The I-765 filing fee in 2026 depends on why you qualify for a work permit. The standard government fee is $520 on paper or $470 online, but some categories pay a reduced fee, some pay nothing, and people applying based on asylum, parole or TPS pay an added fee set by Congress. Here is what each category pays, what changed in 2026, and what happens if you send the wrong amount.
The short version
Standard I-765 fee: $520 paper, $470 online.
Pending green card (I-485 filed on or after April 1, 2024): $260.
Asylum, parole and TPS: an added H.R.1 fee, currently $560 for an initial card (scheduled to become $570 on October 16, 2026), and it cannot be waived.
Wrong amount: USCIS rejects the form, so check the fee right before you file.
Key Takeaways
- There is no single I-765 fee. The amount depends on your eligibility category, and on whether you file online or on paper.
- Since 2025, Congress has added non-waivable fees for work permits based on asylum applications, parole and TPS, and those amounts rise with inflation.
- A fee waiver (Form I-912) can cover the regular fee in some categories, but it never covers the H.R.1 portion.
How much is the I-765 filing fee?
The base fee is written into the regulations. Under 8 CFR 106.2, the fee for Form I-765 is $520. USCIS’s 2024 fee rule, effective April 1, 2024, also created a $50 discount for filing online, which brings the fee to $470 where online filing is available. The same rule lowered the fee to $260 for people with a pending adjustment of status application, and it left some categories with no fee at all.
USCIS publishes the current numbers on the G-1055 fee schedule and in its fee calculator. Fees change, and some of the changes in 2026 come from a federal statute rather than from USCIS, so always confirm the amount on the day you file.
What does each work permit category pay?
Your category is the code on the form, such as (c)(9) or (c)(8). You choose it in Part 2 of the I-765, and it controls your fee. This table covers the categories we can confirm against the regulation, the 2024 fee rule and the federal notices on the H.R.1 fees. It is not a full list of every category.
| Situation (category) | Regular I-765 fee | Added H.R.1 fee (FY 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Pending green card application, I-485 filed on or after April 1, 2024 ((c)(9)) | $260 | None |
| Asylum applicant, first card ((c)(8)) | $0 | $560 |
| Asylum applicant, renewal | $520 paper, $470 online | $275 |
| Parole, first card ((c)(11)) | $520 paper, $470 online | $560 |
| Parole, renewal | $520 paper, $470 online | $280 |
| TPS, first card ((a)(12) or (c)(19)) | $520 paper, $470 online | $560 |
| TPS, renewal | $520 paper, $470 online | $280 |
| DACA ((c)(33)), filed with Form I-821D | $520 (plus $85 for the I-821D) | None |
Two points about the table. First, the “added H.R.1 fee” column comes from the 2025 budget reconciliation law, known as H.R.1, and is paid in addition to the regular fee. The Federal Register notice implementing those fees set the amounts at $550 for an initial card and $275 for a renewal, effective for filings postmarked on or after July 22, 2025. Second, the inflation adjustment raised the initial fee to $560 for asylum, parole and TPS, raised the parole and TPS renewal fee to $280, and left the asylum renewal fee at $275, for filings postmarked on or after January 1, 2026. The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) lays out how the regular and H.R.1 fees stack in its FAQ on H.R.1 fees.
Some categories pay nothing for an initial card. Under 8 CFR 106.2, these include people already granted asylum, people granted withholding of removal, dependents of certain foreign government and international organization employees, and current or former U.S. military service members, among others. Because the exemptions turn on exact code and dates, check the regulation or speak with an attorney before you assume you owe nothing.
What is the work permit fee if I have a pending green card case?
If you filed your I-485 on or after April 1, 2024, the work permit costs $260 when you file the I-765 as a (c)(9) applicant. The online discount does not apply to that reduced fee. CLINIC explains that the two applications were formerly free when filed with the I-485, and that the rule now requires separate payments. If your I-485 was filed before that date and you paid its fee, the regulation keeps the no-fee treatment for that case. For the green card application itself, see our guide to the I-485 filing fee in 2026.
