The Annual Asylum Fee

Written by ASAP’s expert immigration lawyers · Updated October 9, 2026

The U.S. government is charging a new annual asylum fee. If you submitted your asylum application at least 1 year ago, you can check if your fee is due. 

How to check and pay depends on whether your asylum case is pending at USCIS, immigration court, or the Board of Immigration Appeals:

If you have not yet submitted an asylum application, you do not have to pay an annual asylum fee at this time. You can learn about the initial filing fee for asylum applications instead.

USCIS Annual Asylum Fee

If you applied for asylum with USCIS more than 1 year ago, check now to see if your annual asylum fee is due on this USCIS website. Even if you already paid the fee once, you should keep checking to see if your second payment is due. Find more detailed instructions. USCIS is also supposed to send you a notice, but many people never receive it. The annual asylum fee is $102. Starting on October 16, 2026, the fee will increase to $105. 

What happens if I do not pay the USCIS annual asylum fee on time?

USCIS has said that it wants to impose harsh penalties for failure to pay the annual asylum fee. ASAP members have sued USCIS, and a judge has said that USCIS cannot impose these penalties for now. If USCIS ends your case, cancels your work permit, or imposes another penalty because you did not pay the annual asylum fee, please contact us at [email protected] to let us know. 

It is possible that the judge will allow USCIS to impose harsh penalties in the future. That is why it is so important to pay the annual asylum fee as soon as possible, before the deadline. In the future, USCIS might impose consequences like rejecting your asylum application, canceling or rejecting your work permit, or starting proceedings to deport you.

How do I check if my USCIS annual asylum fee is due?

Follow the steps below to check your annual asylum fee status. USCIS is supposed to send you a notice with a 30-day deadline to pay the annual asylum fee. If you applied for asylum online, you may receive notice in your online USCIS account – check your account quickly for a notice if you receive any USCIS email or text. If you applied for asylum by mail, you may receive notice in the mail.

But some people report that they never received a notice, and only learned that their fee was due by checking online. We recommend that you check online every week to make sure that you learn when your fee is due and can pay before the deadline.

To check online if your fee is due, follow the steps below. You can also watch this step-by-step video.

  1. Go to this USCIS payment website. 

  2. Enter your A number. 

  3. Enter the receipt number from your asylum application receipt or your notice to pay the annual fee. Learn what to do if you cannot find your receipt number.

Next, you should see one of these messages on the webpage:

  • If you see a “Pay and Submit” button, that means your fee is due. The website should proceed to the next page where you can enter payment information. Find more instructions on how to pay.

  • If you see an alert that your fee is not due, that means you cannot pay the fee at this time. The website should show this alert at the top of the page: “At this time, the Annual Asylum Fee payment is not due for this case. USCIS will issue a notice the first time the Annual Asylum Fee is due.” You may see this message even if you already paid the Annual Asylum Fee before. It is a good idea to check the website once a week just in case your fee becomes due and you do not receive a notice.

  • If you see an alert that the payment period has expired, it could mean that you missed the deadline to pay. The website may show this alert at the top of the page: “The payment period for this case has expired. USCIS will notify you of the status of your case.” We have heard of some people seeing this alert even though they never received a notice from USCIS to pay the annual asylum fee. You should keep checking the USCIS payment website every week to see if you can pay the fee now. Learn more.

  • If you see an alert that your case cannot be found, double-check that you entered the correct information. The website may show this alert at the top of the page: “We could not find your case. Review the information you submitted is correct before trying again.” You may see this message if you entered the wrong A number or receipt number. Check that the receipt number that you entered is for Form I-589 (asylum application), and not for a different form such as Form I-765 (work permit application).

  • If you see an alert that your case is no longer pending, you should check your case status. The website may show this alert at the top of the page: “This case is no longer pending. You do not need to make a payment.” You may see this message if USCIS has closed your asylum case, transferred your asylum case to the immigration court, or for another reason. You should check the status of your case by entering your receipt number on this USCIS case status website. Learn more.

How do I pay the USCIS annual asylum fee?

You can follow the steps below to pay your USCIS annual asylum fee. You can also watch this step-by-step video.

  1. Go to this USCIS payment website.

  2. Enter your A number. 

  3. Enter the receipt number from your asylum application receipt or your notice to pay the annual fee. Learn what to do if you cannot find your receipt number.

  4. If your case is ready for payment, the website should proceed to the next page, and you will see a blue “Pay and Submit” button. Click on the button.

