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Final Rule for USCIS fee increases

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ukraine
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WASHINGTON—Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule that adjusts fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit requests to ensure U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recovers its costs of services.

Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded. Fees collected and deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account fund nearly 97% of USCIS’ budget.

As required by federal law, USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that current fees do not recover the cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services. DHS is adjusting USCIS fees by a weighted average increase of 20% to help recover its operational costs. Current fees would leave the agency underfunded by about $1 billion per year.

“USCIS is required to examine incoming and outgoing expenditures and make adjustments based on that analysis,” said Joseph Edlow, USCIS deputy director for policy. “These overdue adjustments in fees are necessary to efficiently and fairly administer our nation’s lawful immigration system, secure the homeland and protect Americans.”

The rule accounts for increased costs to adjudicate immigration benefit requests, detect and deter immigration fraud, and thoroughly vet applicants, petitioners and beneficiaries. The rule also supports payroll, technology and operations to accomplish the USCIS mission. The rule removes certain fee exemptions, includes new nominal fees for asylum applicants, and reduces fee waivers to help recover the costs of adjudication.

This final rule also encourages online filing by providing a $10 reduction in the fee for applicants who submit forms online that are electronically available from USCIS. Online filing is the most secure, efficient, cost-effective and convenient way to submit a request with USCIS.

USCIS last updated its fee structure in December 2016 by a weighted average increase of 21%.

For a full list of changes and a complete table of final fees, see the final rule.

This final rule is effective Oct. 2, 2020. Any application, petition, or request postmarked on or after this date must include payment of the new, correct fees established by this final rule.

 

Wow, the N-400 fee increases by 81%.

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81% increase for N-400! And that’s with the online filing “discount” of 10 bucks. From $640 to $1160. That’s insane. Especially when there is such disparity between the offices. I filed in September of last year and am not expected to be done before January 2021. People who filed in February this year in other offices are already USCs. They need to address that first before they hike their prices so much. 

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Malaysia
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6 minutes ago, JFH said:

81% increase for N-400! And that’s with the online filing “discount” of 10 bucks. From $640 to $1160. That’s insane. Especially when there is such disparity between the offices. I filed in September of last year and am not expected to be done before January 2021. People who filed in February this year in other offices are already USCs. They need to address that first before they hike their prices so much. 

@JFH don't forget this doesn't yet include the proposed additional 10% surcharge when the $1.2B bailout gets approved

I-130 JOURNEY FOR 2020 Minor Child of LPR (F2A Online Application, MNL Consular Processing)

07/29/20 Online Filing for I-130, Same day Priority date 
07/31/20 Paper NOA1 mailed by USCIS, received on 08/03/20

07/31/20, 08/15/20, 09/01,20 Expedite Requests denied three times (self-submission and congressman outreach)

09/28/20: I-130 Approved by USCIS, received mailed NOA2 on 10/01/20

10/01/20: NVC electronically receives I-130 petition from USCIS, generates NVC case & invoice number, paid all NVC fees same day

10/05/19: CEAC ready for document uploads

TBD: Waiting for NBI Police Clearance to complete all upload of NVC docs

 

I-130 JOURNEY FOR 2019 Parent of USC (IR-5 Paper Application, MNL Consular Processing)

01/18/19 NOA1 I-130 (Priority Date)

08/02/19 Called USCIS to expedite I-130 after 196 days pending,  emailed expedite evidence 08/06/1,  expedite approved 08/09/19

08/13/19: I-130 Approved by USCIS, USCIS sent petition file to NVC 08/29/19 

09/09/19: NVC receives I-130 petition from USCISgenerates case & invoice number on 10/03/19 (paid all NVC fees same day)

10/07/19: CEAC ready for document uploads (AOS and IV documents uploaded to CEAC same day)

11/25/19: NVC Case Complete, NVC emails interview schedules interview on 12/18/19 for 01/06/20

