IMPORTANT: To avoid paying higher immigration filing fees, submit your complete application before April 1, 2024. Click here to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorneys and get started on your application.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced significant fee increases for many immigration applications that will take effect on April 1, 2024. To avoid higher immigration fees, it is important to prepare and submit your immigration application now.
The new list of fees is available here, and we are highlighting some of the changes for family-based, employment-based, and humanitarian immigration cases below:
Filing Fee Increases for Green Card Applications and U.S. Citizenship
Beginning April 1, 2024, filing fees for lawful permanent residence through adjustment of status will go up for both family-based and employment-based applicants. Applicants will also have to pay separate application fees to request work permits (I-765) and travel permits (I-131). Currently, adjustment of status applicants may file applications for work and travel permits at no additional cost with their application for adjustment of status. It is important to file now to get the benefit of free work and travel permits while the green card application is pending!
Naturalization fees for U.S. citizenship will also increase for paper filings beginning April 1, 2024. The fee for N-600 applications for certificates of citizenship is also going up.
Other Key Filing Fee Increases for Family-Based Applicants
Filing fees are also increasing for many common family-based immigration petitions, including I-130 family petitions, K-1 Fiancé Visa Petitions, and I-751 Petitions to Remove Conditions on Permanent Residence.
Other Key Filing Fee Increases for Employment-Based Applicants
H-1B and I-140 filing fees will also increase for many employment-based applicants. USCIS is establishing a new Asylum Program Fee to fund asylum adjudications through employment-based I-140 petitions and H-1B petitions.
- Small private employers with 25 or less full-time equivalent (FTE) employees will see an increase in filing fees for both H-1B petitions and I-140 petitions due to the new requirement to pay half of the Asylum Program Fee.
- Larger private employers will see a substantial increase in fees for both H-1B petitions and I-140 petitions due to the Asylum Program Fee.
- Non-profit organizations will continue to pay the current filing fees for H-1B petitions and are not subject to the Asylum Program Fee. Non-profit organizations will see a small increase of the I-140 filing fee.
Filing Fee Decreases for U Visa Applicants and Green Card Renewals
USCIS is decreasing filing fees for some applicants who may want to consider beginning to prepare applications now and then filing after April 1, 2024:
- U Visa, T Visa, VAWA, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Applicants will pay lower fees after April 1, 2024. Under the new fee rule, applicants will have no fee on all petitions and applications through Adjustment of Status.
- The filing fee for green card renewals on the Form I-90 will decrease from $540 to $465.
How Can Vrapi Weeks Immigration Attorneys Help?
Vrapi Weeks immigration attorneys have a dedicated team of professionals with expertise in immigration matters filed for family members, immigration matters filed by employers, and immigration matters filed by individuals. We handle many types of immigration matters and can assist you with green card applications, work permits, waivers, employment-based visas, and family-based visas. If you have questions or would like for our local attorneys to evaluate your options, please schedule a consultation with our experienced team of immigration lawyers at Vrapi Weeks today.
