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USCIS NEW PROPOSED FEE HIKE

USCIS on Thursday, November 14, 2019 has published new proposed fee hike in the Federal Register. USCIS has proposed changes under the fee waiver criteria, wherein the changes are proposed in the eligibility requirements, income requirements, eligible forms & categories, and affidavit of support requirements, etc. USCIS has also proposed changes under the fee exemption categories, Bio-metric service fee, changes in the information collection instrument concerning I-129, I-131, I-589, I-765, I-821D, I-912, and I-942. USCIS is also eliminating $30 charge for dishonored payments. The adjustment of status is now going to cost $2195. Also, from December 02, 2019 on wards the premium processing fee will be $1440, and the processing period will change to 15 business day from 15 calendar days previously. The above mentioned are one of many other changes proposed by USCIS. The proposed rule is currently open for public comments till December 16, 2019 and may become effective in the second year of the biennial period, as FY 2020, which seems to be somewhere around October 2020, but currently the effective date is unclear. The Tables below provide for the proposed fee hike by the USCIS.

Table1. Proposed Fee Hike. (Source: AILA)

Form No.

Form Title Current Fee Proposed Fee Difference

% Change

G-1041

Genealogy Index Search Request $65 $240 $175 269%
G-1041A Genealogy Records Request $65 $385 $320

492%

I-90

Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card $455 $415 -$40 -9%
I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document $445 $490 $45

10%

I129/129CW

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker $460 *DHS is proposing to separate Form I-129 into several forms. See below.
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) $535 $520 -$15

-3%

I-129CW Proposed

Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker $460 $705 $245 53%
I-129E&TN Proposed Application for Nonimmigrant Worker: E or TN Classification $460 $705 $245

53%

I-129H1 Proposed

Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-1 Classification $460 $560 $100 22%
I-129H2A Proposed Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification $460 $860 (named);

$425 (unnamed)

$400 (named)

87%

I-129H2B Proposed

Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2B Classification $460 $725 (named);

$395 (unnamed)

$265 (named) 58%
I-129L Proposed Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: L Classification $460 $815 $355

77%

I-129MISC Proposed

Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-3, P, Q, or R Classification $460 $705 $245 53%
I-129O Proposed Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: O Classification $460 $715 $255

55%

I-130

Petition for Alien Relative $535 $555 $20 4%
I-131 Application for Travel Document $575 $585 $10

2%

I-131

Travel Document for an individual age 16 or older $135 $145 $10 7%
I-131 I-131 Refugee Travel Document for a child under the age of 16 $105 $115 $10

10%

I-131A

Application for Carrier Documentation $575 $1,010 $435 76%
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker $700 $545 -$155

-22

I-191

Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) $930 $800 -$130 -14%
I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant $930/585 $1,415 $830/ $485

142% /52%

I-193

Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa $585 $2,790 $2,205 377%
I-212 Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal $930 $1,040 $110

12%

I-290B

Notice of Appeal or Motion $675 $705 $30 4%
I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant $435 $455 $20

5%

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status $1,140 $1,120 -$20 -2%
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (certain applicants under the age of 14 years) $750 $1,120 $370

49%

I-526

Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur $3,675 $4,015 $340 9%
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status $370 $400 $30

8%

I-589

Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal $0 $50 $50 N/A
I-600 Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative $775 $810 $35

5%

I-600A

Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition $775 $810 $35 5%
I-600A/I-600 Supp. 3 Request for Action on Approved Form I-600A/I-600 N/A $405 $405

N/A

I-601

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility $930 $985 $55 6%
I-601A Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver $630 $960 $330

52%

I-612

Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (Under Section 212(e) of the INA, as Amended) $930 $525 -$405 -44%
I-687 Application for Status as a Temporary Resident under Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act $1,130 $1,130 $0

0%

I-690

Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility $715 $770 $55 8%
I-694 Notice of Appeal of Decision under Section 210 or 245A $890 $725 -$165

-19%

I-698

Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Under Section 245A of the INA) $1,670 $1,615 -$55 -3%
I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence $595 $760 $165

28%

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization $410 $490 $80 20%
I-800 Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative $775 $810 $35

5%

I-800A

Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country $775 $810 $35 5%
I-800A Supp. 3 Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A $385 $405 $20

5%

I-817

Application for Family Unity Benefits $600 $590 -$10 -2%
I-821D Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Renewal) $0 $275 $275

N/A

I-824

Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition $465 $500 $35 8%
I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status $3,750 $3,900 $150

4%

I-881

Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal $285/570 $1,800 $1,515/$1,230 532% /216%
I-910 Application for Civil Surgeon Designation $785 $650 -$135

-17%

I-924

Application for Regional Center Designation Under the Immigrant Investor Program $17,795 $17,795 $0 0%
I-924A Annual Certification of Regional Center $3,035 $4,470 $1,435

47%

I-929

Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant $230 $1,515 $1,285 559%
I-941 Application for Entrepreneur Parole $1,200 $1,200 $0

0%

N-400

Application for Naturalization $725 $1170 $445 61.38%

N-470

Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes $355 $1,600 $1,245 266%
N-565 Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document $555 $545 -$10

-2%

N-600 Application for Certification of Citizenship $1,170 $1,015 -$155

-13%

N-600K

Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 $1,170 $960 -$210

-18%

USCIS Immigrant Fee

$220 $200 -$20

-9%

Biometric Services Fee

$85 $30 -$55

-65%

Dishonored Payments (Returned Check Fee) $30 $0 -$30

-100%

Table 2: Costs for Spouse Seeking a Marriage Green Card from Within the United States.

Form Number and Title Current Fee Proposed Fee $ Change % Change
Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) $535 $555 $20 3.74%
Green Card Application Form (I-485) $1,140 $1,120 -$20 -1.75%
Financial Support Form (I-864) $0 $0 $0 0.00%
Work Permit Application Form (I-765) $0 $490 $490 N/A
Travel Permit Application Form (I-131) $0 $585 $585 N/A
Biometrics (Fingerprints & Photo) $85 $0 -$85 -100.00%
Total $1,760 $2,750 $990 56.25%

 

Table 3: Costs for Spouse Seeking a Marriage Green Card from Outside the United States.

Form Number and Title Current Fee Proposed Fee $ Change % Change
Family Sponsorship Form (I-130) $535 $555 $20 3.74%
Online Green Card Application (DS-260) $0 $0 $0 0.00%
Financial Support Form (I-864) $120 $120 $0 0.00%
Biometrics (Fingerprints and Photo) $0 $0 $0 0.00%
State Department Processing $325 $325 $0 0.00%
USCIS Immigrant Fee $220 $200 -$20 -9.09%
Total $1,200 $1,200 $0 0.00%

 

Table 4: Naturalization

Form Number and Title Current Fee Proposed Fee $ Change % Change
Naturalization Application (N-400) $640 $1,170 $530 82.81%
Biometrics (Fingerprints and Photo) $85 $0 -$85 0.00%
Total $725 $1,170 $445 61.38%

Disclaimer

This Article only aims to provide brief overview of the USCIS proposed rules & proposed fee hikes, and under no circumstances, acts as a piece of endorsement and a legal advice; therefore, for any further question, please contact your appointed Attorney or the Ahluwalia Law Offices, P.C.