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US to increase a number of immigration fees
On 23 November 2010, United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be increasing its fees for a number of immigration and non-immigrant related visa applications. For some visa categories fees will actually decrease.
The fee for Petition for Alien Relative will increase significantly, from $355 to $420. The fee for Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) will decrease from $455 to $340. Applications fees for naturalization will remain the same at $595. H-1B and H-2B applications (Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker) will only increase by $5, to $325.
Three new fees will be established for:
- Regional center designation under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program (EB-5);
- Individuals seeking civil surgeon designation (with an exemption for certain physicians who examine service members, veterans, and their families at U.S. government facilities); and
- Recovery of the USCIS cost of processing immigrant visas granted by the Department of State.
The full list of fees that will be reduced include:
- Petition for Alien Fiancé (Form I-129F)
- Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539)
- Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Form I-698)
- Application for Family Unity Benefits (Form I-817)
- Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document (Form N-565)
- Application for Travel Document (Form I-131), when filed for Refugee Travel Document
Two citizenship-related fees will be eliminated for members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces who are eligible to file an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) with no fee:
- Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Form N-336)
- Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600)
Finally, the availability of fee waivers will be expanded to new categories, including:
- Individuals seeking humanitarian parole under an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131)
- Individuals with any benefit request under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008
- Individuals filing a Notice of Appeal or Motion (Form I-290B) following a denial of any application or petition that did not initially require a fee
The following is a list of fees which will be changed:
| Form No. | Application/Petition Description | Existing Fees (effective through Nov. 22, 2010 | Adjusted Fees (effective beginning Nov. 23, 2010) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-90 | Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card | $290 | $365 |
| I-102 | Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document | $320 | $330 |
| I-129/129CW | Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker | $320 | $325 |
| I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) | $455 | $340 |
| I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | $355 | $420 |
| I-131 | Application for Travel Document | $305 | $360 |
| I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker | $475 | $580 |
| I-191 | Application for Advance Permission to Return to Unrelinquished Domicile | $545 | $585 |
| I-192 | Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant | $545 | $585 |
| I-193 | Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa | $545 | $585 |
| I-212 | Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. after Deportation or Removal | $545 | $585 |
| I-290B | Notice of Appeal or Motion | $585 | $630 |
| I-360 | Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant | $375 | $405 |
| I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | $930 | $985 |
| I-526 | Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur | $1,435 | $1,500 |
| I-539 | Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | $300 | $290 |
| I-600/600A I-800/800A | Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative/Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition | $670 | $720 |
| I-601 | Application for Waiver of Ground of Excludability | $545 | $585 |
| I-612 | Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement | $545 | $585 |
| I-687 | Application for Status as a Temporary Resident under Sections 245A or 210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act | $710 | $1,130 |
| I-690 | Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility | $185 | $200 |
| I-694 | Notice of Appeal of Decision under Sections 245A or 210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act | $545 | $755 |
| I-698 | Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Under Section 245A of Public Law 99-603) | $1,370 | $1,020 |
| I-751 | Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence | $465 | $505 |
| I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization | $340 | $380 |
| I-817 | Application for Family Unity Benefits | $440 | $435 |
| I-824 | Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition | $340 | $405 |
| I-829 | Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions | $2,850 | $3,750 |
| I-881 | Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (Pursuant to Section 203 of Public Law 105–110) | $285 | $285 |
| I-907 | Request for Premium Processing Service | $1,000 | $1,225 |
| Civil Surgeon Designation | $0 | $615 | |
| I-924 | Application for Regional Center under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program | $0 | $6,230 |
| N-300 | Application to File Declaration of Intention | $235 | $250 |
| N-336 | Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings | $605 | $650 |
| N-400 | Application for Naturalization | $595 | $595 |
| N-470 | Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes | $305 | $330 |
| N-565 | Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document | $380 | $345 |
| N-600/600K | Application for Certification of Citizenship/ Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322 | $460 | $600 |
| Immigrant Visa DHS Domestic Processing | $0 | $165 | |
| Biometrics | Capturing, Processing, and Storing Biometric Information | $80 | $85 |