01/06/20: IR-5 Interview in Manila Philippines embassy (MNL); forgot original signed I-864 resulted in 221GUSEM receives original signed I-864 via 2GO courier on 02/04/20
3/4/20: Immigrant Visa Issued by USEM, 2GO carrier picked up passport from USEM 3/6/20 and delivers to residence on 3/10/20

6/10/20: US POE

6/13/20: SSN card mailed date by SSA, delivered to residence on 6/18/20

7/3/20: LPR Green Card ordered, Production on 7/24/20, Mailed by USCIS on 7/27/20, delivered to residence on 7/29/20

 

I-130/ I-485 JOURNEY FOR 2019 Parent of USC (IR-5 Paper Application)

01/18/19: NOA1 Received I-130 (priority date, was not concurrently filed with I-485 as we were not sure if we were going to CP or AOS)

06/19/19: USPS receives I-485 package to lockbox (priority date); 06/24/19: Credit card charged ,  USCIS mails out NOA1 06/25/19 with receipt numbers (assigned to MSC National Benefits center),  Received NOA1 from USPS (07/02/19:)

07/05/19:  USCIS mailsout biometrics appointment notice with appointment date for 07/24/19, Received biometrics notice letter from USPS 07/11/19
07/12/19: Walk-in biometrics completed

07/18/19: Called USCIS to expedite EADReceived mailed USCIS instructions on where to fax expedite evidence from USPS 07/26/19 Faxed requested evidence for EAD expedite  07/27/19
07/31/19: USCIS approves EAD I-765 and Advanced Parole I-131, USCIS mails out combo EAD/ AP card 08/02/19, Received combo EAD/ AP card via USPS Priority Mail 08/07/19

08/08/19: I-485 Case is Ready to Be Scheduled for An Interview
08/26/19: I-130 Approved (NOA2) by USCIS

12/10/19: FO sends out I-485 interview appointment details for 01/28/20 interview date 

02/06/20: I-485 case approved and NOA2 mailed
02/05/20: Green card ordered, Production and mailed 02/10/20, delivered to residence on 
02/12/20

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32 minutes ago, JFH said:

81% increase for N-400! And that’s with the online filing “discount” of 10 bucks. From $640 to $1160. That’s insane. Especially when there is such disparity between the offices. I filed in September of last year and am not expected to be done before January 2021. People who filed in February this year in other offices are already USCs. They need to address that first before they hike their prices so much. 

10$ is hardly an incentive for transition to online.  I guess we are living in an era of ... you cant ask questions about processing. its the US government. they can do what they want.. sarcasm here 

Edited by James120383

duh

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Malaysia
Timeline
1 hour ago, James120383 said:

10$ is hardly an incentive for transition to online.  I guess we are living in an era of ... you cant ask questions about processing. its the US government. they can do what they want.. sarcasm here 

Online filling is much superior than paper filling. You get your case number right away and any communication or correspondence sent by the USCIS is available right away in PDF (the same paper communications then arrives 2 weeks later).

 

The only issue is most forms cannot be filled online still even though the online filling initiative transformation started more than 6 years ago ...

I-130 JOURNEY FOR 2020 Minor Child of LPR (F2A Online Application, MNL Consular Processing)

07/29/20 Online Filing for I-130, Same day Priority date 
07/31/20 Paper NOA1 mailed by USCIS, received on 08/03/20

07/31/20, 08/15/20, 09/01,20 Expedite Requests denied three times (self-submission and congressman outreach)

09/28/20: I-130 Approved by USCIS, received mailed NOA2 on 10/01/20

10/01/20: NVC electronically receives I-130 petition from USCIS, generates NVC case & invoice number, paid all NVC fees same day

10/05/19: CEAC ready for document uploads

TBD: Waiting for NBI Police Clearance to complete all upload of NVC docs

 

I-130 JOURNEY FOR 2019 Parent of USC (IR-5 Paper Application, MNL Consular Processing)

