Update: Please note that a preliminary court injunction has been granted, which has temporarily suspended the implementation of this new fee schedule. We will be sure to provide an update on further developments as they become available.
On October 2nd, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will introduce new filing fees and requirements for many of their processes. As USCIS is largely funded by filing fees, this new rule has been introduced to account for budgeting shortfalls, and to further avoid the furlough of its workforce.
In addition to new filing fees, we can expect to see the following changes:
- Premium processing will now be 15 business days (previously 15 calendar days)
- There will no longer be a flat I-129 filing fee; instead, filing fees are assigned by classification.
- The I-485 filing fee is now uniform regardless of the age of the applicant.
- Filing fees for the I-765 (Work Authorization) and I-131 (Travel) will no longer be covered under the I-485 fee, and will now require separate fees for new and renewed benefits.
- Biometrics fees will now be incorporated into most case types' main filing fees, including the I-485, I-539, and N-400. A separate fee will still be required for TPS, Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) motions, appeals, and benefits requests, as well as asylum and withholding of removal applicants when filing applications for work authorization.
Here is a breakdown of the new fees:
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Content in this publication is not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult a Bridge-affiliated partner attorney or another qualified legal professional.
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