  5. You can pay the fee by providing your credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account information at the end of the online application. If you do not have a credit or debit card, you can also use cash to buy a pre-paid card at many large stores. Be sure to leave enough money on the card to cover the fee.

  6. After you enter your bank account or card information, next you should see a screen with an “Agency Tracking ID.” IMPORTANT: Save this number for your records now or take a screenshot. The Agency Tracking ID could be useful to prove you paid, and this is the only time it will be shown on the screen. It will not appear after you submit your payment.

  7. Check the box at the bottom and click “Continue” to submit your payment. 

  8. Once you have successfully submitted your payment, you should see a screen that says you successfully paid your annual asylum fee. 

  9. USCIS says they will send a receipt for the payment, either in your USCIS online account or by mail. 

How much is the USCIS annual asylum fee? 

The annual asylum fee is currently $102, but starting October 16, 2026, the annual asylum fee will increase to $105. It is not possible to apply for a fee waiver. 

Family members: USCIS will charge one annual asylum fee per asylum application (Form I-589) that was submitted. For example, if a single asylum application includes a family of four, the fee would be $102, or $105 starting October 16, 2026. It would not be $408 (or $420). However, if each family member submitted their own asylum application, they would each have to pay a separate $102 fee, or $105 starting October 16, 2026. 

What if my notice says $100 or $102? If you received an annual asylum fee notice in 2025 or 2026 with the amount of $100 or $102, it is possible that you will still see that fee amount when you go to pay your fee on USCIS’s website. You can pay the fee amount that is displayed on the page.

When will I have to pay the USCIS annual asylum fee? 

Once your asylum application has been pending for a year, USCIS can charge you the annual asylum fee. You can check the USCIS payment website every week to see if your fee is due. You should also check your mail and USCIS online account frequently for new notices. USCIS is supposed to send you a notice to pay with a 30 day deadline. But some people never received notices, so it is important to check the USCIS payment website directly. 

If you submitted your asylum application less than 1 year ago: 

  • You do not owe an annual asylum fee yet. 

If you submitted your asylum application more than 1 year ago: 

  • Check the USCIS payment website every week because USCIS can charge the fee at any time. Enter your information on the website. If the website then opens to a new page with a “Pay and Submit” button, that means it is now time to pay your fee. Find more instructions on how to pay.

  • Do not worry if you see this alert at the top of the page, instead of being able to make a payment: “At this time, the Annual Asylum Fee payment is not due for this case. USCIS will issue a notice the first time the Annual Asylum Fee is due.” Many asylum seekers are in this situation, and USCIS has not explained when people will be able to make their payment. Keep checking the website every week. 

I already paid the USCIS annual asylum fee. What happens next? 

After you pay the annual asylum fee, USCIS says they will send a receipt for the payment, either in your USCIS online account or by mail. If you have not received a receipt after 2 months, you can try calling USCIS at 800-375-5283 and saying “Infopass” to talk to an agent.

You will likely need to pay the annual asylum fee again each year that your asylum case is still open. USCIS has not explained clearly when the next payment will be due, but says it will notify asylum seekers in writing when they need to pay again.

USCIS may charge the fee again less than a year after the first time you paid. You can check your mail and online USCIS account regularly in case USCIS sends you a notice for payment. After you pay the annual asylum fee the first time, you can check the USCIS payment website every couple weeks just in case your annual fee becomes due again and you do not receive the notice. 

The government will likely increase the cost of the annual asylum fee based on inflation each year. 

When I checked the USCIS page it told me that my payment period has expired. What can I do?

If you previously saw an alert that your payment period had expired, you should now be able to pay the fee! Find instructions on how to pay.

You may be in this situation if you saw this alert while trying to pay the annual asylum fee on the USCIS website: “The payment period for this case has expired. USCIS will notify you of the status of your case.” Many people received this alert even though they never received a notice from USCIS to pay the annual asylum fee. As of August 2026, USCIS has reopened the payment portal for people with expired payment periods, thanks to ASAP members' lawsuit. The lawsuit has also temporarily blocked USCIS from imposing penalties against people who missed the payment deadline.

If you are still receiving a “payment period expired” message, please email us at [email protected]. Below are some possible additional steps you can try, but we do not know if they will work: 

  • Document your attempts to pay. Take a digital image (photo or screenshot) or print the USCIS message that says that the payment period has expired. Record the date. 

  • Try contacting USCIS to ask them to reopen your case to allow you to pay, because you never received a notice to pay. You can call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 or go to uscis.gov and click “Need Help? Chat with Emma” and then “Connect to Live Agent.” Ask for a service request number. Record that and the date. 

