As a Miami immigration lawyer, I noted with interest that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an increase The new fees will be effective Dec. 23rd, 2016. Below are some frequently asked questions.
Do American taxpayers fund USCIS?
No. The USCIS is almost entirely funded by the fees paid by applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits. The law requires USCIS to conduct fee reviews every two years to determine the funding levels necessary to administer the nation’s immigration laws, process benefit requests and provide the infrastructure needed to support those activities. If you have any questions in regard to this, you may want to speak with a Miami immigration lawyer.
Why are the filing fees for applications and petitions being raised by USCIS?
According to DHS, this increase is necessary to recover the full cost of services provided by USCIS. These include the costs associated with fraud detection and national security, customer service and case processing, and providing services without charge to refugee and asylum applicants and to other customers eligible for fee waivers or exemptions. Again, if you have any questions in regard to this, you may want to speak with a Miami immigration attorney.
What kind of fee hikes can applicants expect?
Some increases include:
- A modest fee increase of $45, or 8 percent, from $595 to $640 for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
- USCIS will offer a reduced filing fee of $320 for naturalization applicants with family incomes greater than 150 percent and not more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2016, this means, for example, that a household of four with an income between $36,000 and $48,600 per year could pay the reduced fee. Those eligible may apply for this option using the new Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee.
- The fee for Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, and N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322, will increase from $550 or 600 to $1,170.
- A new fee of $3,035 is required for Form I-924A, Annual Certification of Regional Center.
If you have any questions in regard to USCIS fee increases, you may want to speak with a Miami immigration lawyer.
Is there a detailed list of fee increases for immigrant applications or petitions?
Yes. Please reference table below:
| Immigration Benefit Request | New Fee ($) | Old Fee ($) |
|---|---|---|
| G–1041 Genealogy Index Search Request | 65 | 20 |
| G–1041A Genealogy Records Request (Copy from Microfilm) | 65 | 20 |
| G–1041A Genealogy Records Request (Copy from Textual Record) | 65 | 35 |
| I–90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card | 455 | 365 |
| I–102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document | 445 | 330 |
| I–129/129CW Petition for a Nonimmigrant worker | 460 | 325 |
| I–129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) | 535 | 340 |
| I-130 Petition for Alien Relative | 535 | 420 |
| I-131/I-131A Application for Travel Document | 575 | 360 |
| I–140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker | 700 | 580 |
| I-191 Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) | 930 | 585 |
| I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant | 585/9301 | 585 |
| I-193 Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa | 585 | 585 |
| I-212 Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal | 930 | 585 |
| I–290B Notice of Appeal or Motion | 675 | 630 |
| I–360 Petition for Amerasian Widow(er) or Special Immigrant | 435 | 405 |
| I–485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | 1,140 | 985 |
| I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (certain applicants under the age of 14 years) | 750 | 635 |
| I–526 Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur | 3,675 | 1,500 |
| I–539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | 370 | 290 |
| I–600/600A Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative/Application for Advance Petition Processing of Orphan Petition | 775 | 720 |
| I-601 Application for Waiver of Ground of Excludability | 930 | 585 |
| I–601A Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver | 630 | 585 |
| I-612 Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (Under Section 212(e) of the INA, as Amended) | 930 | 585 |
| I–687 Application for Status as a Temporary Resident under Section 245Aof the Immigration and Nationality Act | 1,130 | 1,130 |
| I–690 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility | 715 | 200 |
| I–694 Notice of Appeal of Decision | 890 | 755 |
| I–698 Application to Adjust Status From Temporary to Permanent Resident(Under Section 245A of the INA) | 1,670 | 1,020 |
| I–751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence | 595 | 505 |
| I–765 Application for Employment Authorization | 410 | 380 |
| I-800/800A Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative/Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country | 775 | 720 |
| I–800A Supp. 3 Request for Action on Approved Form I–800A | 385 | 360 |
| I–817 Application for Family Unity Benefits | 600 | 435 |
| I–824 Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition | 465 | 405 |
| I–829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions | 3,750 | 3,750 |
| I–910 Application for Civil Surgeon Designation | 785 | 615 |
| I–924 Application for Regional Center Designation Under the ImmigrantInvestor Program | 17,795 | 6,230 |
| I–924A Annual Certification of Regional Center | 3,035 | 0 |
| I–929 Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U–1 Nonimmigrant | 230 | 215 |
| N–300 Application to File Declaration of Intention | 270 | 250 |
| N–336 Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings | 700 | 650 |
| N–400 Application for Naturalization2 | 640 | 595 |
| N–470 Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes | 355 | 330 |
| N–565 Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document | 555 | 345 |
| N–600/N–600K Application for Certificate of Citizenship | 1,170 | 600/5503 |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | 220 | 165 |
| Biometric Services Fee | 85 | 85 |
If you would like more information on increases in application or petition fees, please contact Miami immigration lawyer Michael G. Murray, Esq. at (305) 895-2500 or visit our website at www.mmurraylaw.com.