U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a new fee schedule on April 1, 2024. This is the first major adjustment since December 2016 and aims to recover agency operation costs and improve processing times. Here’s a breakdown:
Key Points:
- The new fees apply to applications postmarked on or after April 1, 2024.
- USCIS published a comprehensive list of revised fees. You can find it here.
- Fees for some humanitarian petitions are being eliminated so it may be wise to wait till after April 1, 2024 to file U and T visas, work permits for certain categories and certain waivers.
- The N-400 online filing fee will decrease to $710. Similarly, online filings, when available, will be cheaper than paper filings.
- There’s a grace period until June 3, 2024 for accepting prior editions of most forms along with the new fees. However, some forms require the latest edition due to fee calculation changes.
- Increased Fees: There’s been a general increase in fees for various forms. For instance, Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) went up by 26% to $675 for paper filing and $625 for online filing. Similarly, Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) saw an 18% increase for the standalone application to $1440
- Expanded Fee Reductions and Exemptions: The new rule also offers some relief. Eligibility for fee-reduced naturalization applications ($380) has been expanded. This applies to individuals demonstrating household income between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. There are also expanded fee exemptions for specific categories, including victims of human trafficking and certain criminal activity, Special Immigrant Juveniles, and families pursuing international adoption.
Here’s a chart outlining some of the most common forms and their new fee (as of April 1, 2024):
| Form | Description | Old Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative (Family-based immigration) | $575 | $675 (paper) / $625 (online) |
| I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) | $535 | $675 |
| I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Green Card) | $1,225 | $1,440 (standalone application) |
| I-131 | Application for Travel Document | $575 | $630 |
| I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization (EAD) | $410 | $445 |
Important Note:
These are just a few examples. The USCIS website has the most up-to-date information on all forms and fees. Be sure to check it out before filing your application.
