California, United States
Service Immigration and Citizenship (USCIS) will apply from October 2 an average increase of 20% in its rates, but that reaches 535% in some of them, to finance 97% of its operations, announced today the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) .
Unlike other federal agencies, which cover their budget with Congressional appropriations, USCIS operates funded by fees that immigrants pay for its procedures for temporary visas, permanent legal residency visas and obtaining US citizenship, all of them substantially reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collections in 2020
The agency has calculated a 61% reduction in its collections until the end of the 2020 fiscal period, which ends on September 30, and although it has limited salary increases and has taken other measures to restrict its expenses, its directors have indicated that drastic measures are needed to keep it going.
After news of the rate hike, the American Immigration Council (AIC) called the increases “an attack on the legal immigration“, which will affect” people who apply for citizenship and those seeking asylum, as well as US companies. “
AIC Executive Director Beth Werlin said the new fees “will impose significant costs on low-income immigrants, increase barriers for asylum seekers, discourage applications for citizenship, and make our legal immigration system less accessible.” .
USCIS has asked Congress for an emergency allocation of $ 1.2 billion before the 2021 fiscal period begins, and a 10% increase in fees for immigration procedures.
At the conclusion of its biennial review of collections and expenditures, said USCIS Deputy Director Joseph Eldow, the agency concluded that “these rate adjustments are necessary to efficiently manage the legal immigration system, provide homeland security, and protect Americans. “.
October 2, 202
USCIS processes dozens of different types of visas and paperwork, and the table released today shows some fee reductions, such as an 11% decrease in what you pay for the replacement of the legal permanent residence document (“green card”), from 455 to 405 dollars for the application via internet, and 9% for the paper process from 455 to 415 dollars.
At the other extreme, an undocumented immigrant who uses form I-881 to request that his deportation be suspended will have to pay $ 1,810, an increase of 535% over the current fee of $ 285.
Victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking, and who have collaborated with the government in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes, may be in the United States covered by a U visa
Visa cost
These people can use the I-929 form in order to obtain a visa that allows one of their relatives to come to the United States to visit them, and the process that so far costs $ 230 will go up 546% to $ 1,255.
Foreigners who are legal permanent residents and want to declare their intention to become US citizens use Form N-300 to do so. This step is not required in the naturalization process but some states may require it if that person has certain businesses in that state.
The current “declaration of intent” fee is $ 270 and will go up 383% to $ 1,305, DHS said.
A foreigner who is a legal resident of the United States and wishes to re-enter the country without their foreign passport and / or visa, using form I-193, must pay $ 2,290, an increase of 377%.
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