01/18/19 NOA1 I-130 (Priority Date)

08/02/19 Called USCIS to expedite I-130 after 196 days pending,  emailed expedite evidence 08/06/1,  expedite approved 08/09/19

08/13/19: I-130 Approved by USCIS, USCIS sent petition file to NVC 08/29/19 

09/09/19: NVC receives I-130 petition from USCISgenerates case & invoice number on 10/03/19 (paid all NVC fees same day)

10/07/19: CEAC ready for document uploads (AOS and IV documents uploaded to CEAC same day)

11/25/19: NVC Case Complete, NVC emails interview schedules interview on 12/18/19 for 01/06/20

01/06/20: IR-5 Interview in Manila Philippines embassy (MNL); forgot original signed I-864 resulted in 221GUSEM receives original signed I-864 via 2GO courier on 02/04/20
3/4/20: Immigrant Visa Issued by USEM, 2GO carrier picked up passport from USEM 3/6/20 and delivers to residence on 3/10/20

6/10/20: US POE

6/13/20: SSN card mailed date by SSA, delivered to residence on 6/18/20

7/3/20: LPR Green Card ordered, Production on 7/24/20, Mailed by USCIS on 7/27/20, delivered to residence on 7/29/20

 

I-130/ I-485 JOURNEY FOR 2019 Parent of USC (IR-5 Paper Application)

01/18/19: NOA1 Received I-130 (priority date, was not concurrently filed with I-485 as we were not sure if we were going to CP or AOS)

06/19/19: USPS receives I-485 package to lockbox (priority date); 06/24/19: Credit card charged ,  USCIS mails out NOA1 06/25/19 with receipt numbers (assigned to MSC National Benefits center),  Received NOA1 from USPS (07/02/19:)

07/05/19:  USCIS mailsout biometrics appointment notice with appointment date for 07/24/19, Received biometrics notice letter from USPS 07/11/19
07/12/19: Walk-in biometrics completed

07/18/19: Called USCIS to expedite EADReceived mailed USCIS instructions on where to fax expedite evidence from USPS 07/26/19 Faxed requested evidence for EAD expedite  07/27/19
07/31/19: USCIS approves EAD I-765 and Advanced Parole I-131, USCIS mails out combo EAD/ AP card 08/02/19, Received combo EAD/ AP card via USPS Priority Mail 08/07/19

08/08/19: I-485 Case is Ready to Be Scheduled for An Interview
08/26/19: I-130 Approved (NOA2) by USCIS

12/10/19: FO sends out I-485 interview appointment details for 01/28/20 interview date 

02/06/20: I-485 case approved and NOA2 mailed
02/05/20: Green card ordered, Production and mailed 02/10/20, delivered to residence on 
02/12/20

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
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Also removes the fee waiver for EAD and AP for I-485 applicants. New costs will total $2300 for all of it, and no free renewals. That's an over 100% fee increase for the same benefits, and wait times for I-485 applications are probably not getting any shorter. And embassies still aren't issuing K-1s, so it's practically set in stone for us.

Edited by JacobP
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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Turkey
Timeline

Wait does this mean we have to pay $410 to renew the EAD?

AOS Timeline: I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131

Priority Date: 9 December 2019

Field Office: Newark, NJ

 

-24 days.....11/15/2019 — AOS package delivered to USCIS Lockbox
-12 days.....11/27/2019 — AOS package rejected due to incorrect fee
-06 days.....12/03/2019 — AOS package re-sent to Chicago USCIS Lockbox
00 days......12/09/2019 — AOS package accepted at Chicago USCIS Lockbox
07 days......12/16/2019 — Credit card transactions processed
08 days......12/17/2019 — I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131 text messages received @midnight
11 days......12/20/2019 — I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131 NOA letters received
21 days......12/30/2019 — Biometrics Letter received
29 days......01/07/2020 — Biometrics Appointment (Elizabeth, NJ ASC)

