USCIS Increases Immigration Fees On July 30th – Less Than A Week Away!

July 26, 2007 – American Immigration Attorneys, Inc. has prepared this document to aid in understanding of the new fee increase for immigration the USCIS released at the end of May. In order to save money, persons are encouraged to file before the new fees take effect, as the changes can be substantial. Please visit our firm at www.immigrationlawyer.net if you have any questions regarding filing your application before the increase takes effect. The new fees will be effective for all applications postmarked or filed on or after July 30, 2007. The new fees include filing fees and any required biometric fees.

The final structure of the fees is about a 66% increase over the previous fees in place. However, some fees associated with applications and petitions which in the past were paid separately are now included within the final fee for the petition and application, causing the increase in fees to seem much higher than it actually is.

The USCIS decided to increase the fees based upon the cost of processing hundreds of thousands of immigration applications and petitions each year. In addition, the USCIS needs to cover the cost of its operating expenses; therefore, the agency decided to increase application and petition fees.

For workers, a petition for a nonimmigrant worker (I-129) will be $320.00, but petitions for H-1B, H2B, and L-1 workers must also include supplemental fees and fraud prevention fees, which remain unchanged. A petition for an immigrant worker (I-140) will now be $475.00. In addition, employment authorization documents will increase to $340.00. Investor petitioners (I-526) will now pay a $1,435.00 fee.

Under USCIS’ new fee schedule a replacement or renewal Green Card (I-90) will be $370.00, a fiancée visa (I-129F) will be $455.00, and a relative petition (I-130) will be $355. Orphan petitions will not have a fee if based on an approved I-600A; otherwise, the fee will be $750.00 for the petitioner with an $80.00 fee for each person 18 or older living with the petitioner.

For non-citizens planning to adjust their status and become a permanent resident while in the United States (I-485), the fee will be $1,010.00, unless the petitioner is 79 years old or older then it will be $930 or where the petitioner is under 14 years old the fee will be $600.00 if filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent or $930.00 if not filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent.

Non-citizens wanting to extend their stay as a nonimmigrant or wanting to change their nonimmigrant status (I-539) will have to pay a $300.00 fee. For those who desire to become U.S. citizens, the fee will be $235.00 for the Declaration of Intent to apply for U.S. citizenship (N-300), $605.00 to request a hearing on a decision on a petitioner’s naturalization application (N-336), $675.00 to become a U.S. citizen – naturalization (N-400), and/or $460.00 for recognition of U.S. citizenship for a biological child or $420.00 for an adopted child.

For grounds of excludability to be waived (I-601), the fee will increase to $545.00. For those wanting their foreign residence requirement waived (I-612), the new fee will be $545.00. Additionally, to remove the conditions on an immigrant’s Permanent Residence status (I-751) will be a $545.00 fee for the petitioner plus an $80.00 biometric fee for each dependent included on the application. The USCIS set the fee to remove conditions on an immigrant’s Permanent Residence status for investors (I-829) at $2,930 for the petitioner, plus $80.00 biometric fee for each dependent included on the petitioner’s application.

To reapply for admission to the United States after being deported or removed (I-212) will now cost $545.00. Non-citizens seeking to appeal or filing a motion to reopen or reconsider (I-290B) will have to pay $585.00.

Please visit our website at www.MyImmigrationLawyer.net, so that we may be able to assist you in completing and submitting your application before the fee increase takes effect.

Contact Information

Gus Soto, Esq.

Lead Attorney

American Immigration Attorneys, Inc.

Contact via E-mail