News
USCIS is a fee-based organization with about 90 percent of its budget coming from fees paid by applicants and petitioners to obtain immigration benefits. The law requires USCIS to conduct fee reviews every two years to determine whether it is recovering its costs to administer the nation's immigration laws, process applications, and provide the infrastructure needed to support those activities. This proposed rule results from a comprehensive fee review begun in 2009.
USCIS's fee revenue in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 was much lower than projected, and fee revenue in fiscal year 2010 remains low. While USCIS did receive appropriations from Congress, budget cuts of approximately $160 million have not bridged the remaining gap between costs and anticipated revenue. A fee adjustment, as detailed in the proposed rule, is necessary to ensure USCIS recovers the costs of its operations while also meeting the application processing goals identified in the 2007 fee rule.
The proposed fee rule would increase the average application and petition fees by approximately 10 percent.
Understanding the unique importance of naturalization, USCIS is proposing that the naturalization application fee not be increased.
The proposed rule would establish three new fees for:
Regional center designation under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program (EB-5);
Individuals seeking civil surgeon designation; and
Recovery of the cost of processing immigrant visas granted by the Department of State.
The rule also proposes to adjust fees for the premium processing service. This would ensure that USCIS can continue to modernize to become a more efficient and effective organization.
The proposed fee structure also reduces fees for five individual applications and petitions as a result of lower processing costs:
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); and
Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document (Form N-565).
| Application/Petition Description | Current Fees | Proposed Fees |
|---|---|---|
| I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card | $290 | $365 |
| I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document | $320 | $330 |
| I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant worker | $320 | $325 |
| I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(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-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 Orphan Petitions | $670 | $720 |
| I-687 Application for Status as a Temporary Resident | $710 | $1,130 |
| I-690 Application for Waiver on Grounds of Inadmissibility | $185 | $200 |
| I-694 Notice of Appeal of Decision | $545 | $755 |
| I-698 Application to Adjust Status From Temporary to Permanent Resident | $1,370 | $1,020 |
| I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on 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 |
| 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/N-600K Naturalization Certificate Applications | $460 | $600 |
| Waiver Forms (I-191, I-192, I-193, I-212, I-601, I-612) | $545 | $585 |
| Immigrant Visa | $0 | $165 |
| Biometric Services | $80 | $85 |