  • Try to request that your congressperson contact USCIS for you. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to do this. Find your Representative and your Senators.

When I checked the USCIS page it told me that my case is no longer pending. What can I do?

If you see an alert that your case is no longer pending on the USCIS payment website, you should check your case status. You may be in this situation if you saw this alert while trying to pay the annual asylum fee: “This case is no longer pending. You do not need to make a payment.” If you do not know what happened to your asylum case, continue reading for next steps and possible reasons why your asylum case is no longer pending at USCIS. 

You can take these steps to find out the status of your asylum case: 

  • Check the status of your case by entering your receipt number on this USCIS case status website. The case status website should confirm if your case has been closed, but it may not provide much detail. You can also call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 if you have questions about what the case status website says.

  • Check your mail and your online USCIS account for any new notices or decisions on your asylum case. The notice should explain in more detail what happened to your asylum case. 

  • Check this immigration court website in case an immigration court case has been started against you.  

Here are some possible reasons why your asylum case at USCIS is no longer pending: 

  • You had an asylum interview, and USCIS made a decision. If USCIS made a negative decision and you do not have other immigration status (such as a visa or TPS), USCIS may transfer your asylum case to immigration court. Learn more. 

  • USCIS transferred your asylum case to immigration court without an interview first. USCIS created a new rule in July 2026 to transfer some asylum cases without an interview first. Learn more. 

  • USCIS dismissed your asylum case. You may have received a letter called “Notice of Dismissal of Form I-589.” The letters say the applicant must do a different process called “expedited removal." Learn more.

  • Another reason. There could also be other reasons why USCIS closed your case. 

If you have questions about your case status, you can email us at [email protected]. 

It can also be helpful to talk to a lawyer about your options. Find legal help.

What is ASAP doing about problems with the USCIS annual asylum fee system?

On July 1, 2026, ASAP members filed a lawsuit to challenge USCIS’s implementation of the annual asylum fee. You can learn more about that lawsuit here.

Immigration Court Annual Asylum Fee

Immigration courts are now charging an annual asylum fee. On September 22, in ASAP members' lawsuit, a judge ruled that the way that the immigration courts have been charging the fee is illegal. But we do not know yet what will change as a result of this ruling. If you applied for asylum more than 1 year ago, you may still receive an order from an immigration judge to pay the fee. Even if you have not yet received an order yet, you can pay the fee now if you applied for asylum more than 1 year ago. 

When is my annual asylum fee due for my immigration court case? 

An immigration judge can charge the annual asylum fee once an asylum application has been pending for a year. When the immigration judge wants to charge you the fee, the judge is supposed to give you a written order with a deadline. Sometimes the deadline can be very short, as little as 1 day. Check your mailbox, email, and any immigration court online accounts regularly for the order. 

Even if you have not yet received an order to pay the annual asylum fee, you can decide to go ahead and pay the fee now if your asylum case has been pending for more than 1 year. 

If you have already paid the annual asylum fee once, you will be required to pay the annual asylum fee again each year that your asylum case is still open. Learn more here.

After you pay the fee, submit proof of payment to the immigration court.

How do I pay the annual asylum fee to immigration court?

You can follow the steps below to pay your annual asylum fee to immigration court. You can also watch this step-by-step video.

  1. Go to this immigration court website. 

  2. “Filing Type” - what you need to select depends on whether you received an order to pay, and what the order says: 

    • If you have not received an order, but you want to pay anyway: it is probably safest to select “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)” and pay the new fee amount of $105.

    • If your order says “$102”: select “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF) - For Fiscal Year 2026 Payments” to pay $102. Your order likely says this if it is dated before October 1, 2026. 

    • If your order says “$105”: select the option that says “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)” to pay $105. Your order likely says this if it is dated on or after October 1, 2026.

  3. Enter your A Number. 

  4. Select the option that says “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF).”

  5. Follow the instructions to make the payment. You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account information If you do not have a credit or debit card, you can also use cash to buy a pre-paid card at many large stores. Be sure to leave enough money on the card to cover the fee.

  6. Save a copy of the receipt and your Payment Tracking ID for your records. 

  7. Submit a copy of the receipt to immigration court. Learn how.

September 22 Update: Thanks to ASAP members' lawsuit, a judge has ruled that the way that the immigration courts have been charging the annual asylum fee is illegal. We do not know yet what will change as a result of this ruling. We will update this page as we learn more. If you applied for asylum more than 1 year ago, you can still pay the annual asylum fee by following the instructions above.

