New proposed CIS filing fees to increase total immigration costs up to $1,040 for K-1 applicants

[olafgypsy 0]

Does anyone know if there will be possibilities of financial aid for low-income folks? Like many posting to this thread have mentioned, immigration is a privilege, not a right. (Although I would argue that being able to marry the person you fall in love with is part of the "pursuit of happiness.") However, if it is a privilege extended only to mid to high income citizens, then it's quite discriminatory. I can't imagine that this will fail to be an issue in the debates around this proposed increase in fees. Or will it?

I just read the article "Increased immigration fees denounced" and answered my own question. But I have another one: how does this process work? Who decides on whether the fees will actually be increased? Will there be a vote of some sort after this "discussion period"? Where would I find this information?

[Niels Bohr 72]

No financial aid available except loans. If you have no credit, or bad credit find someone who may lend you money.

[rebeccajo 14]

No financial aid available except loans. If you have no credit, or bad credit find someone who may lend you money.

Fee waivers are already available for those truly in need.

Note the word 'truly' in need. Like asylum seekers with not a penny in their pocket.

Part of immigration (at present) is sponsorship. The bar is extremely low (125% of the poverty level).

[Fandango 1,439]

Just another way to get more money out of us.

I don't see any conspiricy. Everything costs money - nothing is free. Who pays the costs of USCIS for people, paper, facilities, etc? Taxes? Yeah, that's the ticket. Lets raise taxes and make other people pay for our process. Remember that this is going to cost you $10K or more with trips, phone calls, gifts, fees, whatever, so another $1000 is 10% or less. If $1000 means you can't do this, you had better think very seriously about what you are attempting to do.

It seems as though the gov't doesn't want its citizens to be with any immigrants.

Well, duh! You haven't figured that out yet??? Seriously, why would they want is to bring in immigrants? People ###### about immigrants and losing jobs to them.

Current filing Fee for K1: 1300.00

Proposed new Filing Fee for K1: 2420.00

People that think another k or two is nothing since USCIS has to buy more paper: Priceless

Is there really any need to mock another poster for his/her opinion?

I actually agree with gearheadgeek. Nothing's free.

Add it on to the telephone bills, and plane tickets it's the cost of doin business I guess

[tmma 467]

There is no guarantee that the process will decrease in time. Just another way to get more money out of us. It seems as though the gov't doesn't want its citizens to be with any immigrants.

Immigration isn't something our government guarantees. It's a privilege and there's usually a high price associated with that.

Exactly.

Bringing a foreign national here to live is not a "right" we are born with. The only " right" we are born with is the right to ASK to bring them.

Security checks, interviews, paperwork and databases...etc do not come free and the cost should not be completely borne by the regular, non-petitioning tax payers. It's a service provided to US as petitioners/beneficiaries, therefore it's right that we should finance it. I hate the fees as much as anyone....the system in place sucks, and yes, it's not that cheap, but then again it's what we have and if you want your loved one here.......

Lisa-ITA too

Edited March 16, 2007 by tmma

[Fandango 1,439]

There is no guarantee that the process will decrease in time. Just another way to get more money out of us. It seems as though the gov't doesn't want its citizens to be with any immigrants.

Immigration isn't something our government guarantees. It's a privilege and there's usually a high price associated with that.

Exactly.

Bringing a foreign national here to live is not a "right" we are born with. The only " right" we are born with is the right to ASK to bring them.

Security checks, interviews, paperwork and databases...etc do not come free and the cost should not be completely borne by the regular, non-petitioning tax payers. It's a service provided to US as petitioners/beneficiaries, therefore it's right that we should finance it. I hate the fees as much as anyone....the system in place sucks, and yes, it's not that cheap, but then again it's what we have and if you want your loved one here.......

Lisa-ITA too

and of course ITA with you too. Go figure, lol

When you figure $1000 hike..it's like the cost of a plane ticket. None of us b!tch about that...we shut up and pay it!

Edited March 16, 2007 by LisaD

[Jenn! 918]

I don't have a problem with the fee increase. Our process went smoothly however. I think I'd be pretty pissed shelling out over $1000 and then getting stuck in name check hell or something. When you're paying that much for a service, you should be entitled to some degree of efficiency. JMHO.

[Teddy406 0]

Does anyone know if there will be possibilities of financial aid for low-income folks? Like many posting to this thread have mentioned, immigration is a privilege, not a right. (Although I would argue that being able to marry the person you fall in love with is part of the "pursuit of happiness.") However, if it is a privilege extended only to mid to high income citizens, then it's quite discriminatory. I can't imagine that this will fail to be an issue in the debates around this proposed increase in fees. Or will it?

Well if your income and financial status is THAT bad, how will you be able to be the affaafafafafafddivit of support? I see what you are saying, but immigration is deffo a privilege and one that is seemingly abused very often in all countries.