51 days......01/29/2020 — Case Status Updated to show fingerprints were taken for I-485 + I-765
60 days......02/07/2020 — Courtesy Letter Re: I-693 Received in Mail

63 days......02/10/2020 — I-485 Case Status updated to “Case is Ready to be Scheduled for an Interview”

85 days......03/03/2020 — I-765 status updated to “New Card is Being Produced”

86 days......03/04/2020 — I-765 & I-131 status updated to "Case was Approved"

88 days......03/06/2020 — I-765 status updates to “Card Was Mailed to Me”

120 days....04/07/2020 — I-131 status updated to "Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken"

430 days....02/11/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to “Interview Was Scheduled"

476 days....03/29/2021 — Interview at Newark Field Office

477 days....03/30/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to "New Card Is Being Produced"

478 days....03/31/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to "Case Was Approved"

480 days....04/02/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to "Card Was Mailed To Me"

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3 minutes ago, Sara + Kevin said:

Wait does this mean we have to pay $410 to renew the EAD?

Yes

March 2, 2018  Married In Hong Kong

April 30, 2018  Mary moves from the Philippines to Mexico, Husband has MX Permanent Residency

June 13, 2018 Mary receives Mexican Residency Card

June 15, 2018  I-130 DCF Appointment in Juarez  -  June 18, 2018  Approval E-Mail

August 2, 2018 Case Complete At Consulate

September 25, 2018 Interview in CDJ and Approved!

October 7, 2018 In the USA

October 27, 2018 Green Card received 

October 29, 2018 Applied for Social Security Card - November 5, 2018 Social Security Card received

November 6th, 2018 State ID Card Received, Applied for Global Entry - Feb 8,2019 Approved.

July 14, 2020 Removal of Conditions submitted by mail  July 12, 2021 Biometrics Completed

August 6, 2021 N-400 submitted by mail

September 7, 2021 I-751 Interview, Sept 8 Approved and Card Being Produced

October 21, 2021 N-400 Biometrics Completed  

November 30,2021  Interview, Approval and Oath

December 10, 2021 US Passport Issued

August 12, 2022 PHL Dual Nationality Re-established & Passport Approved 

April 6,2023 Legally Separated - Oh well

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
Timeline
6 minutes ago, Sara + Kevin said:

Wait does this mean we have to pay $410 to renew the EAD?

Yes, from October 2nd the i-765 and i-131 will no longer be for free when you file to adjust your status, or to renew the i-765.

 

Also, the proposal showed that they wanted ro raise the fee for the i-765 by 20%, from $410 to $490.

 

The i-131 will be close to $600.

Edited by Scandi

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Turkey
Timeline

Thanks both. If we received EAD 3/2 can we apply for renewal before they impose the new fees on 10/2?

AOS Timeline: I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131

Priority Date: 9 December 2019

Field Office: Newark, NJ

 

-24 days.....11/15/2019 — AOS package delivered to USCIS Lockbox
-12 days.....11/27/2019 — AOS package rejected due to incorrect fee
-06 days.....12/03/2019 — AOS package re-sent to Chicago USCIS Lockbox
00 days......12/09/2019 — AOS package accepted at Chicago USCIS Lockbox
07 days......12/16/2019 — Credit card transactions processed
08 days......12/17/2019 — I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131 text messages received @midnight
11 days......12/20/2019 — I-130, I-485, I-765, I-131 NOA letters received
21 days......12/30/2019 — Biometrics Letter received
29 days......01/07/2020 — Biometrics Appointment (Elizabeth, NJ ASC)

51 days......01/29/2020 — Case Status Updated to show fingerprints were taken for I-485 + I-765
60 days......02/07/2020 — Courtesy Letter Re: I-693 Received in Mail

63 days......02/10/2020 — I-485 Case Status updated to “Case is Ready to be Scheduled for an Interview”

