Immigration

USCIS Published New Filing Fees for Immigration and Naturalization Applications

The final fee rule for USCIS was published on August 3, 2020, and will take effect 60 days later, on October 2 2020. Any application, petition or postmarked request on or after this date must be accompanied by the fees set out in this final rule.

“The rule also makes changes to Form I-129, premium processing, and other changes to the fee processing.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced that the fees for ‘certain immigration and naturalization benefits applications’ have been adjusted to ensure that USCIS’ recovers its service costs.’

The full revised fee list can be found on the official USCIS website. Some of the changes in fees according to the final rule are-

Form #	Form Title	Current Fee	Final Fee Effective October 2, 2020
I-90	Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [online filing]	$455	$405
I-90	Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [paper filing]	$455	$415
I-102	Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document	$445	$485
I-129	Petition for a Nonimmigrant worker	$460	N/A
I-129F	Petition for Alien Fiancé[e]	$535	$510
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative (online filing)	$535	$550
I-130	Petition for Alien Relative (paper filing)	$535	$560
I-131	Application for Travel Document	$575	$590
I-140	Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker	$700	$555
I-526	Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor	$3,675	$4,010
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status [online filing]	$370	$390
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (paper filing)	$370	$400
I-600/600A	Adoption Petitions and Applications	$775	$805
I-687	Application for Status as a Temporary Resident	$1,130	$1,130
I-698	Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident	$1,670	$1,615
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization [Non-DACA]	$410	$550
N-600	Application for Certificate of Citizenship [online filing]	$1,170	$990
I-751	Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence	$595	$760

The rule also finalizes the following, effective October 3, 2020, besides changes in fees and form:

Changes the timeframe for premium processing from 15 calendar days to 15 business days.
Only VAWA self-petitioners, T and U non-immigrants, certain battered spouses and children and applicants for TPS are exempt from the application fees. Minimal exceptions. Fee waivers for the Forms I-765 and I-539 could generally no longer be requested.
Authorizes USCIS to use Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery as a means of delivering secure documents (such as green cards, EADs, and authorizations for advance parole). In 2018, USCIS implemented this protocol partially for documents that need to be re-mailed because they were returned as non-deliverable.
Free returns:

If due to insufficient funds, a check or other financial instrument used to pay a fee is returned as unpayable, USCIS will resubmit the payment to the remitter institution once. If a second time the fee is returned as unpayable, USCIS will decline the filing. Financial instruments returned as unpayable shall not be redeposited for a reason other than insufficient funds.
Removes the dishonoured payment charge of $30.
DHS may refuse an application that is accompanied by check dated more than 365 days before the date of receipt.

Incorporates the cost of biometric services into the underlying immigration benefit claim fee rather than charging a flat $85 biometric service fee.
The fee for applications submitted online to USCIS and not in paper form will generally be $10 less than the fee set out in this regulation.

Amit Kumar

FreeEducator.com blog is managed by Amit Kumar. He and his team come from the Oxford, Stanford and Harvard. At FreeEducator, we strive to create the best admission platform so that international students can go to the best universities - regardless of financial circumstances. By applying with us, international students get unlimited support and unbiased advice to secure the best college offers overseas.