USCIS Adjusts Filing Fees
Unlike most government agencies, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is fee funded. Fees collected and deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA) fund nearly 97% of USCIS?budget. Current fees would leave the agency underfunded by approximately $1.3 billion per year.
On November 14, 2019, USCIS published a new proposed rule, including the adjustment USCIS Immigration Examinations Fee Account fee schedules by a weighted average increase of 21% to ensure full cost recovery.
On July 31, 2020, USCIS published the final rule with few changes to the initial proposed rule. This final rule will be effective Oct. 2, 2020. Any application, petition, or request postmarked on or after this date must include payment of the new, correct fees established by this final rule.
The final rule increases fees by a weighted average of 20 percent. Here are some changes of common employment-based and related application types:
|
Form
|
Current Fee (USD)
|
Final Fee (USD)
|
Percentage Change
|
|
Nonimmigrant
|
|
I-129 H1B Visa
|
$460
|
$555
|
21%
|
|
I-129 H2B Visa (Named Beneficiaries)
|
$460
|
$715
|
55%
|
|
I-129 H-2B Visa (Unnamed Beneficiaries)
|
$460
|
$385
|
-10%
|
|
I-129 L Visa (includes L-1A, L-1B and L Visa)
|
$460
|
$805
|
75%
|
|
I-129 O Visa
|
$460
|
$705
|
53%
|
|
I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant status (Online Filing)
|
$370
|
$390
|
5%
|
|
Immigrant
|
|
I-140, Immigrant Visa Petition
|
$700
|
$555
|
-21%
|
|
I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur
|
$3,675
|
$4,010
|
9%
|
|
I-485, Application to Adjust Status
|
$1,140
|
$1,130
|
-1%
|
|
I-485, Application to Adjust Status for applicant under the age of 14
|
$750
|
$1,130
|
51%
|
|
I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (Non-DACA)
|
$410
|
$550
|
34%
|
|
Biometrics Fee (NON-DACA)
|
$85
|
$30
|
-65%
|
This final rule also encourages online filing by providing a $10 reduction in the fee for applicants who submit forms online that are electronically available from USCIS. Online filing is the most secure, efficient, cost-effective and convenient way to submit a request with USCIS.
In addition to the changes of costs, the processing time of premium processing service extends from 15 calendar days to 15 business days.
|
