When will the AOS fee increase???

[athena_ny 1]

OMG!!!! Those numbers are outrageuos!!!!! I am filing this week and glad that I do that!!!!

My husband being here with me is priceless...

[John & Annie 0]

OMG!!!! Those numbers are outrageuos!!!!! I am filing this week and glad that I do that!!!!

My husband being here with me is priceless...

Exactly, Having Annie here is worth everything.

Besides, the increase in fees should in theory reduce the causal fraud cases. Which in turn should make it easier for the real cases to get through.

The serious fraud rings will continue unabated by this.

In hindsight, I think I would rather pay the increased fees, to have less hassle in filing EAD and AP it would be worth it.

Edited April 16, 2007 by John & Annie

[florida_guy07 0]

OMG!!!! Those numbers are outrageuos!!!!! I am filing this week and glad that I do that!!!!

My husband being here with me is priceless...

Exactly, Having Annie here is worth everything.

Besides, the increase in fees should in theory reduce the causal fraud cases. Which in turn should make it easier for the real cases to get through.

The serious fraud rings will continue unabated by this.

In hindsight, I think I would rather pay the increased fees, to have less hassle in filing EAD and AP it would be worth it.

The increase has nothing to do with fraud... these people pay thousands and thousands of dollars to USCs to marry them, do you think that a 100 bucks increase will stop them ? No. The increase has to do with the price it actually costs to process all the paperwork and if you don't cover it, you know who does ? Tax payers.. and no offense, but I don't want to pay for anyone's wife/husband to come to America.

[bora bora 1]

florida_guy is right. I know people who have paid/received 10k or more to marry for papers.

We're filing the first of May (if all goes right) for my soon-to-be husband's AOS and EAD. Even if the potential increase in fee wasn't around the corner, he wants to work.

I feel bad for those couples who won't be filing until June or so.

[Dr_LHA 3]

The increase has to do with the price it actually costs to process all the paperwork and if you don't cover it, you know who does ? Tax payers.. and no offense, but I don't want to pay for anyone's wife/husband to come to America.

Wrong florida_guy. Tax payers do not pay for USCIS processing. They are entirely run from the filing fees.

Edited April 16, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[Singers 0]

I think he meant that if we don't pay up then tax payers would eventually have to in order cover the cost to keep the system running and not that tax payers pay for it now.

[florida_guy07 0]

The increase has to do with the price it actually costs to process all the paperwork and if you don't cover it, you know who does ? Tax payers.. and no offense, but I don't want to pay for anyone's wife/husband to come to America.

Wrong florida_guy. Tax payers do not pay for USCIS processing. They are entirely run from the filing fees.

I am sure you have read the press release from the USCIS regarding fees increase...

It says that the cost to process is higher than what they are charging right now. Who do you think pays the difference between what they charge and what we pay ? The gov't. Who gives money to the gov't ? We do.

Thank you....

I think he meant that if we don't pay up then tax payers would eventually have to in order cover the cost to keep the system running and not that tax payers pay for it now.

Exactly. Thank you.

[athena_ny 1]

The increase has to do with the price it actually costs to process all the paperwork and if you don't cover it, you know who does ? Tax payers.. and no offense, but I don't want to pay for anyone's wife/husband to come to America.

Wrong florida_guy. Tax payers do not pay for USCIS processing. They are entirely run from the filing fees.

And I don't agree with whoever said that tax payers would eventually have to pick up the tab. The exact reason it is so expensive and is becoming more expensive is so tax payers don't have to pick it up - they'll keep raising the fees. If a small amt is paid from taxes ... so be it - I'd rather have it go toward immigration than some other things our taxes go toward.

If it's that important to you, you WILL find a way to pay it - we borrowed from my sister is law so we could get it filed asap, and the money from our wedding is gone because of the fees. Do I care? Not really, keeping him here is what is most important to me.

Doesn't some of the money go to helping refugees stay in the country, etc? I thought I read that somewhere. That, I don't mind contributing toward.

