DHS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register proposing amendments to USCIS filing fees on certain immigration and naturalization applications. Previously, USCIS stated that current fees do not cover operational costs to timely adjudicate USCIS immigration and naturalization benefits. For this reason, they needed a new fee schedule to avoid the accumulation of future backlogs. DHS announced that the comment period for the proposed rule will be extended an additional 5 business days. The public comment period started on January 4, 2023, and it will be open until March 13, 2023.
The main elements of the proposed rule include:
Preserving existing fee waiver eligibility for low-income and vulnerable populations;
Adding new fee exemptions for certain humanitarian programs;
Limiting the fee increase for naturalization applicants; and
Distributing fees are based primarily on the filers’ ability to pay.
Some of the fee changes are as follows:
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status:
Current Fee: $1,225, and Proposed Fee: $1,540
N-400 Application for Naturalization -Online or Paper:
Current Fee: $640 and Proposed Fee: $760
I-129 Petition for A nonimmigrant Worker- H-1 Classifications:
Current Fee: $460 and Proposed Fee: $780
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status -Paper:
Current Fee: $370 and Proposed Fee: $620
Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq.
Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
