New Fee Structure Takes Effect on July 30, 2007.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

Some highlights from the new schedule:
I129f: $455
I130: $355
I485: $1010
I751: $545
N400: $675

For complete information look at the link above.

I just read on UCSIS site that the application for I-129F increases to $455 effective July 30, 2007. If you haven't filed, you better get to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its about time they finalized it, no more speculation. It sucks that by the time my fiancee will be filing for AOS, we will have to pay the much higher new fee. At least AP and EAD documents are included free in that fee.

The article is pretty easy to find but here's the link.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/Fi...lease052907.pdf

I wonder what this means.


The final rule also allows USCIS to waive the filing fee for U.S. citizens seeking immigrant status for their alien spouses (K-3 visas)

Wow. One of the admins should pin this somewhere.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

That was my question as well. This link shows there is no charge for filing the 129F after filing a I-130. Hmm.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

From $170 to $455????

Wow inflation is really sucking.

Its more than just inflation, the immigration process has changed and become more expensive. The new fee takes into account those costs as well as provide money to speed up application processing. Thier goal is to cut processing time by 20% for all applications within 2 years.

Yes, and look at the new AOS fee. You can kiss a Grand goodbye there.

I don't want to get into the politics of fee increases, but each recent increase has come with a goal of a quicker and more streamlined process, but the process tends to get slower.

Glad ours is going in the mail tomorrow.

Would you have a link to the thread please?

Really... just how many times have you applied for AOS?

Kiss a grand goodbye...wait a tick... I think of it as willing to spend whatever to get my love here permanently.

I, for instance, may not have that "whatever" by the time I need to lift conditions Of course, we can eat MacCheese for two months to save money, but these new fees are really abnormally high.

WOW!!! Am I reading the current and new fee schedules correctly:

- the I-485 is currently $325 and increases to $1010 on July 30, 2007?
- the I-765 is currently $180 and increases to $340 July 30?
- the I-131 is currently $130 and increases to $305 July 30?
- the I-754 is currently $275 (including barometric fee) and increases to $545 plus $80 for each addtitional dependent?

If so, it really is shocking to see such huge increases. I mean, they're not moderate, but huge! I really hope it makes a difference in quality of service to current and future filers.

USCIS fees change on July 30, 2007. This fee schedule applies if you file on or after that date. The fees listed below include both the filing fee and any required biometric fees.


http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

USCIS fees change on July 30, 2007. This fee schedule applies if you file on or after that date. The fees listed below include both the filing fee and any required biometric fees.


http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

If we pay those certain amounts, Visa Centers should work on our applications double time! to be fair!

If we pay those certain amounts, Visa Centers should work on our applications double time! to be fair!

When I read this last night, I immediately filed a petition for my bro. Sent it out today. $355 for an I-130 is huge, when it's only $190 until end of July. I know that sibling petition can take decades, but at least I lodged it before USCIS gets away with the fee increase. I know I'll be paying a hefty sum when Mom files for citizenship ($600+ vs $330 that I paid last year), but who knows, she might not want to become one

I remember when I sent the I-129F petition in Jan 2004, it only cost $110!! Also thank God we are filing I-751 before the fee increase.

hi ya all
i for one couldnt believe the increases...with all the public comments received over 3000 i wonder if they even read them ..

what really annoys me is im going to be removing conditions next year ... that will give me my 10 year greencard...many become citzens before that 10 year card expires...the government is really getting free and extra money from the public in my eyes...i cannot see why they cannot split the removing conditions to a 5 year one ..because that is one of the requirements of applying for naturalization...either 3 or 5 year eligibility to apply...

sighhh i feel for all those applying after july for their visa's...wonder if the financial aspect will deter immigrants...cos boy oh boy its a big financial responsibility for some couples...

ok end of rant..
kath

Is that a quote from the USCIS director??

Kath,

You seem to be misunderstanding what removal of conditions is, and what a green card is.

A LPR with conditions has been granted LPR status for a limited two-year period of time. Removing the conditions happens only once, and makes one a LPR for life or until they abandon the status. Removing conditions does not make a person a LPR for another limited period of time.

The green card is an ID card - a photo ID card. It needs to be replaced periodically, as a person's appearance changes with time. At the present time the replacement period is set at 10 years. Recognize that renewal of the card is not renewal of status - a person will remain a LPR whether or not they renew their card. Failure to renew the card may cause them some practical difficulties, but it will not cause them to lose their LPR status - it's not like a drivers license where the benefit ends when the ID card expires.

One way of abandoning LPR status is to leave the USA to take up residence in a different country. Another way is to become a US citizen. A LPR can chose to apply for citizenship at any time once they become eligible - soon after or long after. As you say, many LPRs chose to become citizens soon after they achieve eligibility. Many others chose to become citizens long after they have achieved eligibility, and still others chose to remain LPRs for life and never apply for citizenship.

So what has this got to do with the fact that a green card becomes obsolete every 10 years and needs to be replaced? Most LPRs would probably prefer a longer period between card renewals, not a shorter period. And if the government were really making money on the renewals, and was depending on it as a source of income, the card renewal period probably would be less than 10 years!

