I-751 rejected because of incorrect fee??!!

[sparkofcreation 0]

All,

On the other hand, I saw my first post today where someone seems to think their I-751 was returned for wrong fee having submitted $205.

"As a point of interest relating to current discussions on I-751 and the new fee change.

Mailed I-751 dec 12th they received it dec14th had sent $205 because that's what the website said. Yesterday it was returned. Blue sheet said basicly it was because of the check but indicated every reason possible. The first paragraph said it "could" be because the fee was wrong, or the number amount did not match the written amount, or it was not signed. The next paragraph said that it was because the check had been changed and we were to either initial the change or send a new check for $205.

Since none of the above was true, except for the fact that the amount was not what the current website claimed, I typed a new check for $275 and sent the whole mess back today. Hope that works."

I continue to think that $205 is the correct fee, that there is no fee associated with the simple photo and fingerprint appointment that is required to manufacture the card, and that whoever updated the form instructions and web site either jumped the gun on something that is yet to be implemented or is outright wrong.

Yodrak

Well, for what it's worth, I called the USCIS hotline and the guy says he double checked (oooo, double checked!) and the fee is $205 regardless of what the form says. He also said NOT to send any passport pictures. I'm sending them anyway.

I don't think you quite grasp the number of people who are involved in the change to a form in the federal government.

I agree this is a giant ######-up, but you can't exactly "accidentally" change a form. Changes have to be proposed by a committee, approved by another committee, offered for public comment, sent to printing for a proof, sent back for approval by another committee, etc. No one could do all of that in error. (Now, the website is a different story.)

I suspect it may be a case of a change being voted for, then while the new forms were being processed, someone changed their mind. So the forms reflect a prior decision that has been overruled by a new one.

[Yodrak 7]

sparkofcreation,

Who are you quoting? I did not say that this is an accident.....

I am well aware of what is required to change a form, and that is basis of my opinion that there has in fact been no change. Note that

- it is the instructions, not the form, that has been changed

- there has been nothing published in the Federal Register, no public comment period for instituting a biometrics fee.

I agree, more than a few people were either not paying attention or were mis-informed for this error to have been made.

Yodrak

.....

I continue to think that $205 is the correct fee, that there is no fee associated with the simple photo and fingerprint appointment that is required to manufacture the card, and that whoever updated the form instructions and web site either jumped the gun on something that is yet to be implemented or is outright wrong.

Yodrak

Well, for what it's worth, I called the USCIS hotline and the guy says he double checked (oooo, double checked!) and the fee is $205 regardless of what the form says. He also said NOT to send any passport pictures. I'm sending them anyway.

I don't think you quite grasp the number of people who are involved in the change to a form in the federal government.

I agree this is a giant ######-up, but you can't exactly "accidentally" change a form. Changes have to be proposed by a committee, approved by another committee, offered for public comment, sent to printing for a proof, sent back for approval by another committee, etc. No one could do all of that in error. (Now, the website is a different story.)

I suspect it may be a case of a change being voted for, then while the new forms were being processed, someone changed their mind. So the forms reflect a prior decision that has been overruled by a new one.

[hotairguy 0]

All,

On the other hand, I saw my first post today where someone seems to think their I-751 was returned for wrong fee having submitted $205.

"As a point of interest relating to current discussions on I-751 and the new fee change.

Mailed I-751 dec 12th they received it dec14th had sent $205 because that's what the website said. Yesterday it was returned. Blue sheet said basicly it was because of the check but indicated every reason possible. The first paragraph said it "could" be because the fee was wrong, or the number amount did not match the written amount, or it was not signed. The next paragraph said that it was because the check had been changed and we were to either initial the change or send a new check for $205.

Since none of the above was true, except for the fact that the amount was not what the current website claimed, I typed a new check for $275 and sent the whole mess back today. Hope that works."

I continue to think that $205 is the correct fee, that there is no fee associated with the simple photo and fingerprint appointment that is required to manufacture the card, and that whoever updated the form instructions and web site either jumped the gun on something that is yet to be implemented or is outright wrong.

Yodrak

Well, for what it's worth, I called the USCIS hotline and the guy says he double checked (oooo, double checked!) and the fee is $205 regardless of what the form says. He also said NOT to send any passport pictures. I'm sending them anyway.

I am suprised that there is no new announcement about this change to both the instructions and the USCIS website itself.

The fact that pictures are no longer required (again in the instructions) seems to support that biometrics will be required. So I would also imagine that we will have to pay for it.

This reminds me of the IMBRA mess, bill signed into law with a effective date and somehow it just slipped everyone's mind that some additional requirments would have to be met. Opps, sorry about that. If something similar happened where I worked, the entire responsible orginization would be escorted out the door.