How do I prove that I paid the annual asylum fee to immigration court? 

Step 1: Save your receipt.

If you did not save a copy of your receipt when paying the annual asylum fee, you can access it later by entering your A Number and Payment Tracking ID on this receipt webpage.

If you do not know your Payment Tracking ID, you can access it after you made the payment by going back to this payment webpage, entering your A number, and again choosing “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)” for filing type. This should show you the date and time that you paid the fee, and the Tracking ID.

If that does not work, you can also try contacting ECAS Support at 1-877-388-3842 or [email protected], or contacting your court to request the Payment Tracking ID.

Step 2: Send your receipt to immigration court and the government attorney.

The government has not said whether you need to take additional steps after paying the annual asylum fee. However, to be sure that the immigration judge knows you have paid, we recommend submitting proof of payment to the immigration court. If the court gave you a deadline to pay the fee on an order like this one, provide thia payment receipt before that deadline.

If possible, provide a copy of your receipt to the immigration judge and a second copy to the government attorney. You can do so by mail, in person at your next court hearing, or at the filing windows of your immigration court and government attorney’s office. Also keep a copy for yourself.

There are currently no rules about how to submit proof of payment, but here is a possiblw example you can use.

  • To find the address of your immigration court and date and time of your next hearing, you can enter your A number on this website: acis.eoir.justice.gov/en/ or at this automated phone line: 1-800-898-7180. You can try both.

  • To find the address of the government attorney (OPLA) for your immigration court, you can use this table.

How much is the annual asylum fee for my immigration court case? 

The annual asylum fee is currently set to $105. It is not possible to apply for a fee waiver.

But if you received an order to pay the annual asylum fee dated before October 1, 2026, the order may say the old fee amount of $102. In that case, you can pay $102 instead. Learn how.

Family members: Based on our current understanding, immigration courts are supposed to only charge one annual asylum fee per asylum application (Form I-589) that was submitted. For example, if a single asylum application includes a family of four, the fee should be $105. It would not be $420. However, if each family member submitted their own asylum application, they would each have to pay a separate $105 fee. 

But if you are ordered to pay a separate fee for each family member included in the same asylum application, it may be safest to pay the fee by the deadline if you can.

I-589 Applications that are only for CAT and withholding: If you are using the Form I-589 to only apply for withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) – not asylum – the annual asylum fee should not apply. Learn more.

I already paid the annual asylum fee to immigration court. What happens next? 

After paying the annual asylum fee, you should send proof of payment to immigration court.  

Then, you will likely need to pay the annual asylum fee again each year that your asylum case is still open. The government has not explained clearly when the next fee is due. 

For your next payment, if the immigration judge gives you a new order to pay, pay the fee by the deadline in the order. 

If the immigration judge does not give you a new order, it is unclear when your next payment will be due. Based on official government documents such as this order to pay the annual asylum fee, the next fee should be due by the 1-year anniversary of your last payment. However, we have also heard that some immigration judges may expect payment of the annual asylum fee on the anniversary of when you originally filed your asylum application (Form I-589). Unfortunately, the government has not explained this clearly. To be safe, you can pay your next annual asylum fee before the 1-year anniversary of your last payment or on the anniversary of your I-589 filing date, whichever comes first.

After you pay the fee, submit proof of payment to the immigration court.

The government will likely increase the cost of the annual asylum fee based on inflation each year.

What can I do if the immigration court payment website is not working?

If the immigration court payment website is not working, here are a few steps you can continue to try until you are able to make the payment:

  • If you are using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), turn off your VPN and try again. 

  • Try using a different computer, phone, or tablet.

  • You can also try restarting your device.

  • Try using a different web browser. The government recommends Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Google Chrome. 

  • You can also contact the immigration court technical support team by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-877-388-3842.

  • If the issue continues, you can take a screenshot of the payment website that shows the error message and the date. Keep the screenshots as a record of your efforts to make the payment. Keep trying the website regularly in case it starts working again.

Does the annual fee apply to withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT)? 

No. On July 24, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) confirmed that the annual asylum fee does NOT apply to these related applications. See the BIA’s decision here.

Asylum seekers use the same Form (Form I-589) to apply for three forms of immigration protection: (1) asylum, (2) withholding of removal, and (3) protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). By filling out Form I-589, you automatically apply for both asylum and withholding of removal. If you checked off the box at the top of the first page of Form I-589, you are also applying for CAT protection. Read more about withholding of removal and CAT protection.

