Immigration Attorney
Services & Fees

Friday, April 16, 2004

A final regulation was published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2004 that increases United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) filing fees.

The fee increase will take effect with respect to applications and petitions filed with the USCIS on or after April 30, 2004.

According to the USCIS, filing fees are being raised to ensure sufficient funding to adjudicate immigration applications and petitions.

The USCIS also adjusted the fee for capturing biometric information of applicants and petitioners who apply for certain immigration benefits, such as adjustment to permanent resident status.

Fees collected from immigration applications and petitions are used to fund the overall cost of providing immigration benefits, as well as the cost of providing benefits to asylum and refugee applicants at no charge.

In addition, the USCIS seeks to recover the costs of security enhancements, and to recover the annual cost of litigation settlements.

Immigration application and petition fees will be increased by approximately $55, effective April 30, 2004.

For example, the filing fee for H-1B and L-1 petitions will increase from $130 to $185 per petition.

The USCIS fee to recover the operating expenses of its fingerprinting program, which includes the capability to electronically capture and retain necessary biometrics (photo, signature, fingerprints) will increase from $50 to $70 per applicant.

Please click here for the list of new fees.