USCIS Fees are Going up on October 2, 2020!

 Posted on July 31, 2020 in Immigration

It is final! USCIS announced today they are increasing many application fees starting on October 2, 2020. Some of these fees are increasing significantly, including the fee for Naturalization applications, which is going from $640 to $1,160. Asylum applicants, who historically did not have to pay any fees for their applications, will now have to pay $50 in order for their cases to be considered. See our chart below for some examples of these changes.

In addition, a new fee structure will significantly increase the cost for adjustment of status applicants. Under the current rules, most adjustment applicants pay a fee of $1,140 (with an added $85 biometric fee for most individuals). The fee is lower, at $750, for children under 14 year old applying with a parent. Along with their green card applications, applicants can currently request their work and travel permits, which are renewable as long as the application is pending, for no extra fee. Under the new rules going into effect on October 2, the new fee structure will change dramatically and instead require separate fees for each application, as well as increase the fee for children. The new fee will be $1,130 for all applicants, regardless of age, plus a $550 fee for work authorizations and $590 for travel permits.

USCIS receives most of its funding from fees paid by applicants, but the lower number of applications submitted during the pandemic and budget cuts have significantly affected the agency. The last time USCIS increased its fees was in December of 2016.

If you are thinking about applying for an immigration benefit, make sure to submit your application before October 2, 2020, as any application submitted on or after this date will be subject to the new fee.