USCIS Sets Final Fee Schedule to Build an Immigration Service for the 21st Century

[tom&tata 2]

I 751 - Remove conditions on your Permanent Resident status - $ 545 (filing + biometric)

...I better start saving money right now...

Wow, these things ain't cheap.

The funny thing is, the filing of this petition is not optional.

Cough up $545 or lose your status.

Yeah - that's pretty obscene IMO. If you're struggling to keep above the poverty line (as the wife and I were when we first got married) - that's serious money. What is it at the moment - $275?

Think so. We don't have a choice but to pay (somewhere in Nov) but we seriously want to see the improvement in speed for doubling the fee.

Yeah right. Good one. LOL

One can hope

[mawilson 2,133]

OH #######!!!!! I miss being able to file at the old rate for removal of conditions by just a few days.....Kez

If it's just a few days, why don't you just mail it in a few days earlier?

I don't think they'll take it. Otherwise, people could (and perceivably would) start filing sooner. USCIS gives you a 90 day window within which you are required to file. They are typically not very flexible.

Right - but is your application considered submitted on the date it was received

or the date it was postmarked by USPS?

I imagine it's the postmark that counts, as it is with the IRS and other government

agencies.

Otherwise, if the fee increase takes effect July 30, and you post your application

July 27, how would you know which fee to pay?

[rclouse 0]

Whew! Just got in under the wire. Aicha had her biometrics for I-751 yesterday.

Didn't they say last time they raised fees it was to improve service? I haven't noticed any improved service....

[GaryC 7]

OH #######!!!!! I miss being able to file at the old rate for removal of conditions by just a few days.....Kez

If it's just a few days, why don't you just mail it in a few days earlier?

I don't think they'll take it. Otherwise, people could (and perceivably would) start filing sooner. USCIS gives you a 90 day window within which you are required to file. They are typically not very flexible.

Right - but is your application considered submitted on the date it was received

or the date it was postmarked by USPS?

I imagine it's the postmark that counts, as it is with the IRS and other government

agencies.

Otherwise, if the fee increase takes effect July 30, and you post your application

July 27, how would you know which fee to pay?

They go by the postmark.

The new fee structure is effective on July 30, 2007, and is posted at www.uscis.gov. Applications or petitions postmarked or otherwise filed on or after that date must include the new fee.

If your getting close I would take it to the post office and insist that they postmark it right there.

[mawilson 2,133]

Whew! Just got in under the wire. Aicha had her biometrics for I-751 yesterday.

Didn't they say last time they raised fees it was to improve service? I haven't noticed any improved service....

You haven't? I think they have improved tremendously.

[mawilson 2,133]

The new fee structure is effective on July 30, 2007, and is posted at www.uscis.gov. Applications or petitions postmarked or otherwise filed on or after that date must include the new fee.

If your getting close I would take it to the post office and insist that they postmark it right there.

If the difference is only a couple of days, I would postmark it before the cut-off date and

hope it arrives within the 90-day window.

[eric&gen 0]

N 400 is now going to $675 ####### not fair this really sucks used to be $300 something. We better start saving now lol.

[mawilson 2,133]

N 400 is now going to $675 ####### not fair this really sucks used to be $300 something. We better start saving now lol.

You can always sell your child into slavery.

Not an option for us -- no children.

[Anna C. 4]

You can always sell your child into slavery.

Not an option for us -- no children.

Hm, a reason to think about having children... Maybe we can enslave the cat to work as exterminator, she really likes to eat spiders on the pattio.... Hm new business model... And completely organic!

Edited May 30, 2007 by Anna C.

[Robor007 0]

Ya know these fee increases really suck. My wife is a K-3 so that means no workie until EAD. We should be able to get our AOS/EAD submitted before the increases but we'll still be stuck with the increased fees later for removing conditions and US citizenship (if we even bother). On top of that we've got to get her a car and teach her how to drive it before she can get a job and start earning an income.

I feel really bad for those just behind us who are going to have to pay full price for their I-129/I-130, I-485, etc. They'll be paying the increased fees but they're not going to see any improvement in service. That's months if not years down the road.

[mawilson 2,133]

You can always sell your child into slavery.

Not an option for us -- no children.

Hm, a reason to think about having children... Maybe we can enslave the cat to work as exterminator, she really likes to eat spiders on the pattio.... Hm new business model... And completely organic!

You could always enslave a bunch of hamsters and use them to generate energy for your home

without shelling out a dollar from your wallet..... oh wait, the little bastards need food, don't they?

[Yodrak 7]

rclouse,

I agree with mawilson on this - you must not have been paying much attention.

Yodrak

.....

Didn't they say last time they raised fees it was to improve service? I haven't noticed any improved service....

You haven't? I think they have improved tremendously.

[eric&gen 0]

N 400 is now going to $675 ####### not fair this really sucks used to be $300 something. We better start saving now lol.

You can always sell your child into slavery.

Not an option for us -- no children.

Sorry but im not that hard up for money lol.

[BJZags 17]

On top of that we've got to get her a car and teach her how to drive it before she can get a job and start earning an income.

Hmm . . . Some would say that common sense requires her to have a job that requires her to need a car before you plunk money into a car/insurance/driving lessons, etc. etc. We are in largely the same situation, but there is no way we can afford a second car until there is additional cash coming in for all the extra fees this would entail. My parents for decades had only one car, and they managed to get by.

[Yodrak 7]

mawilson,

Personal anecdote: My wife mailed her application for adjustment of status - it was postmarked - April 29, 2004, the day before the last fee increase for AOS went into effect. The submission was received by the SC on April 30, and the NOA1 (which was not a Receipt Notice!) - had a Receipt Date of May 3.

The submission was returned for incorrect fee, and the rejection notice attached to the returned submission stated that the submission could be resubmitted if we could demonstrate that a mistake had been made. The rejection notice also stated, very clearly, that submissions postmarked April 30 or later required the new, higher fee. I highlighted that line when my wife resubmitted. I also highlighted the April 29 postmark on the original mailing envelope (it had been sent back with the returned submission), and the April 29 date on the USPS Delivery Confirmation Receipt.

The submission was returned again for incorrect fee, with a fresh copy of the same notice stating that submissions postmarked April 30 or later required a new fee, and with the evidence that we had submitted showing a highlighted postmark of April 29.

Appealed on more time before giving up and paying the extra money.

My conclusion - while discussion of what counts on VJ can be fun and interesting, what counts is what the clerk who opens the submission package at the SC says counts.

Yodrak

OH #######!!!!! I miss being able to file at the old rate for removal of conditions by just a few days.....Kez

If it's just a few days, why don't you just mail it in a few days earlier?

I don't think they'll take it. Otherwise, people could (and perceivably would) start filing sooner. USCIS gives you a 90 day window within which you are required to file. They are typically not very flexible.

Right - but is your application considered submitted on the date it was received

or the date it was postmarked by USPS?

I imagine it's the postmark that counts, as it is with the IRS and other government

agencies.

Otherwise, if the fee increase takes effect July 30, and you post your application

July 27, how would you know which fee to pay?