USCIS Increases Fees and Updates Forms

USCIS Increases Fees and Updates Forms

 

In the first time in six years, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a fee increase for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees came into effect on December 23, 2016. Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after this date must include payment of the new fees, or USCIS will immediately reject the submission.

 

As a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security, USCIS is in charge of processing immigrant visa petitions, naturalization petitions, and asylum and refugee applications. The USCIS is funded primarily from immigration and naturalization benefit fees charged to applicants and petitioners. These fees are examined every two years to determine funding levels needed to process applications efficiently and effectively. The USCIS last adjusted its fees in November 2010. Following a 2016-2017 fiscal year review, it has been determined that fees must be adjusted by a weighted average of 21 percent to recover the full cost of services provided by USCIS. These include costs associated with fraud detection and national security, customer service and case processing, and providing services for those eligible for fee waivers and exemptions.

 

For qualified naturalization applicants, a request for reduced fees will be made available. Qualifying applicants include those with annual household incomes greater than 150 percent, but not more than 200 percent, of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time of filing. However, those that qualify for the reduced filing fee will still need to pay the full biometrics services fee.

 

The following is a table of USCIS forms outlining the fee-increase[1]:

 

Form #	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	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-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-526	Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur	$ 3,675	$1,500
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	$ 370	$290
I-600/600A/ 800/800A	Orphan Petitions	$ 775	$720
I-687	Application for Status as a Temporary Resident under Section 245A of 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-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 Immigrant Investor 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 Naturalization	$ 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
I-191, I-192, I-193, I-212, I-601, I-601A, I-612	Waiver Forms	$ 930	$585
	USCIS Immigrant Fee	$ 220	$165
	Biometric Services	$85	$85

 

 

In addition to the fee changes, USCIS has updated a large number of its immigration forms, with an effective date of December 23, 2016. However, USCIS will continue to accept prior versions of these forms during a grace period ending on February 21, 2017.

 

With the updated forms and fees, USCIS aims to reduce applicant backlogs and improve case processing efficiency.

 

 

Author Biography:

 

Daphne Wang Carman is an Associate Attorney at Universal Law Group Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, her practice focuses on all aspects of Immigration Law. Daphne obtained her B.A. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

 

[1] See https://www.uscis.gov/forms/our-fees