The Trump administration has just made immigration benefits more expensive. The Department of Homeland Security, DHS on Friday, announced a substantial increase in fees charged on most immigration procedures.
DHS raised the fee to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization from $640 to $1,160 if filed online. But a $10 is added in paper filing.
A $50 fee will now be charged asylum application. The form I-881, Application for Suspension of Deportation was increased from $285 to $1,810. And application for travel document (form I-131A) will be $1,110 from current fee of $575.
The new fees announced Friday takes effect October 2.
Other increases will hit petitions for employment authorization (form I-765) and for removing conditions on permanent residence obtained through marriage (Form I-751), which will go up from $595 to $760.
DHS announced the final rule that increased the fees to ensure U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS recovers its operational costs.
Fees collected and deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account fund nearly 97% of USCIS’ budget.
The agency said it conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review as required by federal law, and determined that current fees do not recover the cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services.
Why Fees Increased
DHS said it adjusted USCIS fees by a weighted average increase of 20% to help recover its operational costs. Current fees would leave the agency underfunded by about $1 billion per year, the statement said.
USCIS last updated its fee structure in December 2016 by a weighted average increase of 21%.
“USCIS is required to examine incoming and outgoing expenditures and make adjustments based on that analysis,” said Joseph Edlow, USCIS deputy director for policy.
“These overdue adjustments in fees are necessary to efficiently and fairly administer our nation’s lawful immigration system, secure the homeland and protect Americans.”
Edlow
But Akatarian had earlier reported that the agency may soon increase fees. It was begging Congress for $1.2 billion in funds over two years else it furloughs about 70% of its employees from July 20. This was because the Coronavirus pandemic halted most of its services on March 18 but resumed in-person services on June 4.
USCIS said the final rule accounts for increased costs to adjudicate immigration benefit requests, detect and deter immigration fraud, and thoroughly vet applicants, petitioners and beneficiaries.
The rule also supports payroll, technology and operations to accomplish the USCIS mission. The rule removes certain fee exemptions, includes new nominal fees for asylum applicants, and reduces fee waivers to help recover the costs of adjudication.
See the final rule for a full list of changes and a complete table of final fees.
