USCIS proposes increasing application fees by 21% or more

[Daisy.Chain 317]

On 11/11/2019 at 1:10 PM, geowrian said:

That's why have such large backlogs in the first place, which is the real issue...not so much their ability to handle the current processing load.

They need some qualified temp workers until the backlog is processed.

[bigjailerman 318]

19 hours ago, ultrasoul said:

The pricing increase is not absurd if you consider the current political climate on reducing legal immigration volume.

 

There have already been bills voted on but failed to pass in Congress from eliminating the OPT EAD program to reducing immigration volume by eliminating parent and sibling sponsorship by US citizens and sponsorship of children above 18 by PR/ US citizens.

 

To sidestep Congressional inaction, the easiest way is to effect changes in government departments like the USCIS and DOS make immigration more expensive and more difficult. Public charge rule already now in effect for all new USCIS filings effective today Feb 24- all future adjustment of status candidates must file an additional 13 pages on full disclosure of their financial assets etc and more importantly gives USCIS officers ability to deny green card applications if they think you are likely to become a public charge in the future (subjective not an objective interpretation).

 

Increase of fees to the point of absurdity is definitely another very effective means to price immigration out of those who cannot afford it.

 

The more important question to ask is what other measures will happen from 2020 to 2024 given a re-election of the current regime is going to be more than likely.

 

 

and that is exactly what they are shooting for.. to price out the poor immigrants

[sl1pstream 551]

On 2/15/2020 at 10:30 PM, nykolos said:

Love is priceless, as is entry into the United States.

 

That sort of depends on which country you're coming from.

 

If they go up too high I might think twice about giving up my affordable healthcare and minimum of 4 weeks of PTO a year. 😛

 

Moving the other way wouldn't be terrible either.

[geowrian 22,337]

8 hours ago, Daisy.Chain said:

They need some qualified temp workers until the backlog is processed.

"Qualified" + "temp" IOs are not something that really go together well. There's a considerable lead/training time involved, and even then we're talking just being able to handle simple cases.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,093]

6 hours ago, geowrian said:

"Qualified" + "temp" IOs are not something that really go together well. There's a considerable lead/training time involved, and even then we're talking just being able to handle simple cases.

True, but it seems like there's more than enough backlog to keep any expanded staff busy for quite a while.

Until every form without a quota is being processed as it comes in (with no waiting for weeks at a lockbox, either), they can do better.

[geowrian 22,337]

54 minutes ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

Until every form without a quota is being processed as it comes in (with no waiting for weeks at a lockbox, either), they can do better.

No doubt there.

[nykolos 711]

On 2/24/2020 at 8:42 AM, ultrasoul said:

Increase of fees to the point of absurdity is definitely another very effective means to price immigration out of those who cannot afford it.

 

 

OR it can be a means of balancing the USCIS budget, sounds a lot more logical than intentionally pricing low income earners out of filing, doesn't it?

As for affordability, if the petitioner or sponsor can not afford the application fee, what does that say about their ability to support the people they bring here?

 

 

Edited February 29, 2020 by nykolos

[nykolos 711]

On 2/24/2020 at 8:42 AM, ultrasoul said:

The more important question to ask is what other measures will happen from 2020 to 2024 given a re-election of the current regime is going to be more than likely.

 

The USA is not a regime, totalitarianism or authoritarianism does not exist here, if it did you wouldn't be petitioning for your parents to come here..

 

What does exist here is "Democracy"and "Liberty", the very Liberty that allows all of us the "opportunity" to immigrate to one of the greatest countries in the world. 

[NoMansLand2020 298]

Sure hope there are no increases. I'm sponsoring my fiance and her two children. 

[Jerry G 1]

Are you out of your minds?

[ultrasoul 51]

On 2/29/2020 at 2:44 AM, nykolos said:

 

OR it can be a means of balancing the USCIS budget, sounds a lot more logical than intentionally pricing low income earners out of filing, doesn't it?

As for affordability, if the petitioner or sponsor can not afford the application fee, what does that say about their ability to support the people they bring here?

It is not about "balancing" of USCIS budgets. USCIS fees has accounted for more than 95% of the USCIS budget for the past few decades. The government is pretty clear that the latest increase of fees is aimed to raise $200 million for ICE enforcement which historically has never been paid for by USCIS fees.

 

On 2/29/2020 at 2:46 AM, nykolos said:

The USA is not a regime, totalitarianism or authoritarianism does not exist here, if it did you wouldn't be petitioning for your parents to come here..

 

What does exist here is "Democracy"and "Liberty", the very Liberty that allows all of us the "opportunity" to immigrate to one of the greatest countries in the world. 