Edited April 16, 2007 by meow mix

[Robert and Tanya 0]

I know that it's priceless to have your loved ones with you and I am sure my husband would pay and do anything to keep me here. But what if people can't afford those outrageous prices? What if it's gonna take them more than 3-4 years to get all money together? I know couple situations like that. SO I just feel sorry for people who don't have such money.

[Nancy2015 2]

Man, glad I filed all my ####### already. Thats gonna hurt a lot if the prices go up that much. I spent around $1200 for AOS and EAD, I cant imagine spending anymore! Hehe

Yeah, but you still have to lift conditions....that's going up too. Citizenship too, which is a few years down the road. It's going up too.

The projected filing fees for selected forms are as follows (current filing fees are in parentheses):

• I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: $320 ($190)

• I-130, Petition for an Alien Relative: $355 ($190)

• I-131, Application for Travel Document: $305 ($170)

• I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker: $475 ($195)

• I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $905 ($325) if 14 years or older; $805 ($325) if under 14 years.

• Fingerprint/Biometric Fee: $80 ($70)

• I-539, Application to Change or Extend Nonimmigrant Status: $300 ($200)

• I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions of Residence: $465 ($205)

• I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: $340 ($180)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought the fee for I-485 of $905 already included the fees for I-765, biometrics, and AP.

It does. The I-751 is for lifting conditions on the conditional 2 year green card. That's not included with the AOS "standard package".

I'm afraid, I-485 fee doesn't include EAD and AP. Look:

I-131, Application for Travel Document: $305 ($170)

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $905 ($325) if 14 years or older; $805 ($325) if under 14 years.

Fingerprint/Biometric Fee: $80 ($70)

I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: $340 ($180)

So, I-485 + I-765 + I-131 + biometrics comes up to $1,630.

[athena_ny 1]

I know that it's priceless to have your loved ones with you and I am sure my husband would pay and do anything to keep me here. But what if people can't afford those outrageous prices? What if it's gonna take them more than 3-4 years to get all money together? I know couple situations like that. SO I just feel sorry for people who don't have such money.

If people can't afford those prices, they wait. They can try for a fee waiver, but those are not easy to get (and I've read they are generally reserved for refugees without a penny in their pockets BUT I know JayJay on here got one). It sucks, but it's the system.

Man, glad I filed all my ####### already. Thats gonna hurt a lot if the prices go up that much. I spent around $1200 for AOS and EAD, I cant imagine spending anymore! Hehe

Yeah, but you still have to lift conditions....that's going up too. Citizenship too, which is a few years down the road. It's going up too.

The projected filing fees for selected forms are as follows (current filing fees are in parentheses):

• I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker: $320 ($190)

• I-130, Petition for an Alien Relative: $355 ($190)

• I-131, Application for Travel Document: $305 ($170)

• I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker: $475 ($195)

• I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $905 ($325) if 14 years or older; $805 ($325) if under 14 years.

• Fingerprint/Biometric Fee: $80 ($70)

• I-539, Application to Change or Extend Nonimmigrant Status: $300 ($200)

• I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions of Residence: $465 ($205)

• I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: $340 ($180)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought the fee for I-485 of $905 already included the fees for I-765, biometrics, and AP.

It does. The I-751 is for lifting conditions on the conditional 2 year green card. That's not included with the AOS "standard package".

I'm afraid, I-485 fee doesn't include EAD and AP. Look:

I-131, Application for Travel Document: $305 ($170)

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $905 ($325) if 14 years or older; $805 ($325) if under 14 years.

Fingerprint/Biometric Fee: $80 ($70)

I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: $340 ($180)

So, I-485 + I-765 + I-131 + biometrics comes up to $1,630.

Hmm. You're right. Weird that we keep hearing they're included then.

Makes me really glad we already filed

[florida_guy07 0]

The increase has to do with the price it actually costs to process all the paperwork and if you don't cover it, you know who does ? Tax payers.. and no offense, but I don't want to pay for anyone's wife/husband to come to America.

Wrong florida_guy. Tax payers do not pay for USCIS processing. They are entirely run from the filing fees.

