On August 3rd, 2020 USCIS published a Final Rule that will significantly increase the filing fees for immigration petitions and applications by a weighted average of 20 percent. The rule also establishes new fees for non-immigrant worker petitions, removes certain fee exemptions, modifies fee waiver requirements, and changes premium processing timelines. The full text of the Final Rule can be read at the Federal Register website.
USCIS will provide a 60 day grace period before requiring submission of the new forms and payment of the new fees, which will be required for all petitions and applications filed on or after October 2, 2020. The new forms will be posted and made available by USCIS 30 days prior to the Final Rule going into effect, and should be available by September 2, 2020. For individuals in the processes of preparing to apply for immigration benefits, filing petitions or applications prior to the new fees taking effect on October 2, 2020 may save a significant amount of money.
The most significant increases in filing fees relate to non-immigrant worker petitions such as petitions for TN, H-1B, H-2A and H-2B, L, and O status. The Final Rule will increase the fees for these petitions between 20 and 85 percent. Applications for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) will also see an increase from $410 to $550. However, employment-based immigrant visa petitions (Form I-140) will see a decrease in filing fees of 21%, dropping from the current $700 fee to $555.
In regard to family based petitions, there is a slight 5% increase in the filing fee for immigrant visa petitions for family members (Form I-130). However, the filing fee for applications for provisional unlawful presence waivers (Form I-601A) will see a 52% increase from $630 to $960. Petitions to remove conditions on residency (Form I-751) will also increase from $595 to $760.
One of the sharpest increases in filing fees is in regard to applications for citizenship. The filing fee for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, will increase by over 80% from $640 to $1,160 for online filing and to $1,170 for paper filings. Also, for the first time, USCIS will impose a $50 filing fee for asylum applications (Form I-589). USCIS has never before required a filing fee for asylum applications.
Below is a complete chart summarizing the fee changes that will go into effect on October 2, 2020. For more information on these changes, or inquiries regarding filing for immigration benefits before the new fees take effect, please contact us at info@mobilityim.com or by filing out our contact form.