Price Increase in Immigration Petition Fees

In October 2016, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ruled that they plan to increase the fees on December 23rd of this year, which is quickly approaching. This is the first increase of fees in six years but it is important to be aware of the price increase that will take place so you are not blindsided when it comes time to pay.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is funded by the fees that are associated with the various applications, petitions, and other documents that must be filed when applying for a Green Card or for citizenship. The organization is increasing fees in order to keep up with the high demand of immigrants that have entered the United States and are applying for a visa or for citizenship.

Some of the examples of fee increases include an increase from $550 to $1,170 for an Application for Certificate of Citizenship and an increase from $595 to $640 for an Application for Naturalization. The USCIS is aware that increasing these fees can bring serious financial hardship to those who may already be struggling financially. Therefore, they have decided to reduce the fee to file for naturalization for families who are between 150 and 200 percent greater than the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If eligible, you are exempt from paying $320 of the filing fee for naturalization applications.

The new change in fees can be confusing. If you have questions about whether or not you are eligible for the reduction fees or what you are expected to pay after December 23, 2016, you should consult with your immigration attorney.

If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for matters regarding immigration, please contact the Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC and we would be happy to provide you with assistance.