Immigration judges legally cannot deny applications for withholding of removal or CAT protection because of failure to pay the annual asylum fee. Instead, judges must consider these applications separately – even if someone did not pay the annual asylum fee on time. Judges are NOT supposed to order your removal (deportation) based only on failure to pay the annual asylum fee. You can try to give the judge a copy of this July 24, 2026 decision explaining that it is not allowed.

If an immigration judge denies your withholding or CAT applications or orders you deported because of failure to pay the annual asylum fee, please contact us at [email protected] to let us know. Learn about other possible steps below.

What happens if I do not pay the annual asylum fee to immigration court on time? 

If you do not pay the fee by the deadline that the immigration judge sets in your case, the judge will probably deny or dismiss your asylum case. 

But the judge cannot deny other parts of your Form I-589 application that request withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), based only on failure to pay the fee. Read more. The judge is not supposed to order your removal (deportation) because of failure to pay the annual asylum fee.

If you paid your annual asylum fee by the deadline but the judge still dismisses your asylum case, you can try to provide the judge with proof that you paid as soon as possible. You can also contact us at [email protected] to let us know.

What can I do if a judge orders my deportation or ends my asylum case for not paying the annual asylum fee? 

If an immigration judge gives you a removal order (deportation order) because of failure to pay the annual asylum fee, here are possible steps you can take. If a judge denied your asylum application but did not give you a removal order, read about possible steps below. Members of ASAP can also email us with questions at [email protected]. 

  1. Provide proof of payment to the judge as soon as possible. If you paid the annual asylum fee, provide proof of payment to the immigration judge as soon as possible. If the judge gave you a deadline to pay and you paid before the deadline, explain that. Some judges may reopen your asylum case if they see this proof. But some judges may not.

    If the judge denied your applications for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture because of failure to pay the annual asylum fee, you can also try to give the judge a copy of this July 24, 2026 BIA decision explaining that this is not allowed.

  2. You can appeal within 30 days. File a Form EOIR-26, Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The BIA must receive your Form EOIR-26 within 30 days after the immigration judge’s order. An appeal costs $1,060, but it is possible to request a fee waiver. The government is not supposed to deport you while your appeal is pending. Learn more about appeals.

  3. If more than 30 days have passed, you can try a Motion to Reopen. If you missed the 30-day deadline to appeal to the BIA, you can still try to reopen your case by filing a Motion to Reopen with the immigration court. But unlike an appeal to the BIA, a Motion to Reopen does not stop the government from deporting you. The deadline to file a Motion to Reopen with the immigration judge is usually 90 days after the immigration judge’s decision. A motion to reopen costs $1,095,  but it is possible to request a fee waiver. 

If a judge ends the asylum part of your case for not paying the annual asylum fee, but does NOT order your deportation, you can try to ask the judge to reconsider.

You can try to provide proof of payment to the immigration judge as soon as possible. If the judge gave you a deadline to pay and you paid before the deadline, explain that. Some judges may reopen your asylum case if they see this proof. But some judges may not. 

Even if the judge does not agree to reopen your asylum case, you should be able to continue applying for withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

Members of ASAP can also email us with questions at [email protected].

What is ASAP doing about problems with the immigration court annual asylum fee?

On October 3, 2025, ASAP members filed a lawsuit to challenge the immigration court’s implementation of the annual asylum fee. You can learn more about that lawsuit here.

BIA Annual Asylum Fee

For cases on appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is charging an annual asylum fee. On September 22, in ASAP members' lawsuit, a judge ruled that the way that the BIA has been charging the fee is illegal. But we do not know yet what will change as a result of this ruling. If you applied for asylum more than 1 year ago, you may still receive an order from the BIA to pay the fee. Even if you have not yet received an order yet, you can pay the fee now if you applied for asylum more than 1 year ago. 

When is my annual asylum fee due for my BIA case? 

The BIA can charge the annual asylum fee once an asylum application has been pending for a year. When the BIA wants to charge you the fee, the BIA should send you a written order with a deadline. The deadline could be very short. Check your mailbox, email, and any immigration court online accounts regularly for the order. 

But even if you have not yet received an order to pay the annual asylum fee, you can choose to pay the fee now if your asylum case has been pending for more than 1 year. 

How do I pay the annual asylum fee to the BIA?

You can follow the steps below to pay your annual asylum fee to the BIA. You can also watch this step-by-step video (the video is for paying the fee to the immigration court, but the steps are the same). 

  1. Go to this payment website. 

  2. “Filing Type” - what you need to select depends on whether you received an order to pay:

    • If you have not received an order, but you want to pay anyway: it is probably safest to select “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)” and pay the new fee amount of $105.

