USCIS proposes fee increase

Be prepared for an increase in fees for several immigration applications.

After evaluating the fees they charge for processing applications, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determined that what they currently charge is not sufficient to cover the services they provide to the public. Therefore, they are proposing an adjustment to the fee schedule to cover all costs and provide adequate service.

USCIS will publish tomorrow its proposed rate changes of several immigration applications in the Federal Register. Upon publication tomorrow, the public will have 60 days to comment. After that time, USCIS will make a final decision on the immigration service fees and announce when they will go into effect.

Some of the increases are quite large. The cost to obtain an application for a certificate of citizenship, for example, would go up from $$600 to $$1,170 - an increase of 95%. And an application to enter the United States after having been deported would increase by 59% - from $$585 to $$930.

Depending on the benefit being sought, the cost of the applications will either increase, remain the same, or in some cases be lower.

The last time USCIS increased its fees was in 2010.

I will keep you informed regarding decisions and results of this proposal.

 Some of the proposed changes in tariffs:

* application to replace permanent resident card (green card) - from $355 to $455 (an increase from 25%)

* nonimmigrant worker petition - from $325 to $460 (an increase from 42%)

* petition for foreign fiancé or fiancée - from $340 to $535 (an increase from 57%)

* request for foreign relative - from $420 to $535 (an increase from 27%)

* travel document application - from $360 to $575 (an increase from 60%)

* foreign migrant worker petition - from $580 to $700 (an increase from 21%)

* application for advance permission for entry as a non-immigrant - from $585 to $930 (an increase from 59%)

* application for entry into the United States after having been deported or removed - from $585 to $930 (an increase from 59%)

* notice of appeal or motion - from $630 to $675 (an increase from 7%)

* application for registration of permanent residence or adjustment of status - from $985 to $1.140 (an increase from 16%)

* immigrant petition per foreign employer - from $1,500 to $3,675 (an increase of 145%)

* application for extension or change of non-immigrant status - from $290 to $370 (an increase from 28%)

* application for waiver of inadmissibility - from $585 to $930 (an increase from 59%)

* unlawful presence waiver request - from $585 to $630 (an increase of 8%)

* request to cancel the conditions at the residence - from $505 to $595 (an increase of 18%)

* application for employment authorization - from $380 to $410 (an increase from 8%)

* request for action on an approved application or petition - from $405 to $465 (an increase from 15%)

* petition for a qualifying relative of a U-1 non-immigrant - from $215 to $230 (an increase of 7%)

* application for hearing on decision in naturalization proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act - from $650 to $700 (an increase of 8%)

* application for naturalization - from $595 to $640 (an increase of 8%)

* application for naturalization for persons who earn between 151% and 200% of the poverty level - from $595 to $320 (a downgrade from 46%)

* application for replacement naturalization/citizenship document - from $345 to $555 (an increase from 61%)

* application for citizenship certificate - from $600 to $1,170 (an increase from 95%)

* USCIS immigrant fee - from $165 to $220 (an increase of 33%)

USCIS will continue to offer fee waivers for certain applications or petitions. You can read more about how to apply for a fee waiver by clicking here.

Below you can see the graphs with the complete list of proposed rate adjustments: