USCIS proposes significant fee increases for nearly all applications & petitions
/On May 4, 2016, USCIS published a proposed rule to increase filing fees an average of 21% across all application-types and add a few new fees to its existing fee schedule. The agency noted the current fees, set in 2010, are not sufficient to cover the full costs of the services USCIS provides. In hopes of providing better service, reducing wait times and increasing enforcement efforts, USCIS announced its proposed fee increases, which include the following changes for common applications:
- Form I-129 (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E) would increase from $325 to $460 (42%)
- Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker would increase from $580 to $700 (21%)
- Form I-485 Application to Adjust Status for adults would increase from $1,070 to $1,225 (16%)
- Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative would increase from $420 to $535 (27%)
- Form N-400 Application for Naturalization would increase from $680 to $725 (8%)
The proposed rule in its entirety can be viewed on the Federal Register website. Comments are due by July 5, 2016 and can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. All submissions should include the DHS Docket No. USCIS-2016-0001.
