Visa Lawyer Blog
During the past year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been facing a financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
As early as May of this year, a USCIS spokesperson informed the United States government that it needed a cash bailout of $1.2 billion by summertime in order to meet its operational costs. The agency found that fewer and fewer applicants were filing applications and petitions with USCIS which created a massive revenue shortfall for the agency.
To keep itself afloat, the agency said it would be preparing to increase filing fees for certain types of applications and petitions.
Today, the Department of Homeland Security officially announced a final rule that will be posted in the Federal Register on August 3rd that will increase filing fees for certain types of immigration benefits.
The final rule will become effective 60 days from August 3rd – the date of publication which falls on October 2, 2020.
That means that applications postmarked on or after October 2, 2020 with incorrect fees will be rejected by USCIS.
MOST IMPACTED APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
The following types of immigration requests are the most impacted with significant price increases:
- I-929 Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant
Current Fee: $230
Final Fee: $1,485 (Increase of 546%)
- I-881 Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal
Current Fee: $285
Final Fee: $1,810 (Increase of 535%)
- I-193 Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa
Current Fee: $585
Final Fee: $2,790 (Increase of 377%)
- N-300 Application to File Declaration of Intention
Current Fee: $270
Final Fee: $1,305 (Increase of 383%)
- I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant (CBP)
Current Fee: $585
Final Fee: $1,400 (Increase of 139%)
- N-400 Application for Naturalization (online filing)
Current Fee: $640 + $85 biometrics
Final Fee: $1,160 (Increase of 81%)
- N-400 Application for Naturalization (paper filing)
Current Fee: $640 + $85 biometrics
Final Fee: $1,170 (Increase of 83%)
- I-129 H2A Named Beneficiaries
Current Fee: $460
Final Fee: $850 (Increase of 85%)
- I-129 L
Current Fee: $460
Final Fee: $805 (Increase of 75%)
- I-129 CW, I-129E&TN, and I-129 MISC
Current Fee: $460
Final Fee: $695 (Increase of 51%)
- I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (for applicants under the age of 14 years only)
Current Fee: $750
Final Fee: $1,130 (Increase of 51%)
- I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver
Current Fee: $630
Final Fee: $960 (Increase of 52%)
- I-129 H2B – Named Beneficiaries
Current Fee: $460
Final Fee: $715 (Increase of 55%)
- I-129 O
Current Fee: $460
Final Fee: $705 (Increase of 53%)
- I-765 Application for Employment Authorization NON-DACA
Current Fee: $410
Final Fee: $550 (Increase of 34%)
- I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions
Current Fee: $595
Final Fee: $760 (Increase of 28%)
FILING FEE INCREASES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2, 2020
For a complete list of filing fee increases please see the chart below:
Questions? If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text or call 619-569-1768.
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