The Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Tuesday that it will be adjusting the fees for several of its forms for immigration procedures. This is the first time this has been done since 2016 and the new changes will come into effect on April 1.
The changes in fees vary depending on the specific procedures being requested. Some forms will see a reduction in rates, while others will experience an increase of up to 201%. The increases notably affect procedures for employment-based visas, work permits, adjustment of status, citizenship and naturalization, and family applications.
The adjustments are aimed at allowing USCIS to recover a larger portion of its operating costs and provide more timely processing of new applications. 96% of USCIS’ operating costs are currently funded by immigration fees, and the agency has been dealing with a growing workload and criticism for delays in processing.
USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou stated, “For the first time in more than seven years, USCIS is updating our rates to better meet the needs of our agency, allowing us to provide more timely decisions to those we serve.”
The decision to increase fees followed a year-long request for public comments that received more than 5,400 responses. In response to concerns about the impact of these changes, USCIS has added several fee waivers and discounts for certain applicants, such as low-income victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, U.S. military service members, and expanded eligibility for reduced naturalization fees to low-income applicants. Additionally, a $50 discount for online filers has been implemented.
A list of the new costs for immigration procedures in the USA has been provided by USCIS. It details both the current and new rates for various forms, clearly highlighting the changes. These changes are expected to have an impact on individuals seeking to undertake immigration procedures in the coming months.