Family and Marriage Based Immigration to the USA
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Archive for January, 2007

New proposed CIS filing fees to increase total immigration costs up to $1,040 for K-1 applicants, K-3 up to $920

Wednesday, January 31st, 2007

The new proposed CIS rate increases for fiscal year 2008 (see rate sheet below) will cost K-1 applicants up to $1,040 in additional fee’s for their entire immigration paperwork. K-3 applicants will have to pay up to $920 in additional fees. The major benefit cited by the US CIS is to reduce application processing times and to improve the operation of the CIS as a whole. As part of the proposed change Employment Authorization Documents as well as Advance Parole (travel) documents will require no additional fee(s) when filed with an I-485 (to adjust status to permanent residency). Both benefits will also incur no additional cost to renew while the I-485 application is processing.
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Family-based immigrant petitions must now be filed only with USCIS

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007

Effective immediately, in accordance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, overseas consular posts are no longer authorized to accept or adjudicate I-130 petitions. This also affects many intending immigrant spouses of US Citizens that wished to file their I-130’s at their local Consulate, a process also known as “Direct Consular Filing” or DCF.

The recently passed Adam Walsh Act has led to changes in the procedures American citizens resident abroad will follow if they wish to sponsor an immediate relative (spouse, parent or minor child) for an immigrant visa. According to this legislation, all family-based immigrant visa petitions (I-130s) must be screened to ensure the petitioner has not been convicted of specified criminal offences against a minor. (more…)