November 07, 2016
USCIS Announces Increases to Immigration Filing Fees
USCIS published a final rule in the Federal Register on November 2, 2016, adjusting the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. Fees will increase, some significantly, for the first time in six years. The new fees will be effective December 23, 2016. Applications and/or petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23 must include the new fees or USCIS will reject them.
USCIS is almost entirely funded by fees paid by applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits. USCIS filing fees pay for costs associated with fraud detection and national security, customer service and case processing.
We will work diligently with you to file any active cases that will be impacted by the fee increases before December 23. Changes in the new fee schedule can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/forms/our-fees.
Some of the fee changes are listed here:
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker – New Fee: $700/Old Fee: $580
I-129 Petition for Nonimmgrant Worker – New Fee: $460/Old Fee: $325
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status – New Fee: $1140 + $85 biometrics fee / Old Fee: $985 + $85 biometrics fee
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (applicants under the age of 14 years) – New Fee: $750/Old Fee: $635
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (dependent/student application) – New Fee: $370/Old Fee: $290
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization – New Fee: $410/Old Fee: $380
I-131/I-131A Application for Travel Document – New Fee: $575/ Old Fee: $360
If you have any questions regarding fee increases, please feel free to contact our office.