The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a fee increase in 2024. This increase affects various immigration applications and petitions to enter the country. Therefore, it is best for every applicant to know all the details about the USCIS fee increase 2024.
This new fee schedule aims to impact the agency’s growing cost of operation. This blog post provides a detailed rundown of the changes, the latest updates, and their impacts.
Read to the end to get all the necessary information!
Table of Contents
Background of USCIS Fees Increase 2024
The USCIS fully depends on application fees to function. The model makes it essential to review fees from time to time. This revision helps to keep the agency functioning with the right budget. Since 2016, the agency’s fee structure hasn’t been enough to provide the money to keep it running.
This led to the USCIS publishing a final fee rule for immigration applications in January 2024. The agency has since increased the fee for various applications. This change is a result of the first fee adjustment since the revision by USCIS in 2016.
It addresses the increasing time and cost of processing applications and managing the agency’s services. In addition to inflation, several other factors impact the decision to increase application fees.
These include the rising cost of staff salaries and the need to invest in the latest technology. Each factor aims to boost the efficiency of processing immigration applications.
The new prices took effect on April 1, 2024. This means the agency will charge all applications after this date at a much higher cost.
Purpose of the USCIS Filing Fee Increase 2024
The purpose of this price increase is obvious from the agency’s mode of operation. As mentioned, the USCIS depends on application fees to keep the agency running. It is only natural to increase the fee to solve the budget shortfall.
This increase also aims to improve service delivery by covering the cost of operating. This means the agency can improve its technology and reduce processing time for each application. Now, applicants can get fast immigration processing into the U.S.
Ultimately, this increase aims to use the right tools to enhance customer experience. In addition, adjusting the budget will help the USCIS prevent future case backlogs from piling up. However, this price change doesn’t concern translations. Applicants still need to pay professional translation agencies for their services.
3 Key Focuses of the Fee Increase
The USCIS offers a wide range of services, and a price change will affect each service. Knowing the key focus of this price increase will help you plan your budget accordingly.
Let’s take a look at them:
1. Application fees: The increase affects various applications, including family petitions (Form I-130) and Naturalization (Form N-400). It also affects employment-based visa applications (different form types, including I-140).
2. Premium processing fees: Premium processing allows applicants to speed up their petitions for an additional fee. The fee for this service also increased from February 26, 2024. After this initial increase, the premium processing fees remained unchanged after April.
3. Affidavit of support (Form I-864): This form is crucial for most family-based immigrants, but its cost has increased.
Price Updates for Immigration Application Fees at the USCIS
The USCIS fee rule varies among different immigration forms and applications. However, it covers a wide range of applications. This includes family-based petitions, employment-based petitions, and more. Here are a few notable fee changes:
- Form I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (paper filing) increased from $455 to $465.
- Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) increased from $535 to $675.
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (paper filing) increased from $535 to $675.
- Form I-130, Petition for Alien relatives (online filing) increased from $535 to $625.
- Form I-131, Application for Travel Document increased from $575 to $630.
- Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers increased from $700 to $715.
- Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, increased from $1,140 to $1,440.
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (online filing), increased from $370 to $420.
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (paper filing), increased from $370 to $470.
Impact of the USCIS Fee Increase 2024 on Applicants
The recent price increase has impacted immigration applicants at the agency. It would especially affect those processing applications for more than one person. Typically, the cost of applying at the USCIS burdened many applicants.
It was especially difficult for applicants applying for multiple family members or from lower-income backgrounds. Unfortunately, the recent price increase has made it worse. Applicants may have to work harder and save more to process their applications.
In addition, many people from certain communities may be unable to afford the new fees. This may raise concerns about the ease of access to the U.S. Ultimately, it may make them assume that the immigration system is unfair to them.
Updates After the USCIS Increase Fees 2024
The new fee schedule took effect from April 1, 2024. Applications submitted on or after this date were at the new fee rule. However, the price for each application depends on the form type. Despite this, the USCIS will continue to accept various payment methods.
This includes money orders, checks, and credit/debit cards. In addition, certain applicants may qualify for reductions and fee waivers. This will be for low-income earners or people facing financial hardships. Application I-912, which allows people to ask for fee waivers, would be open to these applicants.
Furthermore, the USCIS implemented a grace period to allow applicants to submit certain forms under the old fee schedule. This period helped people who couldn’t afford the increased prices. The grace period lasted from April 1, 2024, to June 3, 2024.In addition, USCIS applicants still need certified translations for their supporting documents. Luckily, Rapid Translate offers excellent USCIS-certified translations.
FAQ
Will USCIS fees increase in 2024?
As of now, the USCIS has not officially announced a fee increase for 2024. However, the agency frequently reviews and adjusts fees based on the cost of operation. Typically, it will announce any fee increase several months in advance. The 2024 fee increase was a result of its 2016 review.
How much is the fee for I-130 in April 2024?
As of April 2024, the fee for I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is $625 for online filers. Meanwhile, the price for paper filing is $675. In addition to the filing fee, you may pay more using premium processing. You may also pay more to use the services of legal professionals.
How much is the fee for I-485 in 2024?
As of April 2024, Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, costs $1,440. Under certain conditions, applicants under the age of 14 may pay $950. In addition, applicants between 14 and 79 must pay an additional fee for biometrics.
Get Affordable Translation Services for USCIS!
Typically, every applicant needs to translate foreign language documents into English for the USCIS. This would help the agency understand the document’s content and approve your immigration application. Many agencies offer high-quality USCIS-certified translation services.
However, the high application cost may make getting the translation you need difficult. But don’t worry; Rapid Translate is here to the rescue. Our top translation service gives your documents the right meaning and impact at the USCIS.
Our expert human translators offer translations for various documents in over 60 languages. Despite the USCIS fee increase 2024, you can use our services to translate documents on a budget.
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