Proposed Fee Increase PLUS VALUABLE USCIS DATA

[TimsDaisy 0]

Ok. Here goes:

[Proposed fees]

I-129F - $455

I-130 - $355

I-485 - $905

I-751 - $465

I-765 - $340

N-400 - $595

Nice!

Although, it says for FY 2008! I hope I read it correctly.

Where did you see these fees?

I copied this :

Furthermore, the rule

proposes to merge the fees for certain

applications so applicants will pay a

single fee rather than paying several fees

for related services.

You read correctly, it is one fee that covers more than one service. So for example, the I-485 the AOS, the proposed $905 fee will cover the Green Card, the Employment Authorization and the Advanced Parole. Currently those are 3 different forms w/ applicable fees that we have to fill out. Under the proposed increase, you pay once but all three services are included.

-P

worth noting that if they ever get really caught up and efficient, the all-in-one payment may become MORE services than are currently needed, since the piece-meal procedures that exist came into being to keep people legal who kept falling out of status because of the government's slow progress. they made these other, intermediary steps, then got accused of dragging their feet to invent steps to collect additional fees.

now they'll roll it into one and in 10 years we'll see something proposed to move it back to the piece-meal approach since people will be paying for what they don't need anymore.

read the whole proposal. all in there.

the government can't win either.

[Minya's wife 24]

worth noting that if they ever get really caught up and efficient, the all-in-one payment may become MORE services than are currently needed, since the piece-meal procedures that exist came into being to keep people legal who kept falling out of status because of the government's slow progress. they made these other, intermediary steps, then got accused of dragging their feet to invent steps to collect additional fees.

now they'll roll it into one and in 10 years we'll see something proposed to move it back to the piece-meal approach since people will be paying for what they don't need anymore.

read the whole proposal. all in there.

the government can't win either.

In 10 years many if not all of us who are currently concerned w/ the fee increase, will hopefully will have forgotten what it means to deal w/ USCIS because our SO's will all be citizens!

[phila 0]

I'd like to think that we might be on this planet to do more than just serve ourselves. If there is a way to help others, to improve democracy, to reduce 'the hell' that we are curently going through, to be with our love, then we should.

How can you say- well the fees won't affect me, my fiance will be in before the raise?

I don't know who created this site, but you are benefitting from their outreach to help others. I don't think this site was created for ANY self-serving reasons!

Thank you TimsDaisy- not only am I going to write a letter to my seantor, but the 109 students I teach, and their families who are living through my process will write as well.

If they are condensing the fees that's one thing, but I believe there is much mor on the agenda. I have not read the document fully, but will do so this week.

[kengumbo 0]

But can we read it, get involved, and still gripe all day long on VisaJourney? Griping is a great pastime while we wait!

[apgk 0]

I think we they can bring down and guarantee that average processing time to 0.5 months (from 2.9 months) - I wont mind the fee hike.

The proposed USCIS fee increases have been mentioned here before (they aren't news, or shouldn't be, at this point) - and while a discussion about them is better off in another forum, I wanted to post the link and how to get to the proposal language here because there is valuable, enlightening data contained in the document about the processing of I-129Fs (data like the average processing times and the average time, in-hand, it actually takes to handle YOUR petition).

It would be great if this were pinned because I think it's worth everyone's time to read it. If, on the fee increase issue itself, you'd like to submit your comments, the document's first page tells you many ways to do so (from email to fax to hand couriered deliveries).

Here's how to find it:

Go to this site: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main

From now until April 2 (when the comment period closes), check the "Documents Open for Public Comment" box.

In the "Agency" drop-down menu, select "U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES" (type the letter "U" when you click on the box and you should go straight to it in the list, rather than scrolling)

In the "Document Type" drop-down menu, select "PROPOSED RULES"

Click "Submit."

As of right now, the only document returned is the one you want: USCIS-2006-0044-0001, "Adjustment of the Immigration and Naturalization Benefit Application and Petition Fee Schedule."

You can select to view it either in .pdf or in html format. I suggest .pdf format because it is far easier to read. You can even save a copy by clicking the little floppy disc icon in the Acrobat and saving a copy to your computer.

[phila 0]

If it meant that huge a reduction in wait time, I would gladly pay the fee as well!

[TimsDaisy 0]

not only am I going to write a letter to my seantor, but the 109 students I teach, and their families who are living through my process will write as well.

If they are condensing the fees that's one thing, but I believe there is much mor on the agenda. I have not read the document fully, but will do so this week.

Taking action is awesome! But make sure you check the government document about the most effective way to register your input (that's via any number of methods to rule-making body, not to your Senator or Member of Congress - though you're certainly free to let them know as well, since they too can make comment.