    • If your order says “$102”: select “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF) - For Fiscal Year 2026 Payments” to pay $102. Your order likely says this if it is dated before October 1, 2026.

    • If your order says “$105”: select the option that says “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)” to pay $105. Your order likely says this if it is dated on or after October 1, 2026.

  3. Enter your A Number. 

  4. Follow the instructions to make the payment. You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or U.S. bank account information If you do not have a credit or debit card, you can also use cash to buy a pre-paid card at many large stores. Be sure to leave enough money on the card to cover the fee.

  5. Save a copy of the receipt and your Payment Tracking ID for your records. 

  6. Submit a copy of the receipt, together with a copy of the written order to pay if you received one, to the BIA. Learn how.

September 22 Update: Thanks to ASAP members' lawsuit, a judge has ruled that the way that the BIA has been charging the annual asylum fee is illegal. We do not know yet what will change as a result of this ruling. We will update this page as we learn more. If you applied for asylum more than 1 year ago, you can still pay the annual asylum fee to the BIA by following the steps above.

How do I prove that I paid the annual asylum fee to the BIA? 

Step 1: Save your receipt.

If you did not save a copy of your receipt, you can access it later by entering your A Number and Payment Tracking ID on this receipt webpage.

If you do not know your Payment Tracking ID, you can access the ID after you made the payment by going back to this payment webpage, entering your A number, and again choosing “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)” for filing type. This should show you the date and time that you paid the fee, and the Tracking ID.

If this does not work, you can also try contacting ECAS Support at 1-877-388-3842 or [email protected], or try contacting the BIA at 703-605-1007.

Step 2: Send your receipt to the BIA and the government attorney.

  1. Here is an example filing you can use. You should include your receipt for paying the annual asylum fee and a copy of the BIA’s order to pay the annual asylum fee if you received one. If you use the example here, you can type or you can write by hand in the blank spaces neatly with black pen. Make two copies.

  2. Mail the original to:

    Board of Immigration Appeals
    Office of the Chief Clerk
    5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2000
    Falls Church, VA 22041

  3. Mail one copy to the address of the government attorney office (OPLA) for the immigration court where your case was before you appealed. You can use this table to find the address.

  4. Keep one copy for yourself.

Do I need to pay a separate annual asylum fee for every family member included in my asylum application? 

Unfortunately, the current situation at the BIA is confusing. USCIS and immigration courts are charging only one annual asylum fee per asylum application, not for each family member. Family members have to pay their own separate fee only if they also applied for asylum separately by filing their own Form I-589. However, in many cases, the BIA has sent separate orders to pay the annual asylum fee to each family member included in the same asylum application. Based on our understanding, the BIA should not be doing this. 

If you and your family members each receive orders from the BIA to pay the annual asylum fee, and your family members did not file their own separate applications for asylum, you can consider choosing one of the two options below:  

  1. Pay multiple fees. You can choose to pay the fee for each family member, and submit the proof of payment before the deadline. This may be the safest option, even though you should not have to pay the fee in the first place. You can try to later ask for a refund by emailing [email protected] or calling 703-605-1007, but this may not work.

  2. Pay only one fee for the principal applicant, and submit written responses for the other family members. You can pay one annual asylum fee for the person who filed the asylum application in their name (the principal applicant). For each of the other family members, you can submit a written response explaining why they should not have to pay a separate fee. This should be received at the BIA before the deadline in the order. Here is an example written response packet. However, this may not work! We do not know how the BIA will respond. It is possible that the BIA will charge the fee anyway. There is also a risk that your appeal case could be denied for not paying the fee. 

For both of these options, you must also send a copy to the OPLA (ICE attorneys) for your case. You can mail it or send it online using ICE eService. You can find your OPLA on this table. Choose the OPLA for the immigration court that had your case before you appealed to the BIA.

We will update this page as we learn more. 

Do I need to pay the annual asylum fee if I am only applying for CAT and withholding? 

No, you should not have to pay the annual asylum fee if you are only applying for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). See the BIA’s decision here.

However, we have heard from some people that they received orders from the BIA to pay the annual asylum fee, even though they are only applying for withholding of removal and CAT protection. 

If you are in this situation, you can consider choosing one of the two options below:

  1. Pay the fee. You can choose to pay the fee and submit the proof of payment before the deadline. This may be the safest option, even though you should not have to pay the fee in the first place. You can try to later ask for a refund by emailing [email protected] or calling 703-605-1007, but this may not work.

