USCIS to increase fees by December

EFFECTIVE December 23, 2016, USCIS will increase its filing fees for applications and petitions for immigration and naturalization benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Thus, applications and petitions filed and/or mailed on or after December 23, 2016 must have the corresponding adjusted fees, or they will be rejected. USCIS says it was necessary to increase the fees – by an average of 21% – because the current fees do not recover the full costs of services they provide in adjudicating and deciding the applications and petitions. Fees for producing the green cards for new immigrants (Immigrant fees) and for biometrics (fingerprinting) remain the same.

The following are the new fees for the following Immigration Benefit Requests (old fees are in parenthesis):

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 ($20)

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 INA — $930 ($585)

I-192 Application for Advance permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant — $585/930 ($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 (certan 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 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-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 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 Immigrant — $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 ($600/550)

USCIS Immigrant Fee — $220 ($165)

Biometric Services Fee — $85 ($85)

* * *

Atty. Aurora Vega-Buzon is a partner in Chua Tinsay & Vega, A Professional Legal Corporation  (CTV) –  a full service law firm with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Philippines.  The information presented in this article is for general information only and is not, nor intended to be, formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship.  Call or e-mail CTV for an in-person or phone consultation to discuss your particular situation and/or how their services may be retained at (619) 955-6277; (415) 495-8088;  [email protected]