[rebex05 1]

FY 2008 would start in Oct of 2007. The federal fiscal year runs from Oct 1 to Sept 30.

We are currently in FY 2007 which ends on Sept. 30, 2007.

So if one applies for the AOS before this date do we pay the old rate then? Just curious...

[athena_ny 1]

I already filed for AOS, but if I'd waited I would have been a little irritated if I had to pay 905 for the AP as well - which I'm not going to need. Even if we'd had enough money to travel, my husband has enough of an overstay that readmission to the country wouldn't be likely. Of course I'd pay it to get his status fixed, but I can see it probably would be an issue for a lot of people.

Ok. Here goes:

[Proposed fees]

I-129F - $455

I-130 - $355

I-485 - $905

I-751 - $465

I-765 - $340

N-400 - $595

Nice!

Although, it says for FY 2008! I hope I read it correctly.

Where did you see these fees?

I copied this :

Furthermore, the rule

proposes to merge the fees for certain

applications so applicants will pay a

single fee rather than paying several fees

for related services.

You read correctly, it is one fee that covers more than one service. So for example, the I-485 the AOS, the proposed $905 fee will cover the Green Card, the Employment Authorization and the Advanced Parole. Currently those are 3 different forms w/ applicable fees that we have to fill out. Under the proposed increase, you pay once but all three services are included.

-P

worth noting that if they ever get really caught up and efficient, the all-in-one payment may become MORE services than are currently needed, since the piece-meal procedures that exist came into being to keep people legal who kept falling out of status because of the government's slow progress. they made these other, intermediary steps, then got accused of dragging their feet to invent steps to collect additional fees.

now they'll roll it into one and in 10 years we'll see something proposed to move it back to the piece-meal approach since people will be paying for what they don't need anymore.

read the whole proposal. all in there.

the government can't win either.

[DA BOMB 1]

For whatever it is worth, Obama read a bill in the Senate about two weeks ago that might put the brakes on this.

Read MIGHT as at this point it is just that - a bill.

So there's no set date the fees will increase as of yet right? Please dont make me read that funky document.

INsane increase in the Fees, wonder what the justification is?

The justification is written there in the document. That's why they issue PROPOSED rules and ask for comment. To show you the reason.

MRS BB: if you're happy going the wilful ignorance route, by all means, don't look up that document (which is written in plain, easy-to-understand language, with lovely charts, all to make sure that you John-and-Joan-Q-Publics have an understanding of the regulations which have A DIRECT BEARING ON YOUR LIVES).

p.s. whatever you do: if you have a problem or a concern over the proposed fee increase, by all means DO NOT read the proposal and for heaven's sake DON'T submit any comments or criticism. Then you'd actually be proactively working to better the process or at least be involved. It's FAR more effective just to sit on the boards all day and gripe to each other or express frustration than to get out there and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Well why dont you go picket or something? I HAVE done something about it which is the reason this thread was created because I mentioned the document and posted the link in another thread you goody two shoe !! So dont sit there labeling me as one who sits on this board all day with her thumb up her rear...should I take the time to run the 30 minutes up to Sac? We could have lunch over a healthy debate of who is actually trying to change the world. Get over yourself.

[Minya's wife 24]

I'd like to think that we might be on this planet to do more than just serve ourselves. If there is a way to help others, to improve democracy, to reduce 'the hell' that we are curently going through, to be with our love, then we should.

How can you say- well the fees won't affect me, my fiance will be in before the raise?

Did you mean this comment to me? I said no such thing. My comment was a little tongue-in-cheek, and meant to convey the message that in 10 years many things can change. (Notice, I said in 10 years many of our SO's will be "citizens" to emphasize exactly that.....10 years is a long time away.)

I am concerned about the fee increase, and am composing a comment letter to send through the "comment" mechanism listed on the govt. site. My fiance will probably NOT be "in before the raise" as I'm still waiting for NOA2 and my service center is the "slower" CSC. So by the time I'm done with the process we will be perilously close to that Oct 1 date when these proposed new fees will take effect.

And...even if this situation did not directly affect me, I would still be composing a comment, because such an increase adversely affects those that have a hard time paying, only perpetuating another problem the government has, namely the pervasive situation of "illegal immigration." I know this is a completely different issue, but I haven't seen an explanation offered as to the correlation between the increased fees and the vast amount of people living here without documentation. I'm curious to see what the govt's take is on this issue. Has anyone else thought about this?

-P

[DA BOMB 1]

I'd like to think that we might be on this planet to do more than just serve ourselves. If there is a way to help others, to improve democracy, to reduce 'the hell' that we are curently going through, to be with our love, then we should.