Teddy.

[K.Robert 0]

There is no guarantee that the process will decrease in time. Just another way to get more money out of us. It seems as though the gov't doesn't want its citizens to be with any immigrants.

Immigration isn't something our government guarantees. It's a privilege and there's usually a high price associated with that.

Exactly.

Bringing a foreign national here to live is not a "right" we are born with. The only " right" we are born with is the right to ASK to bring them.

Security checks, interviews, paperwork and databases...etc do not come free and the cost should not be completely borne by the regular, non-petitioning tax payers. It's a service provided to US as petitioners/beneficiaries, therefore it's right that we should finance it. I hate the fees as much as anyone....the system in place sucks, and yes, it's not that cheap, but then again it's what we have and if you want your loved one here.......

Lisa-ITA too

When CIS was rolled up under DHS the premis was that all depts. would share databases. and all depts. would share the cost to maintain these databases.

it does not cost much to run the DHS check on people seeking immigration benefits.

case in point. if you register for TSA's trusted traveler program "clear" you pay a program fee to clear of $99.95 and a vetting fee to TSA of $28.00

Thats it $28.00 for a go or nogo. the check hits the same databases CIS uses.

How much do you think the K1 , K3 really cost to process.

Im no expert on what will fix CIS, I have some thoughts.

I do know that throwing money at CIS is not the right solution.

CIS has promissed improvements and have we seen them?

[Niels Bohr 72]

These fees are raised annually, or almost all the time.

[Yodrak 7]

K.Robert,

Yes. Overall things are moving considerably better and faster today than they were a few short years ago, despite all the extra work that must be done due to post-9/11 laws intended to enhance national security.

This is not to say that things are as good as they could or should be, but there has been improvement.

Yodrak

.....

CIS has promissed improvements and have we seen them?

[jerrylee 0]

Does anyone know if there will be possibilities of financial aid for low-income folks? Like many posting to this thread have mentioned, immigration is a privilege, not a right. (Although I would argue that being able to marry the person you fall in love with is part of the "pursuit of happiness.") However, if it is a privilege extended only to mid to high income citizens, then it's quite discriminatory. I can't imagine that this will fail to be an issue in the debates around this proposed increase in fees. Or will it?

Everyone is allowed the opportunity to pursue happiness....but they need to pay their own way on this pursuit. (the government is not required to subsidize it, nor should it be)

As for this this $1000 fee increase, if it would speed up processing, I'm all for it and honestly with the associated costs of this process, $1000 is a minor increase.

Add up the number of trips taken to see your loved one, the current filing fees, a visa attorney or other service to complete the forms for K1/K3, phone calls, medical exams, transportation....easily $10,000.

To me it's worth it and I make myself afford it. If you are in love and you truly want to follow this path, then you will find a way to make it happen.

Do I think it will speed up the process? Nope.

I fail to understand why a nation of immigrants continually makes it so hard to immigrate here...we have done so for almost 200 years and show no signs of stopping any time soon.

[athena_ny 1]

While my husband is not adjusting from K1 or K3, I still say this: while I would gripe about having to pay the increased AOS rates (and will have to pay the increased removal of conditions and citizenship rates, if he decides to become a citizen, which is still up in the air at the moment), having him here with me is worth a million dollars, and if I had that much money, I'd pay it. The 2 or 3 thousand we will pay is nothing compared to the thought of losing him.

[doc_cute 0]

While my husband is not adjusting from K1 or K3, I still say this: while I would gripe about having to pay the increased AOS rates (and will have to pay the increased removal of conditions and citizenship rates, if he decides to become a citizen, which is still up in the air at the moment), having him here with me is worth a million dollars, and if I had that much money, I'd pay it. The 2 or 3 thousand we will pay is nothing compared to the thought of losing him.

is the fee increasing or a hype ? just inquisitive ?

[akdiver 3]

A thousand bucks (give or take) is a very cheap price to pay for the right to live and work in the US legally, and to be with one's sweetie. There should be no complaints. Look at how much people are paying to be smuggled into the country ILLEGALLY, just so they can work ILLEGALLY, and have NO clear path to permanent residence and/or citizenship?

If people don't like the US pricing model, they are free to try to immigrate to whatever country their loved one is from. But most don't. It's pretty clear why. The cost/benefit analysis shows the US is a better deal. People should stop complaining.

Article just the other day about thousands of illegals in LA demonstrating against the government and stating how they should be given amnesty!! The nerve!!! Such demonstrations should be used as opportunities for round-up and mass deportation. Anyone caught for being illegally in the country should forever be banned from entry, PR, or citizenship. Mine the border with Mexico, and send any captured illegal to Gitmo for 5 years before deportation back to the country of origin.

Cheers!

AKDiver