New $1,000 Parole Fee Announced; AOS Advance Parole Exempt

Effective October 16, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin imposing a $1,000 fee for individuals granted parole under INA §212(d)(5)(A). This new fee applies to most parole grants, including parole-in-place, re-parole, and humanitarian parole, but does not apply to employees re-entering the U.S. on Advance Parole tied to a pending Adjustment of Status (Form I-485).

What This Means for Employers:

For most corporate immigration programs, this update will have minimal impact. Advance Parole, which allows employees with pending employment, family or Investment-Based green card applications to travel and return to the U.S., remains exempt from the new fee. However, other parole categories, particularly certain  humanitarian or parole-in-place requests, will now require separate payment once approved.

Key Points

• The $1,000 fee applies to parole granted on or after October 16, 2025, even if filed earlier.
• The fee is collected after conditional approval and is in addition to any existing USCIS filing fees.
• Adjustment of Status-based Advance Parole remains exempt and should be clearly noted in case tracking systems.

Recommended Next Steps

• Confirm which employee cases involve Advance Parole (AOS) to ensure exemption.
• Communicate proactively with employees using parole for non-AOS purposes.
• Coordinate with immigration counsel to verify timing and avoid unnecessary payments.
• Update internal systems and cost tracking ahead of implementation.

While this fee marks a procedural change for certain parole categories, most employment-based mobility cases remain unaffected. Advance Parole tied to Adjustment of Status continues to be exempt, requiring no additional action or cost for employers or employees.

For guidance on how this update may affect your company’s immigration program, please contact your WR Immigration attorney or reach out to the WR Immigration team for assistance.