The change, announced Thursday afternoon, comes after USCIS teased that it would be making changes to the fees it charges earlier in the week. It appeared that more changes were still on the way, following the I-131 update.

The agency said that two types of applicants will no longer be eligible for fee waivers when applying for what is known as parole. Those filing the form for:

• An initial request for arrival/departure record for parole in place (for immigrants who are inside the United States)
• Arrival/departure records for re-parole for immigrants who are requesting a new period of parole (from inside the United States), who were initially granted parole in place.

Among those affected by this will be immigrants who have Temporary Protected Status who want to travel outside the U.S. and return without issue. If TPS status lapses or requires extension, then reapplying for travel documents would mean another $630 fee.

The fee comes on top of the initial TPS application, form I-821, which comes with a $50 base fee, although some applicants will still be eligible for fee waivers.

The revocation of fee waiver eligibility for advanced parole would not just apply to TPS holders, with any immigrant applying for longer-term status, such as a green card, needing parole in place likely having to now pay this charge.

USCIS is funded solely through the fees it charges. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, the agency was given permission to charge higher fees across the board, including for those applying for asylum.

The last time the agency updated its fees was in April 2025, after almost a year without any changes.

What People Are Saying

AK Poku, an immigration attorney in Manassas, Virginia, told Newsweek: "Parole in Place has long been an important pathway for undocumented spouses and family members of U.S. service members. Without a waiver option, many may simply be unable to apply. This places military families at risk and undermines long-standing humanitarian policies.

"More broadly, increasing fees without waivers for asylum and humanitarian parole will discourage many vulnerable people from seeking legal protections. Forcing TPS applicants and asylum seekers to pay hundreds of dollars creates a barrier that will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable."

USCIS, in a July 11 press release: "USCIS will soon begin to collect new fees for certain immigration benefit requests. We will provide details on the implementation of these fee changes in the coming days."

What's Next

The change takes effect immediately, with immigrants encouraged to carefully read their application forms to ensure they are using the correct version and are paying the correct amount in fees.

Update 7/18/25, 9:27 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Poku.