How can you say- well the fees won't affect me, my fiance will be in before the raise?

Did you mean this comment to me? I said no such thing. My comment was a little tongue-in-cheek, and meant to convey the message that in 10 years many things can change. (Notice, I said in 10 years many of our SO's will be "citizens" to emphasize exactly that.....10 years is a long time away.)

I am concerned about the fee increase, and am composing a comment letter to send through the "comment" mechanism listed on the govt. site. My fiance will probably NOT be "in before the raise" as I'm still waiting for NOA2 and my service center is the "slower" CSC. So by the time I'm done with the process we will be perilously close to that Oct 1 date when these proposed new fees will take effect.

And...even if this situation did not directly affect me, I would still be composing a comment, because such an increase adversely affects those that have a hard time paying, only perpetuating another problem the government has, namely the pervasive situation of "illegal immigration." I know this is a completely different issue, but I haven't seen an explanation offered as to the correlation between the increased fees and the vast amount of people living here without documentation. I'm curious to see what the govt's take is on this issue. Has anyone else thought about this?

-P

Many of us will either just avoid the increase or be caught right in the middle when it happens. Dont get me wrong it IS a good thing as I mentioned LONG ago - it will unfortunately weed out those who can not afford the petition but lets not forget there will still be waivers to avoid the fees and those who pay will pick up the cost for other. I still have to read that section of the proposal. I think its getting more difficult to enter the country illegally but for those living here without documentation the proposal states that it decreases the time amount of time people wander around on expired visa's and I-94s as they merge into AOS. There's stories of people being in the country illegally for many many years - I personally dont think the increase affects them until they want a social security number - then they will quickly learn as they're headed back to their country how swift the government has become due to these shrinking backlogs.

[Caladan 19]

My (wholly uninformed gut) is saying that the fee increases, as it is so large (for the I-129F, it's more than the increases in the previous 20 years combined), are nothing more than a barrier mechanism. A way to keep 6-11 million new recipients of amnesty from bringing over spouses and/or naturalizing too quickly.

Because otherwise I see no reason for such a large jump. Yes, it would improve efficiency, but we're not talking a 5% increase. Such a large jump to me suggests that they're expecting a need to expand services very quickly.

[DA BOMB 1]

Visas are issued by the Department of State. DOS doesn't oversee USCIS. Those fee structures are separate (as is the funding mechanism for the DOS side of things). Visas costs wouldn't be factored into a discussion of the USCIS procedures because USCIS only hands the petitions, not the later K1/K3, etc, etc, themselves.

I dont believe that to be true as the cost for inadmissability form I-601 goes up to $545. Many of those are processed at the embassy.

[athena_ny 1]

If they're married to a USC, they don't get sent back to their country (as of now - could change for future applicants, as always but in the present time...).

I'd like to think that we might be on this planet to do more than just serve ourselves. If there is a way to help others, to improve democracy, to reduce 'the hell' that we are curently going through, to be with our love, then we should.

How can you say- well the fees won't affect me, my fiance will be in before the raise?

Did you mean this comment to me? I said no such thing. My comment was a little tongue-in-cheek, and meant to convey the message that in 10 years many things can change. (Notice, I said in 10 years many of our SO's will be "citizens" to emphasize exactly that.....10 years is a long time away.)

I am concerned about the fee increase, and am composing a comment letter to send through the "comment" mechanism listed on the govt. site. My fiance will probably NOT be "in before the raise" as I'm still waiting for NOA2 and my service center is the "slower" CSC. So by the time I'm done with the process we will be perilously close to that Oct 1 date when these proposed new fees will take effect.

And...even if this situation did not directly affect me, I would still be composing a comment, because such an increase adversely affects those that have a hard time paying, only perpetuating another problem the government has, namely the pervasive situation of "illegal immigration." I know this is a completely different issue, but I haven't seen an explanation offered as to the correlation between the increased fees and the vast amount of people living here without documentation. I'm curious to see what the govt's take is on this issue. Has anyone else thought about this?

-P

Many of us will either just avoid the increase or be caught right in the middle when it happens. Dont get me wrong it IS a good thing as I mentioned LONG ago - it will unfortunately weed out those who can not afford the petition but lets not forget there will still be waivers to avoid the fees and those who pay will pick up the cost for other. I still have to read that section of the proposal. I think its getting more difficult to enter the country illegally but for those living here without documentation the proposal states that it decreases the time amount of time people wander around on expired visa's and I-94s as they merge into AOS. There's stories of people being in the country illegally for many many years - I personally dont think the increase affects them until they want a social security number - then they will quickly learn as they're headed back to their country how swift the government has become due to these shrinking backlogs.