The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that immigration and border-related fees will increase starting January 1, 2026. These adjustments are required under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (HR-1), which mandates annual updates to fees based on inflation.
The updated fees affect the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), and the parole fee for foreign nationals temporarily allowed into the U.S. While the changes won’t impact all Indian travelers, some categories may notice a slight rise in costs.
The parole fee will go up from $1,000 to $1,020. This fee applies to individuals allowed to enter the U.S. temporarily without a visa for urgent humanitarian reasons or public benefit.
The ESTA fee, used by travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, will rise from $40 to $40.27. However, this does not apply to Indian citizens, as India is not part of the Visa Waiver Program.
EVUS fees, applicable only to Chinese citizens with B-1 or B-2 visas, will increase from $30 to $30.75.
There will be no change to the $30 fee for Form I-94, which is required for some international visitors entering the U.S.
These adjustments are part of the annual inflation-based updates and are expected to cause only a slight increase in travel expenses for affected categories.