  2. Submit a written response. You can submit a written response explaining that you should not have to pay the annual asylum fee because you are applying only for withholding of removal and protection under CAT. This should be received at the BIA before the deadline in the order. Here is an example written response packet. However, we do not know if this will work or how the BIA will respond. 

For both of these options, you must also send a copy to the OPLA (ICE attorneys) for your case. You can mail it or send it online using ICE eService. You can find your OPLA on this table. Choose the OPLA for the immigration court that had your case before you appealed to the BIA.

If you have questions, you can contact us at [email protected]. 

How much is the annual asylum fee for my BIA case? 

The annual asylum fee is $105 as of October 1, 2026. It is not possible to apply for a fee waiver.

But if you received an order to pay the annual asylum fee dated before October 1, 2026, the order may say the old fee amount of $102. In that case, you can pay $102 instead. Learn how.

Family members: Based on our current understanding, the BIA is supposed to only charge one annual asylum fee per asylum application (Form I-589) that was submitted. For example, if a single asylum application includes a family of four, the fee should be $105. It would not be $420. However, if each family member submitted their own asylum application, they would each have to pay a separate $105 fee. 

If a family member included in your asylum application receives an order to pay the annual asylum fee even though they did not file their own asylum application, learn about your options.

I-589 Applications that are only for CAT and withholding: If you are using the Form I-589 to only apply for withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) – not asylum – the annual asylum fee does not apply. Learn more.

What if I already paid the annual asylum fee while my case was still in immigration court?

If you already paid the annual asylum fee while your case was still in immigration court, you can include a copy of the receipt for payment with your notice of appeal (Form EOIR-26).

If you did not save a copy of your receipt, you can access it later by entering your A Number and Payment Tracking ID on this receipt webpage.

If you do not know your Payment Tracking ID, you can access the ID after you made the payment by going back to this payment webpage, entering your A number, and again choosing “Court - Form I-589, Annual Asylum Fee for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (AAF)” for filing type. This should show you the date and time that you paid the fee, and the Tracking ID.

Why does the payment portal say my due date has passed? 

It is possible that the BIA believes you have missed your deadline to pay the annual asylum fee. You should keep checking the payment website to see if you can make a payment now!

You may be in this situation if you tried to pay the annual asylum fee on this payment website and you saw this message: “Your payment cannot be accepted because the due date has passed for this filing fee payment.” Some people who previously saw this message are now able to make the payment. 

If you still see the same message, you can try the following steps:

  1. Check the status of your case on the immigration court status website or hotline (800-898-7180), to make sure that your case remains open. If the system says, “The BIA dismissed the appeal on [date],” the BIA has closed your case. If you are an ASAP member and get this message, you can email ASAP at [email protected].

  2. Try contacting the BIA at [email protected] or 703-605-1007 to ask how you may still be able to pay. However, the BIA may not always respond to email and it may be difficult to get a person on the phone. You do not need to wait for an answer before trying Step 3.

  3. Send a request in writing to the BIA as soon as possible. You could title the request something like "Motion to Reissue the Order to Pay the Annual Asylum Fee, or to Reopen Payment Portal Window to Pay the Annual Asylum Fee."  We do not know if this will work, but it could be worth trying. 

  4. Check the payment website frequently to see if you can pay the fee. 

We will keep this page updated if we learn more.

What happens if I do not pay the annual asylum fee and send proof to the BIA on time? 

If you do not pay the fee by the deadline that the BIA sets in your case, the BIA will probably deny or dismiss your application for asylum. 

But the BIA cannot deny other parts of your Form I-589 application that request withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), based only on failure to pay the fee. Read more. The BIA should still consider that part of your appeal case. 

If you try to pay your annual asylum fee on the payment website after the deadline, you may see a message like “Your payment cannot be accepted because the due date has passed for this filing fee payment.” Learn more here.

If you are an ASAP member and have problems with the BIA regarding your annual asylum fee, you can contact us at [email protected] to let us know.

I am not sure where to pay the annual asylum fee

How to pay the annual asylum fee depends on where your asylum case is pending: USCIS, the immigration court, or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). If you are not sure where your case is, read the answer to the first question below. You can also read about some of the more common complicated situations. 

How do I check where my case is? 

  • Step 1: Check the immigration court system. Enter your A Number at this immigration court website or call the automated hotline at 1-800-898-7180. If your case appears in the system, you most likely have a case in immigration court – unless your case has ended or is on appeal. Here are details:

    • If the system tells you that you have a hearing scheduled, or that your case is “docketed” or pending, you have a case in immigration court. You can pay the immigration court fee.