Yodrak

To add onto Yodrak's comment, The "public" is not paying for anything. USCIS is a fee based agency and must pay its own bills. You are paying for your application and those of refugees and those seeking asylum.

As to the financial aspect, in the grand scheme of things the fee increases are not that much money. And yes, it will deter people, but the vigilant will still come. I make a decent income and we have had to budget to pay the fees, but it is worth every penny. IMHO, when you have to sacrifice to attain something, you do value it more.

Look at the immigrants of days past, they used to have to spend weeks on ships in substandard conditions, not get on a flight with meal service. When they got off of the boat, people were there trying to exploit them, not have a family member waiting with enough support verified to get them established.

I think we have a much better deal.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

Applications or petitions postmarked or otherwise filed on or after July 30, 2007 must include the new fee.

so.....MUCH MORE than before.....

Wow!!! that is a huge increase!

Wow! so let me get this straight...next year, when I have to remove conditions on my GC, I'll have to pay $545? that's insane!!!

Well...at least we have until December to save! OMHG!

That is under $50.00 per month if you start right now.

Brazilitaliana,

Just out of curiosity - how much did you pay for you last TV set?

Yodrak

lol so true. I guess we have to look at it that way and put some aside every month for immigration stuff, just like we put some in savings, some in retirement, some money for fun, and most of it for bills.

Yep...plus there is the income tax return/refund if you are lucky enough to get any. Depending on what we get back, if any, that's where ours will go when the time comes. Thank the gods we've already gotten through AOS!

Yodrak,

I didn't understand your question...are you criticizing me for thinking that $545 is a lot of money? for your info, the last (and brand new) TV set I bought cost only around $150, but not in this country.

Brazilitaliana

HOLY FRICK!!

That's a huge increase for... EVERYTHING.

I can't believe the I-485 is now over $1000!!
And I can't believe the I-751 is going to be TWICE what it was before, that's insane.

My apologies to anyone filing... anything after July 30th. Seriously.

Brazilitaliana,

No, I'm not criticizing you. Just trying to get a perspective on things.

Yodrak

We recently paid $3000 for a new T.V. ... I won't complain about these fees considering what they are for.

john_and_marlene,

I'm with you. Last weekend I paid $550 for garden mulch.

Perhaps a more relevant comparison - according to a currently active poll 23% of respondants are spending more than $200 per month on phone calls.

Yodrak

i guess its a perceived service level thing. use the phone = immediate satisfaction and the charges are pretty static. whereas crappy service + large fee increases does not = necessarily better service with USCIS. but it is what it is.

The simple fact is that these ARE the charges and they ARE what we will have to pay for our immigration. There is little that we can do about it so, rather than complaining, start saving...

Where's your timeline, Mrs Smarty-Moderator-Pants?

It WAS in my siggy, but I wanted to shorten it AND keep Cookie-Cat. Y'know, priorities and all that...

Cookie cat defense?

Not fair! You're using the one excuse that is guaranteed to get you out of any jam
as far as I am concerned!

The Cookie-Cat defence will go down in history, mark my words!

I don't like spending a lot of money. I would never buy a $3000 TV. I also wouldn't spend $500+ on mulch.

I am a budget shopper, so the increase does look BIG to me. If they don't give better service as a result of the hike, then it's not right. If they actually improve service, that's good. But with the slow way they do things, how soon in the future will it actually improve?

Still glad to be able to send in removal of conditions before the increase!!

I don’t see where AD and EAD are part of the AOS fee? Btw what is the AD again?

Found out didnt see it at the bottom of page

Thanks all

Well it is what it is and that’s it I guess. But for me the way I see it is

I485 AOS $ 325. New AOS 1010.
I131 AP $170. New AP 305
I765 EAD $180. New EAD 340.

Ok so the way I see it is the AP and EAD are included in the AOS with means if you are doing all 3 it went up $335. Not real bad if you wanted all 3 which I do. But if it is suppose to speed things up and it takes less than 2 years to get AOS than we may not use the AP anyway since I think after AOS you can travel anyway lol. The other problem is a child 14 and up has to pay the 1010. Fee. And that’s all ok if you think the child will be working from 14 till 16 before they get the AOS approved. In my opinion the 14 and up age was not thought out to much than again I guess its cause my girl has a 15 year old is way I say this.

This is my stand on things too. I'm very frugal and would rather use the money to save for our house. The fee increase is just insane, especially for AOS. We'll have to pay it, since we haven't even received NOA2 for our I-129F yet..lol.

I'm gonna be just submitting my AOS - and not the EAD and AP - fingers crossed my greencard will be issued within a year and I will not need to travel back to the UK (positive thinking)! I'll just apply for each seperatly if needed and it wont be anymore than what the new fee increase will be anyway - and I wont have to pay it all at once.

::stresses:: One more thing to stress about lol. Will my apartment be ready in time? lol. It's supposed to be ready mid to late July and I wanted to confirm I had access to my new mailbox before I sent off my I-129F packet.

::prays to the apartment building gods:: Please finish on timeeeeeee lol so I don't have to Pay so much dough.