Impact of 2026 US Immigration Fee Hike on Indian Applicants

Starting January 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will raise certain immigration-related fees as part of its annual inflation adjustment under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (HR-1). These small increases aim to keep up with rising administrative costs and are tied to inflation metrics.

For Indian travellers, these changes will have minimal financial impact. For example, the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) fee is increasing slightly from $40 to $40.27, but since India is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, this doesn’t apply to Indian passport holders. Similarly, the EVUS (Electronic Visa Update System) fee for Chinese visa holders is moving from $30 to $30.75, which is also unrelated to Indian citizens.

The one area where Indians might notice a minor change is the parole fee, which allows certain foreign nationals to enter the U.S. temporarily under special conditions, such as urgent humanitarian needs. This fee will rise from $1,000 to $1,020 in 2026. Though the increase is small, applicants under this category should be aware and plan accordingly.

Other travel-associated fees like the Form I-94 (Arrival and Departure Form) remain unchanged at $30, meaning most Indian travellers won’t see any additional strain on their travel budget.

Overall, these adjustments are routine, modest, and targeted. For the majority of Indian visitors, tourists, and business professionals, travelling to the U.S. will remain just as accessible as before. Only those applying for special entry via parole may need to account for the minor fee increase.

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