Why so many fees?

[jacobson00 5]

I am surprised by the many fees one has to pay. First there is the  I-130,, then the Affidavit fee and again again applicant fees.  What do people do if they can't pay all that?

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

You can ask for a fee waiver, or wait to save up for any upcoming fees.

[jacobson00 5]

6 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

You can ask for a fee waiver, or wait to save up for any upcoming fees.

wait? don't they always raise the fees. I just don't understand the additional (applicant) fee once you paid for the i130

[Cheezees 1,514]

Because USCIS is fee-based. Our fees are their source of funding and they do not receive funding otherwise. 

[Unlockable 7,314]

Like Cheezes said it is their source of income. The immigration organization recieves millions of applications and are still under resourced. The workers handling your case has to get paid somehow.

 

If you can't afford it then save up as much as possible or ask to borrow.

Edited January 27, 2017 by NuestraUnion

[NikLR 13,227]

30 minutes ago, jacobson00 said:

wait? don't they always raise the fees. I just don't understand the additional (applicant) fee once you paid for the i130

No fees have only been raised once each since I started my journey in 2012.  The USCIS fees have been raised once and the NVC fees have been raised once. 

There are two different government departments that deal with immigrant visas. The first is the USCIS where petitions go.  It is part of the Department of Homeland Security and is completely self funded.  The USC or LPR petitions the US government to allow their family member to apply for an immigrant visa.  Then the case goes to the Department of State where the foreign family member can apply for a visa.  The petitioner must also provide proof that the immigrant will not become a public charge and use means tested benefits. The embassies and consulates around the world are still part of the DOS.

 

In essence, doing paperwork costs time, money, and people.  The people looking at your paperwork need to be paid, the lights and power kept on, the ink, compter software etc... all costs money so you pay for that.  Thats where your fees go.  

 

If they were all under one roof, yes one fee would make sense, but theyre not.  Two different government departments that collaborate to get you a result.  Pretty rare in the US government honestly. 

Edited January 27, 2017 by NikLR