What will the asylum, parole and TPS fees be after October 2026?
The H.R.1 fees are adjusted for inflation each year. A notice on the FY 2027 adjustments is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on October 1, 2026 and takes effect 15 days later, which would be October 16, 2026. The notice raises the initial asylum, parole and TPS fee from $560 to $570, and leaves the renewal amounts at $275 (asylum) and $280 (parole and TPS). Filings postmarked on or after the effective date without the correct amount will be rejected.
Until the notice is final, treat those numbers as scheduled, not settled. If you plan to file close to October 16, confirm which amount applies to your postmark date.
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What does DACA renewal cost for the work permit?
DACA renewals use category (c)(33) and are filed with Form I-821D. The I-765 fee is $520 and the I-821D fee is $85, so the paper total is $605, and CLINIC notes that no fee waiver is available for DACA filings. We cover the full process, timing and the two separate payments in our post on DACA renewal in 2026.
Can I get a fee waiver for the I-765?
Sometimes, for the regular fee only. A fee waiver request uses Form I-912, and CLINIC explains that applicants may qualify by receiving a means-tested benefit, by having household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or by showing financial hardship. The Federal Register notice on the H.R.1 fees says they cannot be waived or reduced, so an asylum, parole or TPS applicant can ask to waive the $520 or $470 portion, but the added $560 or $280 still has to be paid. Do not send a fee payment for any portion you are asking USCIS to waive.
Waiver eligibility varies by category, so we do not assume it applies to you. If your case falls outside asylum, parole and TPS, confirm on the G-1055 fee schedule whether your category accepts a waiver before you rely on one.
What happens if I send the wrong I-765 fee?
USCIS states on its filing fees page that if you do not submit the correct fee, it will reject your form. The Federal Register notices on the H.R.1 fees say the same about benefit requests postmarked on or after a new fee takes effect without the proper amount. A rejected form does not go into processing, and you have to send it again with the right amount.
That lost time matters most on a renewal. If your current card is close to expiring and your application is rejected, you may have to refile and wait for a new receipt while your work authorization runs out. The most common mistakes are using last year’s fee, forgetting the added H.R.1 payment, and paying the online amount on a paper filing. Some filings also require more than one payment, such as the regular fee and the H.R.1 fee, so count the checks before you mail. Our guide to the employment authorization document in 2026 explains how long the process takes and what to expect after filing, and our plain-English guide to Form I-766 covers the card itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the I-765 fee different online and on paper?
Yes, where online filing is available. The regular fee is $520 on paper and $470 online. The $260 reduced fee for pending green card applicants does not get the online discount, and the added H.R.1 fees are the same either way.
Do I pay a fee to renew my work permit?
Usually yes. Most renewals pay the regular fee, and asylum, parole and TPS renewals also pay the H.R.1 renewal fee. A few categories, such as people granted withholding of removal, are exempt from renewal fees under the regulation, so check your category first.
Will the I-765 fee go up again?
The H.R.1 fees adjust for inflation every year, and a further increase for asylum, parole and TPS initial cards is scheduled for October 16, 2026. The regular $520 and $470 fees are set by USCIS rule and can change when USCIS publishes a new fee schedule.
Can I get my I-765 fee back if my application is denied?
No. USCIS states that filing fees are final and non-refundable regardless of any action taken on your request. That is why it is worth confirming your category and eligibility before you file.
How We Can Help
We help clients choose the right category, calculate the exact fee for their postmark date, and file a work permit application that is complete the first time. If you are not sure which code applies to you or whether you owe the added H.R.1 fee, call us at (407) 917-2087 or start with a free pre-evaluation. We review the facts to see whether we can help, and if it is a fit, we will invite you to a paid consultation with a written flat-fee quote.
Our founding attorney Denisse Ilabaca is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction held by fewer than two percent of Florida attorneys.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ilabaca Law, PLLC. Immigration fees and rules change often, so talk with a licensed attorney about your situation before you act.