And I don't agree with whoever said that tax payers would eventually have to pick up the tab. The exact reason it is so expensive and is becoming more expensive is so tax payers don't have to pick it up - they'll keep raising the fees. If a small amt is paid from taxes ... so be it - I'd rather have it go toward immigration than some other things our taxes go toward.

If it's that important to you, you WILL find a way to pay it - we borrowed from my sister is law so we could get it filed asap, and the money from our wedding is gone because of the fees. Do I care? Not really, keeping him here is what is most important to me.

Doesn't some of the money go to helping refugees stay in the country, etc? I thought I read that somewhere. That, I don't mind contributing toward.

The USCIS said themselves that the cost of processing these applications is higher than what they are currently charging and that's why fees are increasing. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but obviously if the cost is higher than what they are collecting SOMEONE SOMEWHERE has to come up with the difference and as with any other gov't agency, the USCIS/DHS runs on tax money (on top of any money collected as fees), so indirectly you and I are paying for the difference between the actual cost X the amount collected. That's just simple math.

I would also rather have it go towards immigration reforms and faster processing times, but unfortunately we don't get to choose where they are putting OUR money...

In my case, we paid $585 (I-130+I-485+Biometrics) - if it costs them - let's say - $700 to process my wife's AOS, who do you think is picking up the difference ?? Bush ?? I dont see him donating any money to the USCIS.

And if anyone doesn't have money to pay for it, they need to check the Fee Waiver Program. I don't how easy/hard it is to get it, but a friend of my wife got it and it was the first time I had heard about it.

I'm afraid, I-485 fee doesn't include EAD and AP. Look:

I-131, Application for Travel Document: $305 ($170)

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $905 ($325) if 14 years or older; $805 ($325) if under 14 years.

Fingerprint/Biometric Fee: $80 ($70)

I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: $340 ($180)

So, I-485 + I-765 + I-131 + biometrics comes up to $1,630.

I've asked so many times and everyone has told me that the I-485 fee would include I-765 and AP, that's why I was saying I didn't think it was THAT expensive.

Edited April 17, 2007 by florida_guy07

[athena_ny 1]

The increase has to do with the price it actually costs to process all the paperwork and if you don't cover it, you know who does ? Tax payers.. and no offense, but I don't want to pay for anyone's wife/husband to come to America.

Wrong florida_guy. Tax payers do not pay for USCIS processing. They are entirely run from the filing fees.

And I don't agree with whoever said that tax payers would eventually have to pick up the tab. The exact reason it is so expensive and is becoming more expensive is so tax payers don't have to pick it up - they'll keep raising the fees. If a small amt is paid from taxes ... so be it - I'd rather have it go toward immigration than some other things our taxes go toward.

If it's that important to you, you WILL find a way to pay it - we borrowed from my sister is law so we could get it filed asap, and the money from our wedding is gone because of the fees. Do I care? Not really, keeping him here is what is most important to me.

Doesn't some of the money go to helping refugees stay in the country, etc? I thought I read that somewhere. That, I don't mind contributing toward.

The USCIS said themselves that the cost of processing these applications is higher than what they are currently charging and that's why fees are increasing. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but obviously if the cost is higher than what they are collecting SOMEONE SOMEWHERE has to come up with the difference and as with any other gov't agency, the USCIS/DHS runs on tax money (on top of any money collected as fees), so indirectly you and I are paying for the difference between the actual cost X the amount collected. That's just simple math.

I would also rather have it go towards immigration reforms and faster processing times, but unfortunately we don't get to choose where they are putting OUR money...

In my case, we paid $585 (I-130+I-485+Biometrics) - if it costs them - let's say - $700 to process my wife's AOS, who do you think is picking up the difference ?? Bush ?? I dont see him donating any money to the USCIS.

And if anyone doesn't have money to pay for it, they need to check the Fee Waiver Program.

I'm afraid, I-485 fee doesn't include EAD and AP. Look:

I-131, Application for Travel Document: $305 ($170)

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $905 ($325) if 14 years or older; $805 ($325) if under 14 years.

