US Asylum Fees 2026: How to Pay the Initial and Annual (AAF) Fee?

What Is the Annual Asylum Fee (AAF), and Who Pays It?

The U.S. government has implemented a new annual fee for pending asylum applications. Known as the Annual Asylum Fee (AAF), it applies to applicants whose cases have been pending for at least one year without a decision. Introduced under the H.R.1 bill, which took effect in 2025, the fee is collected by both USCIS and immigration courts.

If you have not yet filed for asylum, you do not pay the annual fee. Instead, you are required to pay the initial filing fee, a one-time charge due at the time of submission. The process for checking and paying the fee depends on which agency currently holds your case: USCIS, the immigration court (EOIR), or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). You will find the step-by-step instructions for each below. The legal basis for the fee is outlined in the H.R.1 regulation published in the Federal Register. This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

The Difference Between the Initial Filing Fee and the Annual Fee

Keep the two payments apart. The initial filing fee is the $100 paid upfront when you submit Form I-589, and it starts the process. The annual asylum fee kicks in once 365 days pass. The $102 charge, repeated every year the case stays open, keeps the application active. The full current schedule appears in the USCIS fee schedule.

If the Case Is at the USCIS Stage: Check and Pay

If the file is pending at USCIS (affirmative), the $102 yearly payment goes through the agency's online system. USCIS usually sends a notice giving a 30-day window. Even without a notice, you can log in and confirm for yourself whether the time has come.

How do I tell whether a payment is due?

You need to watch your mailbox and online account regularly. Sometimes a payment lands in the system without a notice. The check goes like this:

• Open the USCIS payment portal.
• Enter your A-number.
• Add the receipt number from your asylum receipt (I-589 Receipt Notice). If you can't find it, call 800-375-5283 and say "Infopass" to ask an agent for it.

If the time has come, the system takes you straight to the payment page and a blue "Pay and Submit" button appears. If it is still early, an alert at the top of the page says no payment is needed. Checking the page once a week helps you avoid surprises. You can also follow your file's overall status with the methods in our asylum case status guide.

How is the USCIS payment made?

1. In the payment portal, proceed with your A-number and receipt number.
2. If it shows as ready, click the "Pay and Submit" button.
3. Complete the transaction with a credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account. Those without a card can buy a prepaid card with cash at large stores and load enough balance onto it.
4. After you enter the card details, an Agency Tracking ID appears. Note it down or screenshot it at once. It is the only proof of payment the system gives, and it vanishes once you close the page.
5. Confirm and finish. The USCIS receipt lands in your account or is mailed to your address.

You can find the current rules on unpaid fees in our DHS 2026 asylum update.

If the Case Is in Immigration Court (EOIR)

If the file has moved to court (defensive), the same $102 charge goes through the court's digital payment system. If a year has passed since the application, you can pay right away without waiting for a formal order from the judge.

How is the court payment made?

• Open the immigration court payment site and enter your A-number.
• From the options, select "Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)."
• Complete the transaction with card or bank account details.
• Save the receipt and the Payment Tracking ID; if you miss the record, you can retrieve it from the EOIR receipt page.

Should the receipt be filed with the court?

The government has not yet clarified whether submitting extra paperwork is required. Playing it safe and getting the receipt added to the file is the better move. If you have an attorney, pass the receipt and tracking number along. Those going without an attorney can deliver a copy of the receipt to the court and another to OPLA (the government attorney) by mail, in person at the hearing, or at the court window. Keep the original copy for yourself.

If the Case Is on Appeal (BIA)

If the file is with the Board of Immigration Appeals, how the process works is still unclear. The BIA has announced it will not request the fee without first sending a written order. If a formal order reaches you, pay by the date stated on the document. Missing the window causes the case to be dismissed.

The official site has no payment option specific to the BIA. You can follow the court steps and complete the transaction, but the agency does not yet guarantee the money will post directly to the BIA system. Those who want to pay in advance and submit proof can mail the original receipt to the BIA headquarters and a copy to the OPLA office. If payment was made while the case was still in court, you can attach the receipt directly to the notice of appeal (Form EOIR-26) to speed the process up.

Fee Waiver and Family Files

There is no fee waiver for the AAF. Even if the amount looks low, it is a legal obligation and must be paid without exception.

For family applications, the charge is taken per Form I-589 entered into the system, not per person. A family of four filing jointly on a single form pays only $102. If the members fill out separate forms in their own names, $102 must be deposited separately for each file.

Useful Official Resources and Contacts

Official resources you can turn to for payment, receipt access, and hearing information:

A Practical Summary for Applicants

Short version: the annual fee is $102 and is paid again each year the case stays open; the initial filing fee ($100) is charged only once. Where you pay depends on whether your file sits at USCIS, the immigration court, or the BIA; always keep the receipt and the Tracking ID. The biggest risk is missing a short deadline and putting the application at risk.