If you have a pending asylum application, a notice about an annual asylum fee may raise questions: Is this payment for my case? Which agency should receive it? What if the amount differs from information I read earlier?

Start with your own case documents and the current instructions from the agency handling your application. A general article cannot determine your payment deadline or resolve conflicting notices.

Below are the main questions to review before acting. For payment-related information, see our USCIS annual asylum fee guide.

What is the annual asylum fee?

Federal law establishes an annual fee for pending asylum applications and provides for inflation adjustments. The law also states that this fee cannot be waived or reduced. That makes it important to distinguish this particular fee from other immigration fees that may have different rules. Read the federal statute.

USCIS announced an increase in its Annual Asylum Application Fee from $102 to $105, effective October 16, 2026. An older article or saved screenshot may therefore show an earlier amount. See USCIS’s September 30, 2026 announcement.

The published amount alone does not tell you whether a payment is currently due in your individual case. Review the applicable notice, case history, and current instructions together.

Is your asylum case with USCIS or immigration court?

Before following payment instructions, identify the agency handling your asylum application. Do not choose a payment website simply because it appears in a search for asylum fee.

For immigration court cases, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, or EOIR, has its own payment process. EOIR’s guidance says the immigration judge or Board of Immigration Appeals will provide a written order concerning the annual asylum fee, and payment uses the EOIR Payment Portal. Review EOIR’s payment FAQ.

If your records include both USCIS correspondence and immigration court documents, ask your attorney which instructions apply to the fee you are reviewing. Have the documents available rather than relying only on your memory of where the application was originally filed.

Five things to check on an annual asylum fee notice

1. The applicant and case information

Compare the name and identifying numbers with your own immigration records. If something does not match, flag the discrepancy before entering payment information. When several family members have immigration cases, organize each person’s notices separately.

2. The issuing agency

Identify whether the document comes from USCIS, an immigration court, or the Board of Immigration Appeals. Keep the complete notice, including additional pages with instructions.

3. The fee and period described

Look for the fee’s name, the amount requested, and any explanation of the period it covers. If the notice and current official information appear inconsistent, ask for clarification rather than substituting an amount yourself.

4. Any deadline or response instructions

Record the date stated in the document and share the notice with your attorney. If you think the date has already passed, explain when you received the notice and provide the envelope if available. Ask what action is appropriate for your circumstances.

5. Previous payment records

Check whether you already have a receipt for the payment in question. A bank transaction can help you locate a payment, but keep the agency’s receipt and identifying information as well. If confirmation is missing, investigate before attempting the same payment again. EOIR specifically advises against submitting a duplicate payment when confirmation does not appear. See EOIR’s guidance.

What if you have no notice or cannot access a payment page?

Do not treat an inaccessible website as proof that no fee is owed. Likewise, do not assume an online discussion establishes a deadline for your case.

Make a record of the problem: the website address, date, error message, and any attempted transaction. Avoid including bank or card details in screenshots you share. Bring that record, your latest case documents, and any previous receipts to your attorney so the issue can be reviewed.

If you have heard that litigation changed the fee requirements, ask which order applies and what it actually affects. Changes involving payment procedures or consequences require careful review; a headline is not enough to establish your obligations.

Get help understanding the notice

You do not need to resolve every question before seeking advice. A useful starting packet includes the complete fee notice or court order, your asylum filing records, recent case correspondence, and any payment receipts.

Konare Law can help you understand your case documents and discuss the next steps appropriate to your circumstances. Learn about our asylum and protection from removal services.

General information only, not individualized legal advice. Fee amounts and procedures may change. Information reviewed October 30, 2026.