New Year, New Fees: Immigration Fee Hike in the Works

The United States government has proposed a significant hike in immigration fees that would affect a wide range of applications and petitions, including those for citizenship, work visas, and green cards. The proposed fee schedule, which was announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in November 2021, would see the cost of many immigration applications and petitions increase by as much as 50% or more.

One group that will be particularly affected by the proposed immigration fee hike are those applying for marriage-based adjustment of status. Under the current fee schedule, an applicant would need to pay a fee of $535 for Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), $1,130 for Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).  (There’s currently no fee for Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) when that application is filed along with the I-485.)

However, under the proposed fee schedule, the cost of these applications would increase to $760 for Form I-130, $1,500 for Form I-485, and $490 for Form I-765. This means that the total cost of applying for marriage-based adjustment of status would increase from $2,075 to $2,750. This is a significant increase and could make it more difficult for some low-income families to afford the process of obtaining legal status in the US.

The proposed fee hike is part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to address the budget deficit, but it also comes at a time when the country is facing a significant backlog in immigration processing. The additional revenue generated by the fee hike would be used to improve the efficiency and speed of the immigration system, according to DHS officials.

However, critics of the proposal argue that the fee hike would disproportionately affect low-income immigrants and their families, making it more difficult for them to navigate the already complex and often confusing immigration process. They also argue that the fee hike would disproportionately affect immigrants from developing countries, who may not have the financial resources to pay the higher fees.

The proposed fee schedule is currently under review and is subject to change, but it is important for those who may be affected by the proposed fee hike to stay informed about the latest developments.  It’s been some time since the US government raised immigration fees across the board, and the proposal will likely be implemented later this year.

In summary, the U.S government has proposed a significant hike in immigration fees that would affect a wide range of applications and petitions. The proposed fee hike is part of a broader effort to address the budget deficit but it is also coming at a time when the country is facing a significant backlog in immigration processing. The proposed fee schedule is currently under review and is subject to change, it is important for those who may be affected by the proposed fee hike to stay informed about the latest developments and seek assistance if needed.

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