USCIS announces updates to immigration fees, TPS extensions, and visa processing

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing several updates regarding immigration processes and fees for the 2027 fiscal year.

Regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a bipartisan Senate bill (S. 5490) has been proposed to extend protections for Ukrainian citizens from October 20, 2026, through July 1, 2029. Additionally, starting October 16, USCIS will implement new fees for TPS applications due to inflation adjustments under the H.R. 1 legislation. The fee for Form I-821 will increase to $520, while the initial employment authorization (Form I-765) based on TPS will be $570.

In terms of visa processing, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin provides specific dates for Colombian applicants seeking permanent residency. While some categories like F2A remain current for filing, others have specific cutoff dates for final action.

Furthermore, USCIS has begun sending notifications titled ‘FBI Privacy Requirements for Biometrics Collection by USCIS’ to applicants with pending cases, including naturalization (N-400) and permanent residency requests. These letters inform applicants about the Continuous Immigration Vetting (CIV) system used for criminal background checks and do not require immediate action unless further notice is provided.