    • If the system tells you that an appeal was received for your case, your case is most likely with the BIA. Learn about the BIA fee. 

    • If the system tells you your information is not found, your asylum application may be pending at USCIS. Try step 2 below.

    • If the system tells you that the judge has made a decision and that no appeal has been received, or the BIA has issued a negative decision, your immigration court case may be over. If your case is over, you would not owe the asylum fee.

  • Step 2: Check for a USCIS receipt. If you have a USCIS receipt for an asylum application (Form I-589), you most likely have a case at USCIS – unless your case has ended or been transferred to immigration court. Enter your receipt number on this USCIS website for details: 

    • If the system tells you that some kind of action is being taken on your case, your asylum application is most likely pending with USCIS. Check if your USCIS fee is due.

    • If the system tells you that your receipt number is invalid, or that your case has been closed or transferred, then you most likely do not have an application pending with USCIS. Try steps 3 and 4 below.

  • Step 3: Check for more complicated situations. If you are in a more complicated situation, for example because your case moved from USCIS to immigration court, or your immigration court case was closed, read more below. 

  • Step 4: If you are still not sure what to do, and you are a member of ASAP, you can email your questions to [email protected]. It may also be helpful to find a lawyer to understand your case status.

What are some more complicated situations? 

My case moved from USCIS to immigration court

This can happen if you first applied for asylum with USCIS but later received a Notice to Appear. The government has not provided instructions about what to do in this situation, but possible options to try are below. 

  • If you already paid the annual asylum fee to USCIS: You can try to send a copy of your USCIS fee receipt to the immigration court with a letter explaining what happened with your case. You can follow these instructions to send the receipt and letter. You should also bring a copy of the receipt to your first hearing. We do not know if the immigration judge will accept this, or if the judge will tell you to pay again in immigration court.

  • If you have not paid the annual asylum fee yet: You can choose to wait for the immigration judge to send you an order to pay the annual asylum fee to the immigration court. Or you can choose to pay at any time through the immigration court payment website once your case is open in immigration court. To check that your case is open in immigration court, you can go to this immigration court website and enter your A number. If your immigration court case has not been officially opened yet, you will see an error message. 

What if I appealed my asylum case to a federal court? 

This would only apply to you if your case went through immigration court, you appealed to the BIA, and then asked a federal court to review the BIA's decision. The government has not explained whether people owe the annual asylum fee in this situation or not. If you receive an order to pay the annual asylum fee (which could look like this or this), pay by the deadline listed in the order. 

My immigration court case was "administratively closed"

If your immigration court case was “administratively closed,” that means it is paused. Your case is still considered pending in immigration court, so the annual asylum fee may still apply. The government has not provided specific instructions about what to do in this situation, but here are some things to be aware of:

  • If your case is reopened:  Many administratively closed cases are being reopened and scheduled for new hearings starting in 2025. If this happens, you would owe the immigration court annual asylum fee like other people with pending immigration court cases. To check the status of your case, you can call the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or go to this immigration court website.

  • If your case remains administratively closed: We do not know if the immigration courts will send out orders to pay the annual asylum fee to people with administratively closed cases.  If orders are sent in the mail, many people may not actually receive them. If you previously applied for asylum and you have not received an order to pay, you can decide if you want to pay the annual asylum fee now or not. If you choose to pay, you can follow the steps listed here, except you do NOT need to file the receipt in immigration court yet. Save a copy of the receipt and your payment tracking ID, and be ready to submit it to immigration court if your case is reopened.

    Also, check your case status frequently by calling the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or at this immigration court website.

My immigration court case was dismissed between 2022–2024

Between 2022-2024, immigration courts dismissed many cases. After dismissal, some people chose to apply for asylum again with USCIS while others did not. Your next steps depend on whether you re-applied for asylum:

  • If you re-applied for asylum with USCIS after your case was dismissed: USCIS will likely charge you the annual asylum fee. You can check online to find out whether payment is due.

  • If you did not re-apply for asylum: You don't have an open asylum case and do not owe the fee.

The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) aims to provide factual information about current immigration laws. This information is not legal advice.

All legal content is written and legally reviewed by ASAP’s team of expert immigration lawyers. ASAP’s expert lawyers have decades of experience in immigration law and litigation. Collectively, they have won hundreds of cases. Our lawyers are admitted to the Bar in several U.S. states, hold law degrees from universities including Harvard, Yale, and UCLA, and have won multiple awards for their legal work.