Looking for COVID-19 Resources? Bridge is here to help!
Blog
Back to Blog

Breakdown of New USCIS Fees 2020

Sara Divyak
Director of Client Services

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:

New USCIS Fees: October 2020

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.


Tags:

More from the Blog

Understanding the Importance of Timing in the PERM Labor Certification Process

As employers, it is essential to understand the various factors that impact the timeline of the PERM labor certification process and plan accordingly to ensure a successful outcome. One pitfall that employers often are caught off guard by is exactly when to initiate the green card process. In this post, we'll focus on why in this age of immigration backlogs, it’s now prudent to start the PERM process earlier.

Read Story

How to Project Immigration Spend

As the year wraps up, you may find yourself trying to get a handle on your immigration budget. Bridge provides tools or resources to use in your year-end immigration review and forecasting process.

Read Story

Employee Spotlight: Introducing Carson Harder-Hyde, a Support Technician joining the Bridge team

Introducing Carson Harder-Hyde, a Level 3 Support Technician who recently joined Bridge

Read Story