Upcoming USCIS fees increases and changes on AOS

[Elays 415]

USCIS is expected to raise GC fee around March, in addition to making the EAD and AP no longer free when applying for them along with the GC🫠

 

The AOS is going to go from $1,225 to almost $3,000, crazy🙄

 

These changes will probably catch me since I won't be able to do AOS until April, so I'm considering applying for the GC only (it will cost $1540)🤔

 

Am I okay if I only apply for the GC? Once I have the GC I will be able to work and travel, right?🙏

 

Thank you❤️

[Boiler 43,438]

EAD and AP are optional.

 

More reasons for the K1 not normally being a good option.

[Dashinka 23,248]

I agree, the I765 and I131 are optional (my wife back in 2014 only submitted the I765), and yes, once you receive the GC, you can work and travel. 

 

Good Luck!

 

 

[OldUser 4,813]

5 hours ago, Elays said:

USCIS is expected to raise GC fee around March, in addition to making the EAD and AP no longer free when applying for them along with the GC🫠

 

The AOS is going to go from $1,225 to almost $3,000, crazy🙄

That's aweful!

 

I guess K-1 makes even less sense in  light of these changes and current processing times. How much would I-765 and I-131 would be?

 

The problem with not having these:

- I-131 can help if immigrant needs to urgently go visit sick parents etc

- I-765 allows to work (and thus support new family) and get DL / ID,  open bank accounts etc

Edited January 24 by OldUser

[jackiegringa 349]

5 hours ago, Elays said:

Am I okay if I only apply for the GC? Once I have the GC I will be able to work and travel, right?🙏

Yes, just consider the fact that in between applying and getting the green card you won't have ANY WAY of leaving the country for ANY REASON. Also no income until the green card is in hands. I know it sounds okay to wait 6-8 months when you are starting your process but when it takes longer - and you don't know if your case will take longer or not - and something comes up like a family member illness, funerals, weddings, births etc. or if your partner loses their job and you need income it becomes really hard to deal with.

 

This is not to scare you into getting EAD and AP, and honestly there are cases that the GC is approved before you get them, making them a moot point (and more reason continue to be free but I digress). But there are a lot of topics created here in the forums with people in situations they could not have predicted asking if there's a way to get an emergency AP and the answer in practical terms is no. It is extremely difficult for USCIS to even bother looking at your case let alone grant you AP(or EAD) quickly because you are in a rush.

 

So consider either rushing to apply before the fee increase or paying for EAD/AP even if it's tight on your budget as a form of insurance for the near future.

Edited January 24 by jackiegringa

[JeanneAdil 6,202]

so far the changes reflect the I 129 f for worker and preminum processing according to USICS and the federal registry

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-announces-inflation-adjustment-to-premium-processing-fees

 

 

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/28/2023-28529/adjustment-to-premium-processing-fees

 

the fees schedule for other classes is to be ruled on in April so u may be able to AOS before those fees go up /praying for u

 

This fee increases are over a year in process

 

Expect the increase that was proposed in Federal registry 1/4/2023 to be announced in the late spring as approved as

only 8000+/_  responded with comments pro and con (out of the over 9 million who petition each year ) reguarding the proposed changes to the january 2023 federal registry 

 

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/01/04/2022-27066/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-fee-schedule-and-changes-to-certain-other-immigratio

[Elays 415]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

That's aweful!

 

I guess K-1 makes even less sense in  light of these changes and current processing times. How much would I-765 and I-131 would be?

 

The problem with not having these:

- I-131 can help if immigrant needs to urgently go visit sick parents etc

- I-765 allows to work (and thus support new family) and get DL / ID,  open bank accounts etc

Yes its awful

 

The EAD and AP will be $650 each...its crazy plus $1540 for the GC...

 

But the GC will allow me open bank accounts, work, travel and all that, right? 

 

3k is too much after all the expenses we are having with this visa....

 

I know ppl who got their GC in 3 months so I hope to be lucky too

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SalishSea 16,774]

27 minutes ago, Elays said:

Yes its awful

 

The EAD and AP will be $650 each...its crazy plus $1540 for the GC...

 

But the GC will allow me open bank accounts, work, travel and all that, right? 

 

3k is too much after all the expenses we are having with this visa....

 

I know ppl who got their GC in 3 months so I hope to be lucky too

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why even do a K-1 though?   That’s what makes no sense.

[TBoneTX 43,059]

An inappropriate post has been removed.

 

VJ Moderation

[jackiegringa 349]

2 hours ago, Elays said:

I know ppl who got their GC in 3 months so I hope to be lucky too

Ok, you ignored my comment so I'll comment one last time. If your expectations are 3 months for a green card, you have a huge chance of being disappointed, stuck in the US and not able to work for much longer than that. I hope I'm wrong and you are one of the lucky ones. Statistically it is very unlikely.

 

Edit: I checked your timeline and you are not in the US yet? There's a lot of time between today and the fee increase, if the cost is so prohibitive just start working on your application now and submit it as soon as you can, avoiding all issues with no AP/EAD.

 

Edited January 24 by jackiegringa

[Lemonslice 4,555]

8 hours ago, Elays said:

Yes its awful

 

The EAD and AP will be $650 each...its crazy plus $1540 for the GC...

 

But the GC will allow me open bank accounts, work, travel and all that, right? 

 

3k is too much after all the expenses we are having with this visa....

 

I know ppl who got their GC in 3 months so I hope to be lucky too

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not working for 9-12 months will probably decrease your income much more than $1500... 

[OldUser 4,813]

7 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Not working for 9-12 months will probably decrease your income much more than $1500... 

Cannot agree more. California 2024. $1500 can be made in 94 hours of minimum wage work, or ~12 days of full shifts. Starting April 2024, $20/hr is the mimimum wage for fast food employee workers in CA. $1500 be made in 75 hours.

Opportunity cost is at least ~25K in 9 months of waiting....

[Thrillhouse 193]

11 hours ago, jackiegringa said:

This is not to scare you into getting EAD and AP, and honestly there are cases that the GC is approved before you get them, making them a moot point (and more reason continue to be free but I digress).

 

My EAD/AP took over 9 months to be processed, and finally showed up a week before my green card did. 🙄

 

Such a waste of effort ... thank goodness I didn't pay extra. If they expect people to fork out $$$ for EAD/AP now, they darn well better guarantee that they'll be processed within a matter of weeks.

[OldUser 4,813]

19 minutes ago, Thrillhouse said:

 

My EAD/AP took over 9 months to be processed, and finally showed up a week before my green card did. 🙄

 

Sorry to hear about that. Your case is definitely annoying (though you didn't pay for it?) I had my EAD for about 5 months before GC approval. 

[Cathi 5,610]

Another reason why the CR1/IR1 is the superior visa. The fees for a K-1 are astronomical.