On December 23, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) significantly raised filing fees for over three (3) dozen types of petitions and applications filed to seek immigration benefits. The last filing fee increase was in November 2010.
While the steepest increases are for EB-5 foreign national investors and regional centers (e.g., I-526 application fee increased from $1,500 to $3,675, while the I-924 application fee for regional center’s designation increased from $6,230 to $17,795, plus a new annual certification fee of $3,035), filing fees for more commonly-used petitions and applications were also raised.
Employment-Based Immigration
The filing fee for form I-129 which is used to petition a nonimmigrant worker increased from $325 to $460, and the filing fee for an I-140 immigrant petition rose from $580 to $700.
Family-Based Immigration
Applying for a green card for your spouse? The filing fee for form I-130 which is used to petition for your alien relative increased from $420 to $535, and the I-485 application to adjust status to permanent residence increased from $985 to $1,140.
The filing fee for a form I-751 petition to remove conditions for a spouse of a United States Citizen is increased from $505 to $595.
The fee for filing a petition for a fiancée of a United States Citizen increased from $340 to $535.
United States Citizenship
Want to become a US citizen through naturalization? The price for filing an N-400 form to apply for Naturalization has risen from $595 to $640.
However, there is a new partial fee waiver for N-400 applications filed by qualified low-income individuals.
If you have foreign-born children who either acquired United States Citizenship through you at birth or derived citizenship as minors – the filing fees for forms N-600 and N-600K (applications for Certificate of Citizenship) nearly doubled, from $600 to $1,170. (Tip: save your money and apply for a U.S. Passport instead).
Fees That Will Stay the Same
Fees remain unchanged for: the Biometric Services Fee ($85) and Premium Processing ($1,225).
Prepared by:
April A. Caminez-Bentley, Esq.
abentley@lawfla.com
P. 850.222.0720
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