85 days......03/03/2020 — I-765 status updated to “New Card is Being Produced”

86 days......03/04/2020 — I-765 & I-131 status updated to "Case was Approved"

88 days......03/06/2020 — I-765 status updates to “Card Was Mailed to Me”

120 days....04/07/2020 — I-131 status updated to "Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken"

430 days....02/11/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to “Interview Was Scheduled"

476 days....03/29/2021 — Interview at Newark Field Office

477 days....03/30/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to "New Card Is Being Produced"

478 days....03/31/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to "Case Was Approved"

480 days....04/02/2021 — I-485 Case Status updated to "Card Was Mailed To Me"

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
Timeline
2 minutes ago, Sara + Kevin said:

Thanks both. If we received EAD 3/2 can we apply for renewal before they impose the new fees on 10/2?

Don't file to renew if you have more than 180 days left on the EAD. If you're within those 180 days you can file to renew.

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Germany
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Wow. That means if I would have to renew the EAD/AP it would cost almost as much as the initial AOS filing just because they can't figure their stuff out 😂😂😂

 

I mean we knew that it would come but that's quite a raise.

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Summary after a very quick skim...

 

Family petitions

I-129F very slightly cheaper

I-130 very slightly more expensive

 

Waivers

I-601 moderate increase

I-601A very large increase

 

I-485 very slightly cheaper for most (children applying with a parent pay the normal fee now, which is a fairly large increase)

I-751 (ROC) large increase

N-400 (naturalization) massive increase

NOTE: Unless I misread something (see page 424), the biometrics fee is now built into these above. So part of those large increases is due to the separate $85 biometrics no longer being required for most individuals.

 

I-131 very slightly cheaper, and no longer waived when filed due to an I-485

I-765 large increase, and no longer waived when filed due to an I-485

This is one is going to hurt. That makes AOS for most individuals much more expensive. This is estimated to increase revenue by $600 million.

 

Quote

DHS makes no changes in this rule in response to the pandemic. USCIS considers all available data at the time it conducts its fee review. USCIS conducted most of the FY 2019/2020 fee review in FY 2017, before the emergence of the pandemic. At that time, USCIS did not foresee, and could not reasonably have foreseen, the effects of such a pandemic on USCIS receipt, revenue, or cost projections during the FY 2019/2020 biennial period, and we cannot project the effects at this time

Oh good...it's based on data from 2016 to 2017. No way that isn't stale...

 

Other tidbits...

* An I-131A to get what is akin to a boarding foil can now be used for AP holders who lost their AP document.

* Many fee waivers eliminated ($369 million estimated). Anybody who is covered by an active I-864 or who may be a public charge is excluded from eligibility.

* The fee for a returned check is eliminated

* "Secure documents" will be sent with a special USPS service requiring signature confirmation with restricted delivery. Presumably this are the cards (EAD, green card, etc.).

* Premium processing now commits to 15 business days instead of 15 calendar days

* EADs fees added for asylum applicants ($119 million)

* Asylum applicants now have to pay a $50 fee (a surprising large contention point...)

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Thailand
Timeline

The fees for AOS are definitely not good, unless they really increase processing time so you don't have to renew EAD and AP card. Since they aren't free anymore, that's just an incentive to increase revenue by taking your time doing AOS interviews. The ROC is the only fair increase, it's going up to 760 total, but if that includes the biometric fee it is really only a 80 dollar increase from the old fee (595+85=680). But that's tough to figure out if they are including biometric fees now. 

The real hose job is the N400. That's completely insane. I definitely don't agree with a 81% increase on the most important one to become a citizen. There is obviously some underlying reason for that.

Here on a K1? Need married and a Certificate in hand within a few hours? I'm here to help. Come to Vegas and I'll marry you Vegas style!!   Visa Journey members are always FREE for my services. I know the costs involved in this whole game of immigration, and if I can save you some money I will!

 

 

 

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