Form I-589 Filing Fee: $0

Form I-589 — Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal

The USCIS filing fee for Form I-589 is $0 — The general filing fee is $0, but Pub. L. 119-21 adds two fees that CANNOT be waived: a $100 Asylum Application Fee due at filing from the principal applicant only, and an Annual Asylum Fee for every year the application stays pending. As of Feb. 5, 2026 neither applies to Ms. L. Settlement Class members or their Qualifying Additional Family Members. This is the USCIS filing fee only: it does not include attorney fees, premium processing, or fees collected by the Department of State.

Applies for asylum in the United States and for withholding of removal, and (by checking the box in Part A.I) for protection under the Convention Against Torture.

How much is the Form I-589 filing fee?

Which edition of Form I-589 is current?

The current edition of Form I-589 is dated 07/28/26. The edition date is printed at the bottom of every page, and every page you file must come from that same edition — USCIS rejects filings made on a superseded edition. Download a fresh copy from uscis.gov right before you file and check the date again.

The 07/28/26 edition is current. USCIS accepted the 01/20/25 edition for filings sent before Aug. 28, 2026; from that date only the 07/28/26 edition is accepted.

Two different dates — don't mix them up. 07/28/26 is Form I-589's own edition date, printed on the form. 10/07/26 is the edition of USCIS Form G-1055, the fee schedule the amounts above come from. They are two separate documents that change on separate timetables; only the 07/28/26 date is what USCIS checks on your form.

Who files Form I-589?

Anyone physically present in the U.S. who is not a U.S. citizen. File with USCIS only if you are NOT in EOIR proceedings — or if you are, or once were, determined to be an unaccompanied alien child. Otherwise the application goes to the immigration court, not to USCIS.

Most common I-589 mistakes that cause rejections

USCIS rejects or issues a Request for Evidence on filings every day for small, fixable errors. These are the immigration errors USCIS rejects forms for across every form type; for I-589, the ones we see most often are:

• Filing more than 1 year after your last arrival without explaining why in Part C, Item 5 — the written explanation may be the only chance to have it considered.
• Leaving a question blank. USCIS treats an application with any unanswered question as incomplete.
• Not signing Part D, or signing outside the brackets the form provides.
• Signing Part F or Part G before filing — those are signed at the interview or the hearing, never at home.
• A preparer indicated in Part D who then does not complete Part E.
• Completing the form in a language other than English, including the explanation fields.
• Sending it to USCIS when you are in EOIR proceedings and are not a UAC — the immigration court, not USCIS, has your case.
• Omitting a child. Every child must be listed regardless of age, marital status, or where they live.
• Submitting passport-style photos, duplicate copies of the form, or duplicate copies of supporting documents.

How to file Form I-589 without getting rejected

• Use the current edition. USCIS rejects outdated editions — check the date printed at the bottom of the form (it should read 07/28/26) against uscis.gov.
• Answer every field. Write “N/A” or “None” instead of leaving anything blank — blanks are a leading rejection cause.
• Be consistent. Your name, A-Number, and dates must match exactly across every form and supporting document.
• Sign and date by hand. Only a handwritten ink signature — or a scan, photocopy, or fax of one — is valid on a paper I-589. A typed name, a cursive or script font, a stamp, or e-signature software output (such as DocuSign) is not. Electronic signatures count only when captured through a USCIS online account during online filing. Under the DHS signature rule effective 07/10/2026, an invalid signature on a paper filing can be denied — USCIS keeps the filing fee and there is no opportunity to cure — not merely rejected.
• Translate foreign documents. Include a complete certified English translation of anything not in English.
• Pay the exact fee. Use the fee calculator and confirm on uscis.gov — the wrong amount gets the package returned.

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Form I-589 — frequently asked questions

How much is the Form I-589 filing fee?

The USCIS filing fee for I-589 is $0 (The general filing fee is $0, but Pub. L. 119-21 adds two fees that CANNOT be waived: a $100 Asylum Application Fee due at filing from the principal applicant only, and an Annual Asylum Fee for every year the application stays pending. As of Feb. 5, 2026 neither applies to Ms. L. Settlement Class members or their Qualifying Additional Family Members), per the current G-1055 schedule (edition 10/07/26). Always confirm at the official USCIS fee calculator before filing.

Is there a reduced or different I-589 fee for my situation?

Yes — I-589 has 2 alternate fee categories on the G-1055 schedule: Asylum Application Fee under Pub. L. 119-21 — due at filing, principal applicant only, cannot be waived — $100; Annual Asylum Fee under Pub. L. 119-21 — principal applicant only, billed by USCIS notice for each year the application is pending and paid online at my.uscis.gov within 30 days; cannot be waived, and the amount is adjusted each year by law — $105. Confirm which one applies to you at the official USCIS fee calculator before you pay.

Can I file Form I-589 online?

The fee is $0 either way — the G-1055 schedule lists the same amount for online and paper filing of I-589. USCIS changes which forms and categories it accepts online, so check uscis.gov for the current filing options for your situation before you file.

Which edition of Form I-589 is current?

The current edition of Form I-589 is dated 07/28/26, printed at the bottom of every page. Every page you file must come from that same edition — USCIS rejects filings made on a superseded edition. Note that this is the form's own edition date and is different from the 10/07/26 edition of USCIS Form G-1055, the fee schedule the fees on this page come from.

What happens if my I-589 is rejected?

USCIS returns rejected forms without processing them, and filing fees are generally non-refundable — so you lose time and may have to pay again. Most rejections come from small, avoidable errors, which is why a pre-filing review is worth it.