Marilyn and Peter.

[Yodrak 7]

Marilyn and Peter,

It's the lack of any announcement that make the 'new fee' suspicious.

Beyond that, there's biometrics and then there's 'biometrics'. The biometrics that is expensive, and so there is a $70 fee for it, is the photo and 10 fingerprints that is transmitted to the FBI for security checks as part of the adjustment process, which also goes into a data storage and retrieval system.

Then there's the simple photo and index fingerprint used to make ID cards, such as the EAD and the Green Card, that we also call 'biometrics'. No charge for that, and there shouldn't be. In fact, taking taking the photo and index fingerprint for the cards is not supposed to be necessary. They're supposed to be able to retrieve the information from the biometrics storage and retrieval system that you already paid $70 for. Except that the retrieval part doesn't function yet, so everytime they need to make a new card you need to go to an ASC for a new photo and index fingerprint.

Yodrak

I am suprised that there is no new announcement about this change to both the instructions and the USCIS website itself.

The fact that pictures are no longer required (again in the instructions) seems to support that biometrics will be required. So I would also imagine that we will have to pay for it.

This reminds me of the IMBRA mess, bill signed into law with a effective date and somehow it just slipped everyone's mind that some additional requirments would have to be met. Opps, sorry about that. If something similar happened where I worked, the entire responsible orginization would be escorted out the door.

Marilyn and Peter.

Edited December 29, 2006 by Yodrak

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Marilyn and Peter,

It's the lack of any announcement that make the 'new fee' suspicious.

Beyond that, there's biometrics and then there's 'biometrics'. The biometrics that is expensive, and so there is a $70 fee for it, is the photo and 10 fingerprints that is transmitted to the FBI for security checks as part of the adjustment process, which also goes into a data storage and retrieval system.

Then there's the simple photo and index fingerprint used to make ID cards, such as the EAD and the Green Card, that we also call 'biometrics'. No charge for that, and there shouldn't be. In fact, taking taking the photo and index fingerprint for the cards is not supposed to be necessary. They're supposed to be able to retrieve the information from the biometrics storage and retrieval system that you already paid $70 for. Except that the retrieval part doesn't function yet, so everytime they need to make a new card you need to go to an ASC for a new photo and index fingerprint.

Yodrak

I am suprised that there is no new announcement about this change to both the instructions and the USCIS website itself.

The fact that pictures are no longer required (again in the instructions) seems to support that biometrics will be required. So I would also imagine that we will have to pay for it.

This reminds me of the IMBRA mess, bill signed into law with a effective date and somehow it just slipped everyone's mind that some additional requirments would have to be met. Opps, sorry about that. If something similar happened where I worked, the entire responsible orginization would be escorted out the door.

Marilyn and Peter.

Yodrak,

While the distinction between the two may indeed be true, using your analysis, I wonder why the need for the $70.00 'biometrics' fee would be necessary in the renewal or replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged green card? Would youi suggest that this additional fee is a generic request for $70.00 to cover applicants that don't necesarily acquire a GC through the process of adjustment?

[Yodrak 7]

diadromous mermaid,

Good point. And remember when they were briefly charging the $70 for a replacement Green Card even when the reason for replacement was an incorrect card due to USCIS error?

It's been a few days, I guess it's time to reiterate that I'm speculating, searching for reasons that are consistent with the anecdotal evidence available to date.

It will be interesting to see how this situation resolves itself.

Yodrak

Marilyn and Peter,

It's the lack of any announcement that make the 'new fee' suspicious.

Beyond that, there's biometrics and then there's 'biometrics'. The biometrics that is expensive, and so there is a $70 fee for it, is the photo and 10 fingerprints that is transmitted to the FBI for security checks as part of the adjustment process, which also goes into a data storage and retrieval system.

Then there's the simple photo and index fingerprint used to make ID cards, such as the EAD and the Green Card, that we also call 'biometrics'. No charge for that, and there shouldn't be. In fact, taking taking the photo and index fingerprint for the cards is not supposed to be necessary. They're supposed to be able to retrieve the information from the biometrics storage and retrieval system that you already paid $70 for. Except that the retrieval part doesn't function yet, so everytime they need to make a new card you need to go to an ASC for a new photo and index fingerprint.

Yodrak

I am suprised that there is no new announcement about this change to both the instructions and the USCIS website itself.

The fact that pictures are no longer required (again in the instructions) seems to support that biometrics will be required. So I would also imagine that we will have to pay for it.

This reminds me of the IMBRA mess, bill signed into law with a effective date and somehow it just slipped everyone's mind that some additional requirments would have to be met. Opps, sorry about that. If something similar happened where I worked, the entire responsible orginization would be escorted out the door.