The literal definition of the word "regime" refers to government, or a a system or planned way of doing things, especially one imposed from above. You are bringing your politics into this discussion by throwing in the words "totalitarianism" and "authoritarianism" when no one here is saying that. Neither is anyone denying that the US is one of the greatest countries in the world whose foundation (albeit imperfect in many ways in the past) is based on being a nation of immigrants. You are missing the the point that one of the current administration's explicit goals is to reduce levels of both illegal and legal immigration. It's ironic that you partake in this nation's ideals to petition your fiancee yet fail to acknowledge the reality in the US immigration changes that have taken place, with more to come in the next 4 more years that will radically reshape this great nation's embodiment of being the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let's no kid ourselves- the current administration's track record on legal immigration reduction is crystal clear: executive support of RAISE, Secure and Succeed Acts that would severely lower legal immigration on the basis of a so called merit based system that is not even comparable to Canada/ Australia, pricing out immigration for current (doubling naturalization fees to $1,170) and future immigration (I-485 adjustment of status fee ~$1,000 increase to $2,750), justifying USCIS fee increases by transferring it out USCIS and into ICE for illegal enforcement instead of increasing USCIS quality and reducing processing times), proposed elimination of all existing family preference petitions except for spouses and children under 18 etc etc. 

 

On 2/29/2020 at 12:07 PM, Solaris81 said:

Sure hope there are no increases. I'm sponsoring my fiance and her two children. 

If history is of any indication, immigration fees will always happen and increases will always be higher than the inflation rate. The rule of thumb is to best submit any immigration benefit (petition/ naturalization) as soon as possible.

Edited March 2, 2020 by ultrasoul

[nykolos 711]

12 hours ago, ultrasoul said:

It is not about "balancing" of USCIS budgets. USCIS fees has accounted for more than 95% of the USCIS budget for the past few decades. The government is pretty clear that the latest increase of fees is aimed to raise $200 million for ICE enforcement which historically has never been paid for by USCIS fees.

 

I simply provided a more logical example than the way you gave earlier..  If the increase is aimed at $200 million for ICE, I good with that too    

 

Those who come to the States and don't respect our laws, have no business being here IMO.

 

 

[nykolos 711]

 

 

12 hours ago, ultrasoul said:

The literal definition of the word "regime" refers to government, or a a system or planned way of doing things, "   You are bringing your politics into this discussion

The use of the word "Regime" in modern day implies authoritarianism or dictatorship,  your use of the word implied just that and you know it.   You can make your point without inflammatory labeling.

 

 

[ultrasoul 51]

12 hours ago, nykolos said:

I simply provided a more logical example than the way you gave earlier..  If the increase is aimed at $200 million for ICE, I good with that too    

 

Those who come to the States and don't respect our laws, have no business being here IMO.

Your example about the fee increases to balance USCIS' operating budget was not logical- it was plain and simply incorrect. The federal register publication clearly states the purpose was to fulfill the administration's budget transfer for fiscal 2020 $200 million in USCIS fee income be transferred to ICE, a separate agency that has nothing to do with USCIS case processing.

 

Most folks on Visajourney would definitively agree that ICE enforcement is very much needed and immigration laws are no different from any other law and needs to be vigorously enforced. However, there seems to be a confusion between immigration law enforcement and funding- these are 2 distinct issues.

 

The USCIS manual (Chapter 1, Section B) clearly states that the purpose of USCIS processing fees is to "fund the cost of fairly and efficiently adjudicating immigration benefit requests, including those provided without charge to refugee, asylum, and certain other applicants".

 

You may be fine with USCIS case processing fee increases being used for non-USCIS case processing purposes but the discussion was not about one's arbitrary opinions. Rather, the discussion is about the disconnect between the reason behind the fee increase and the stated purpose of the fee, i.e. the fee increase would have been justified if it went towards increasing the fair and efficient adjudication of immigration benefits. Even you yourself stated this a few posts ago that you were fine with fee increases as long as "they process these applications in a timely manner, for the K1, 8-12 months is unacceptable."

 

11 hours ago, nykolos said:

The use of the word "Regime" in modern day implies authoritarianism or dictatorship,  your use of the word implied just that and you know it.   You can make your point without inflammatory labeling.

If you read my reply, you would see that I have since used the term "administration" in lieu of "regime". Thank you for pointing this out.

Edited March 3, 2020 by ultrasoul

[nykolos 711]

23 hours ago, ultrasoul said:

Your example about the fee increases to balance USCIS' operating budget was not logical-

At the time, it was fare more logical than yours was; 

 

"Increase of fees to the point of absurdity is definitely another very effective means to price immigration out of those who cannot afford it."

 

This however makes more sense;

 

"The USCIS manual (Chapter 1, Section B) clearly states that the purpose of USCIS processing fees is to "fund the cost of fairly and efficiently adjudicating immigration benefit requests, including those provided without charge to refugee, asylum, and certain other applicants". "

 

Thank you for posting