Business Immigration Insights

On October 24, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published a rule in the Federal Register establishing a new filing fee structure for applications and petitions processed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency almost entirely funded by petition and application filing fees.  In announcing the new fee structure, DHS explained that the prior fees no longer recovered the cost of services provided and that the new fee structure was necessary to fully recover costs and maintain adequate service. The new few structure increases filing fees by an average of 20%.

In the employment-based category, the filing fees for the most commonly filed petitions will increase as follows:

• Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (I-129) from $325 to $460
• Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (I-140) from $580 to $700

In the family-based category, the fees for the most commonly filed petitions will increase as follows:

• Petition for Alien Relative (I-130) from $420 to $535
• Petition for Alien Fiancé (I-129F) from $340 to $535
• Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (I-751) from $505 to $595

The fees for the following applications filed in connection with both employment and family‑based petitions will increase as follows:

• Adjustment of Status application (I-485) from $985 to $1140
• Employment Authorization Document (I-765) from $380 to $410
• Application for a Travel Document (I-131) from $360 to $575

For a complete list of fees, see New USCIS filing fees.