USCIS filing fees will increase, effective October 2, 2020. The fee for some forms, such as Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, will decrease slightly. But most will increase, some upwards of 50% and as high as 377%. Yes, that’s right, 377%. The filing fee for For I-193, Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa, will increase from $585 to $2790.
Other fee changes of significance are Form I-129, which will have a visa-type tier of fees. For example, Form I-129 for H-1s will increase 21% from $460 to $555; Es and TNs will increase 51% from $460 to $695; Os will increase 53% from $460 to $705; Ls will increase 75%, from $460 to $805. And unfortunately for many families needing a provisional waiver, the fee for Form I-601A will increase 52% from $630 to $960.
When naturalization is becoming important now more than ever, Applications for Naturalization (Form N-400) filed online will increase 81% from $640 to $1160 and paper filings will increase 83% from $640 to $1170. If that weren’t bad enough, an appeal of a wrongly decided Application for Naturalization (Form N-336) will increase 148% from $700 to $1735 (146% for online filings).
The best we can report for our clients is Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker, will decrease 21% from $700 to $555 and Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, will increase only 5% and Form I-129F for fiance(e)s will decrease 5%. Petitioners and applicants should make every effort to file (properly, don’t risk rejection) prior to the effective date to take advantage of the existing fee structure. Contact your attorney at Rose Immigration Law Firm for advice on whether and when to file a first-time petition/application or a petition/application to change or extend status. For the full list of fee changes, go to the link below and scroll down several pages to Table 1.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-16389.pdf