USCIS Will Double the Fee for Applying for a Green Card and Citizenship! Consider Applying Before the Change Takes Place.

On November 14, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security proposed a new rule which would increase U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fees by a weighted average of 21%. After many months of review, the final fees have been published and will go into effect on October 2, 2020. Additionally, many of the forms themselves will change, and the new versions of the forms must be submitted for all applications and petitions filed on or after October 2, 2020. Please note that at this point, no new forms in connection with this rule have been released by USCIS yet.

Most applications and petitions will have a moderate change, and the prices of certain applications may even drop slightly. However, several applications will see a very large increase in fees. Additionally, certain applications will have a $10 discount if submitted online. Some of the more most substantial proposed changes are as follows:

• – Many temporary work visa applications will see an increase between 21% and 87% (and the relevant forms themselves may be changing as well);
• – Adjustment of status (“green card”) applicants will have to pay separate filing fees for their work permits (Employment Authorization Document or EAD) and travel permits (Advance Parole) while their cases are processing. This would increase the total fee from $1,140 to $2,270 and will require paying an additional fee of $1,140 each year to renew the work and travel permits if the green card case takes so long to be adjudicated;
• – The I-601A, provisional unlawful presence waiver, will increase from $630 to $960;
• – The application for naturalization to become a U.S. citizen will increase from $640 to $1,170.

Please review the table below to see how the proposed fee increases could impact your particular immigration case.

You can find the entire text of the rule in the federal register here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/03/2020-16389/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-fee-schedule-and-changes-to-certain-other-immigration

Things to keep in mind:

• If you are considering applying for an immigration benefit, we recommend that you think about applying before the proposed fee changes go into effect (unless your application is one of the few that is set to drop in price).
• Remember that forms and fees are always subject to change. At the time you apply for any benefit, be sure that you submit the most up to date form and the correct fee. This information can be found on the USCIS website for the particular form you are filing. If you do not submit the correct combination of forms and fees, your application could be rejected or denied.

At Minsky McCormick & Hallagan, we know the immigration process is complicated and intimidating, and such changes only make things more challenging. If you have any questions about these proposed changes or to seek assistance in applying for an immigration benefit, schedule an appointment with one of our experienced immigration attorneys.