One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): Immigration Fees and Border Reform in 2025
Index
- New Fees and Financial Obligations
- Visa Integrity Fee: Who is Affected?
- Increased Monitoring for Students and Work Visa Holders
- Local Cooperation, Deportation Targets, and Social Benefit Restrictions
- Family Detention, Mandatory Detention, and Due Process Rights:
- What Does This Mean for Immigrants?
What’s Changing Under the OBBBA? From Students to Asylum Seekers: Who’s Paying the Price Under OBBBA?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed on July 4, 2025, made several changes to the U.S. immigration system. It raised fees for asylum and work permits, limited access to public benefits, and increased government checks on both undocumented immigrants and visa holders.
One of the biggest shifts is financial. Simple steps that used to be free or low-cost, such as submitting an asylum application, renewing a work permit, or maintaining TPS - temporary protected status, now carry much higher fees that could make the process harder for many.
New Fees and Financial Obligations
Below are some new application fees under the OBBBA:
Sources: Congress.gov, Bill Text, and AILA, Fee Summary, PDF.
Asylum Applications
| Procedure | Fee |
|---|---|
| Asylum application fee | $100 |
| Annual processing fee (during application) | $100/year |
| Initial Employment Authorization (EAD) | $550 |
| EAD renewal/extension | $275 |
Parole Applications
| Procedure | Fee |
| Parole application | $1,000 |
| Initial work permit (1-year) | $550 |
| Renewal or extension (1-year) | $275 |
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
| Procedure | Fee |
| TPS application (USCIS) | $500 |
| TPS application (Court) | $500 |
| Initial work permit (1-year) | $550 |
| Renewal or extension (1-year) | $275 |
Other Applications
| Procedure | Fee |
| Special Immigrant Juvenile Application | $250 |
| Visa Integrity Fee (at visa issuance) | $250 |
| Form I-94 application | $24 |
Immigration Court Filings
| Procedure | Fee |
| Adjustment of Status | $1,500 |
| Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility | $1,050 |
| TPS application | $500 |
| Suspension or Cancellation of Deportation | $600 |
| Cancellation of Removal & Adjustment of Status (non-permanent residents) | $1,500 |
| Individuals removed in absentia | $5,000 |
Appeals and Motions
| Procedure | Fee |
| Appeal to Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) | $900 |
| Appeal of DHS decision | $900 |
| Motion to Reopen/Reconsider (IJ or BIA decision) | $900 |
Additional Fees
| Procedure | Fee |
| ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | $40 |
| EVUS (for Chinese B-1/B-2 visa holders) | $30 |
| Penalty for illegal entry (individuals arrested at border) | $5,000 |
These regulations notably increase the financial stress on low-income individuals and those with temporary statuses.
Visa Integrity Fee: Who is Affected?
The proposed $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" under the OBBB Act applies to certain nonimmigrant visa holders at the time of visa issuance.
- F-1 and F-2: Students and dependent spouses
- J-1 and J-2: Exchange program participants
- H-1B and H-4: Temporary specialized workers and their spouses
- All other nonimmigrant visitor and employment-based visas.
Nationals from countries under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), including Canada and Bermuda, will be excluded from paying this fee.
Effective date: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not officially announced the implementation date, but it is expected to begin around October 1, 2025.
Refund Policy: Generally non-refundable, however, the DHS may consider refunds in exceptional cases, such as timely departure, legal status extension, or adjustment to green card (LPR) status.
Increased Monitoring for Students and Work Visa Holders
The OBBBA affects not only undocumented immigrants but also individuals who are legally residing in the United States.
For example, F-1 international students will be subject to closer monitoring through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and they can expect more frequent compliance checks and document requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
H-1B specialized workers may be subject to additional document verification requirements.
Local Cooperation, Deportation Targets, and Social Benefit Restrictions
ICE Cooperation: Local law enforcement and detention centers now have increased authority and responsibility to transfer individuals to ICE custody. They are targeting around 3,000 arrests daily and over one million deportations annually.
Sanctuary Cities: Cities that implement immigrant-friendly policies risk losing federal grants and state assistance. They may also be compelled to cooperate more closely with federal deportation efforts.
Social Assistance Programs: Medicaid (health insurance for low-income individuals), CHIP (children’s health insurance), and SNAP (food stamps) will only be available to U.S. citizens, certain permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian nationals, and COFA nationals.
Refugees, asylum seekers, TPS holders, and DACA recipients will no longer be eligible. Additionally, DACA recipients will be excluded from ACA (Obamacare) assistance. Eligibility for the Child Tax Credit (CTC) will require that parents have lawful immigration status.
Family Detention, Mandatory Detention, and Due Process Rights:
The OBBB Act abolishes critical provisions of the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement, which previously limited the detention of immigrant children to a maximum of 20 days and ensured humane treatment and timely family reunification. The new regulation permits the indefinite detention of families and children.
Furthermore, minor or past criminal records could become grounds for deportation, and the government will broadly expand expedited removal processes.
What Does This Mean for Immigrants?
The OBBBA affects not only illegal border crossings but also students, work visa holders, recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and asylum applicants who are legally present in the U.S.
Higher fees, increased monitoring, cuts to social benefits, and fewer procedural safeguards mean that immigrants will face greater difficulties in the future.
For this reason, it is essential to consult an experienced immigration attorney who can clarify your personal situation and help you avoid potential risks.
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