Marilyn and Peter.

Yodrak,

While the distinction between the two may indeed be true, using your analysis, I wonder why the need for the $70.00 'biometrics' fee would be necessary in the renewal or replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged green card? Would youi suggest that this additional fee is a generic request for $70.00 to cover applicants that don't necesarily acquire a GC through the process of adjustment?

Edited December 29, 2006 by Yodrak

[punkster 0]

Well I just called the USCIS toll free number and the automated system says the fee is $ 275.

fees are accessible at 1-800-375-5283 sub menu enter 1 then 2 then 3 then 1 then your zipcode then 1 then 4751#

[punkster 0]

Well I just called the USCIS toll free number and the automated system says the fee is $ 275.

fees are accessible at 1-800-375-5283 sub menu enter 1 then 2 then 3 then 1 then your zipcode then 1 then 4751#

And just called a real human being at the same number and got the same answer $ 275

[jsnearline 2]

It seems odd that they would charge the same biometric fee for both AOS and ROC. The AOS fee makes sense because of the fingerprints for background check. ROC, it's just a simple photo and index print.

[nscvet 0]

All,

On the other hand, I saw my first post today where someone seems to think their I-751 was returned for wrong fee having submitted $205.

"As a point of interest relating to current discussions on I-751 and the new fee change.

Mailed I-751 dec 12th they received it dec14th had sent $205 because that's what the website said. Yesterday it was returned. Blue sheet said basicly it was because of the check but indicated every reason possible. The first paragraph said it "could" be because the fee was wrong, or the number amount did not match the written amount, or it was not signed. The next paragraph said that it was because the check had been changed and we were to either initial the change or send a new check for $205.

Since none of the above was true, except for the fact that the amount was not what the current website claimed, I typed a new check for $275 and sent the whole mess back today. Hope that works."

I continue to think that $205 is the correct fee, that there is no fee associated with the simple photo and fingerprint appointment that is required to manufacture the card, and that whoever updated the form instructions and web site either jumped the gun on something that is yet to be implemented or is outright wrong.

Yodrak

Well, for what it's worth, I called the USCIS hotline and the guy says he double checked (oooo, double checked!) and the fee is $205 regardless of what the form says. He also said NOT to send any passport pictures. I'm sending them anyway.

My take, pedantic, yes, is that the petition fee is $205.00, and the biometrics fee $70.00.

Yodrak, why would you think that the card is processed gratis?

For what's worth - after having the first app with $275 bounced I sent it in again w/205 AND the two photos. They cashed the check. I don't know what they did with the pix.

Bob

[kirts 0]

For what's worth - after having the first app with $275 bounced I sent it in again w/205 AND the two photos. They cashed the check. I don't know what they did with the pix.

Bob

I just did the same yesterday. Sent a check for $205 with the pics along with the rejection letter they sent. We'll see what happens.

Edited December 30, 2006 by kirts

[timinna 0]

What do folks think about sending two checks, $205 for the petition and $70 for

BIO metrics?

[hotairguy 0]

What do folks think about sending two checks, $205 for the petition and $70 for

BIO metrics?

That's the suggested way to go until it is resolved one way or another.\

Marilyn and Peter.

[doctorvtec 0]

My money order for $275 was ACCEPTED.

I got a letter from USCIS today. I was hoping it was an NOA. It was a "Individual Fee Register Receipt". It is a carbon copy receipt like you would get at a diner. It has our EAC #, Name, Date, ETC. All handwritten.

So, my timeline:

12/21 - Mailed Overnight

12/22 - Recieved

12/26 - Individual Fee Register Receipt issued

1/2 - Individual Fee Register Receipt mailed

1/4 - Individual Fee Register Receipt received

I think we may have my wife start working next week. I mean, we have proof we filed, our check is cashed, and I have ann EAC #. Weare perfectly legal at this point even though the GC is expired.

[k1spain 0]

My money order for $275 was ACCEPTED.

I got a letter from USCIS today. I was hoping it was an NOA. It was a "Individual Fee Register Receipt". It is a carbon copy receipt like you would get at a diner. It has our EAC #, Name, Date, ETC. All handwritten.

So, my timeline:

12/21 - Mailed Overnight

12/22 - Recieved

12/26 - Individual Fee Register Receipt issued

1/2 - Individual Fee Register Receipt mailed

1/4 - Individual Fee Register Receipt received

I think we may have my wife start working next week. I mean, we have proof we filed, our check is cashed, and I have ann EAC #. Weare perfectly legal at this point even though the GC is expired.

Good! I'm happy for you guys.

By the way, what is the EAC#?