The USCIS is contemplating a significant surge in fees across various immigration processes to address revenue challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
Acknowledging the necessity for a comprehensive fee review, the USCIS has put forth a proposal that encompasses H-1B visas, green card applications, and other immigration categories.
USCIS’ Plan to Hike Immigration Fees
During the two-month comment period, the proposal has faced criticism from over 6000 individuals and organizations. The anticipated finalization of the proposed fee rule is expected in December or January 2024, with an effective date set for 60-90 days thereafter. The primary objective is to bridge the shortfall in recovering the full cost of agency operations, a challenge that has persisted since 2016.
Notable proposed increases include a staggering 2050% for the H-1B E-registration fee, jumping from $10 to $215. The petition fee for an H-1B visa application is slated for a 70% increase, climbing from $460 to $780. The USCIS justifies these hikes by aligning agency capacity with projected workloads and preventing future backlogs.
For citizenship (naturalization) applications, there’s a proposed 19% increase, from $640 to $760. However, the most substantial hikes are reserved for EB-5 investors in the investment-linked green card program. Initial I-526 petitions may see a 204% increase to $11,160, while I-829 petitions for the removal of conditions on permanent resident status could undergo a 148% increase to $9,525.
Complete List of Current and Proposed Fees
Below is a breakdown of the current and proposed fees across different immigration categories:
H-1B E-registration fee:
– Current: $10
– Proposed: $215 (2050%)
Petition for an H-1B visa:
– Current: $460
– Proposed: $780 (70%)
Petition for an L visa (intra-company transfer):
– Current: $460
– Proposed: $1,385 (201%)
Petition by an EB-5 investor (investment-linked green card):
– Current: $3,675
– Proposed: $11,160 (204%)
Petition by EB-5 investor to remove conditions on permanent resident status (with biometric services):
– Current: $3,835
– Proposed: $9,525 (148%)
Application for Employment Authorization (online) – Online:
– Current: $410
– Proposed: $555 (35%)
Application for Employment Authorization (paper filing):
– Current: $410
– Proposed: $650 (59%)
Application to adjust to green card status (with biometric services):
– Current: $1,225
– Proposed: $1,540 (26%)
Application for citizenship (online or paper filing):
– Current: $640
– Proposed: $760 (19%)