Fingerprint/Biometric Fee: $80 ($70)

I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: $340 ($180)

So, I-485 + I-765 + I-131 + biometrics comes up to $1,630.

I've asked so many times and everyone has told me that the I-485 fee would include I-765 and AP, that's why I was saying I didn't think it was THAT expensive.

And, like I said, if some amount is going to the difference, I'd rather have it go toward immigration expenses than some of the other wasteful expenses (I won't get into particulars, I'm not here for politics) our government spends our money on. Either way, the USC and their spouse will bear the brunt of the costs, and we'll never see as much money going toward immigration as goes toward health care (and look at the sad state of that) or the war in Iraq.

Might do the government good to put more money toward immigration if just to clean up the department, and the misinformation line.

It'll always be in their benefit to say it costs more than we're paying too - gives them a good reason (or excuse, depends on how you look at it) to continue to raise fees.

[GabachaYucateca 0]

So when ARE these fee increases supposed to go into effect?

[florida_guy07 0]

The increase has to do with the price it actually costs to process all the paperwork and if you don't cover it, you know who does ? Tax payers.. and no offense, but I don't want to pay for anyone's wife/husband to come to America.

Wrong florida_guy. Tax payers do not pay for USCIS processing. They are entirely run from the filing fees.

And I don't agree with whoever said that tax payers would eventually have to pick up the tab. The exact reason it is so expensive and is becoming more expensive is so tax payers don't have to pick it up - they'll keep raising the fees. If a small amt is paid from taxes ... so be it - I'd rather have it go toward immigration than some other things our taxes go toward.

If it's that important to you, you WILL find a way to pay it - we borrowed from my sister is law so we could get it filed asap, and the money from our wedding is gone because of the fees. Do I care? Not really, keeping him here is what is most important to me.

Doesn't some of the money go to helping refugees stay in the country, etc? I thought I read that somewhere. That, I don't mind contributing toward.

The USCIS said themselves that the cost of processing these applications is higher than what they are currently charging and that's why fees are increasing. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but obviously if the cost is higher than what they are collecting SOMEONE SOMEWHERE has to come up with the difference and as with any other gov't agency, the USCIS/DHS runs on tax money (on top of any money collected as fees), so indirectly you and I are paying for the difference between the actual cost X the amount collected. That's just simple math.

I would also rather have it go towards immigration reforms and faster processing times, but unfortunately we don't get to choose where they are putting OUR money...

In my case, we paid $585 (I-130+I-485+Biometrics) - if it costs them - let's say - $700 to process my wife's AOS, who do you think is picking up the difference ?? Bush ?? I dont see him donating any money to the USCIS.

And if anyone doesn't have money to pay for it, they need to check the Fee Waiver Program.

I'm afraid, I-485 fee doesn't include EAD and AP. Look:

I-131, Application for Travel Document: $305 ($170)

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $905 ($325) if 14 years or older; $805 ($325) if under 14 years.

Fingerprint/Biometric Fee: $80 ($70)

I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: $340 ($180)

So, I-485 + I-765 + I-131 + biometrics comes up to $1,630.

I've asked so many times and everyone has told me that the I-485 fee would include I-765 and AP, that's why I was saying I didn't think it was THAT expensive.

And, like I said, if some amount is going to the difference, I'd rather have it go toward immigration expenses than some of the other wasteful expenses (I won't get into particulars, I'm not here for politics) our government spends our money on. Either way, the USC and their spouse will bear the brunt of the costs, and we'll never see as much money going toward immigration as goes toward health care (and look at the sad state of that) or the war in Iraq.

Might do the government good to put more money toward immigration if just to clean up the department, and the misinformation line.

It'll always be in their benefit to say it costs more than we're paying too - gives them a good reason (or excuse, depends on how you look at it) to continue to raise fees.

I agree with everything you said... I would love to see OUR money that we worked so hard for put where it is interesting, beneficial, and that enhances our well-being as a nation, I am tired of paying taxes (!!!!!!) and not seeing anything besides a stupid pointless war....

Sorry, I just paid my taxes today and let me tell you, I am angry !!