The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently issued a final rule, marking the first adjustment in fees for specific immigration and naturalization benefit requests since 2016. These revised fees, effective April 1, 2024, include a significant reduction for small business employers and nonprofit petitioners, along with a $50 decrease for online-filed petitions. In the final rule, a “small employer” is defined as having 25 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE).
This follows USCIS’s earlier announcement of an increase in premium processing fees for specific immigrant and non-immigrant petitions starting February 26, 2024. The aforementioned rule also increases the premium processing time frame, from 15 calendar days to 15 business days.
The changes in the fee regulation include the following: an increase in and the establishment of distinct fees for H-1B, L-1, and various nonimmigrant case types; the introduction of an extra fee for employers who file Forms I-129 and I-140 to support humanitarian programs; an elevation in the H-1B cap registration fee; as well as the disaggregation of adjustment of status and ancillary benefit fees, among other provisions.
The proposed rule also introduces reduced fees for Form N–400, Application for Naturalization, for applicants with household incomes not exceeding 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). Additionally, this final rule constrains fee increases for several forms, such as the Form I–130, Petition for Alien Relative, Form I–485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and Form I–765, Application for Employment Authorization, limiting them to an inflation-based increase.
In an effort to address USCIS’ asylum processing backlogs, an additional “Asylum Program Fee” of $600 is introduced, applicable to employers filing Forms I-129, I-129CW, or I-140. For small employers, the “Asylum Program Fee” is reduced to $300, while nonprofits are exempt from this fee.
The following outlines the increase in fees:
Employment-Based Non-Immigrant Petitions | ||||
Form Number | Classification | Current Fees | Fees Starting April 1st |
Fees Starting April 1st for Small Employers |
| H-1B Electronic Registration Fee | $10 | $215 | $215 |
I-129 | H-1 Classification | $460 | $780 | $460 |
I-129 | H-2A Classification | $460 | $1,090 (named) $530 (unnamed) | $545 (named) $460 (unnamed) |
I-129 | H-2B Classification | $460 | $1,080 (named) $580 (unnamed) | $540 (named) $460 (unnamed) |
I-129 | L Classification | $460 | $1,385 | $695 |
I-129* | H-3, P, Q, or R Classifications | $460 | $1,015 | $510 |
I-129 | O Classification | $460 | $1,055 | $530 |
I-129* | E or TN Classifications | $460 | $1,015 | $510 |
I-129* | CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | $460 | $1,015 | $510 |
I-539 | Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status | $370 | $470 (paper filing) $420 (online filing) | $470 (paper filing) $420 (online filing) |
Employment-Based Immigrant and Citizenship Petitions | |||
Form Number | Form Name | Current Fees With Biometrics | Fees Starting April 1st (With Biometrics) |
I-140* | Immigrant Visa Petition | $700 | $715 |
I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | $1,225 $1,140 (without biometric services) | $1,440 |
I-485 | Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (applicants under 14 applying concurrently with parent) | $750 | $950 |
I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization | $495 $410 (without biometric services) | $520 (paper filing) $470 (online) |
I-131 | Application for Travel Document | $660 $575 (without biometric services) | $630 |
Total Fees for Forms I-485, I-765 | | $1,225 | $1,700 |
Total Fees for Forms I-485, I-131 | | $1,225 | $2,070 |
Total Fees for Forms, I-485, I-131, I-765 | | $1,225 | $2,330 |
N-400 | Application for Naturalization | $725 $640 (without biometric services) | $760 (paper filing) $710 (online) |
I-90
| Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card | $540 | $465 (paper filing) $415 (online) |
*Other fees including the Asylum Program Fee are also required
Family-Based Immigrant Petitions and Others | |||
Form Number | Form Name | Current Fees With Biometrics | Fees Starting April 1st (With Biometrics) |
I-129F | Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) | $535 | $675 |
I-130 | Petition for Alien Relative | $535 | $675 (paper filing) $625 (online) |
I-131 | Refugee Travel Document for an individual age 16 or older | $220 $135 (without biometric services) | $165 |
I-131 | 1-131 Refugee Travel Document for a child under the age of 16 | $190 $105 (without biometric services) | $135 |
1-191 | Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) | $930 | $930 |
I -192 | Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant (CBP) | $585 | $1,100 |
I-192 | Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant (USCIS) | $930 | $1,100 |
I-193 | Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa | $585 | $695 |
I-212 | Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal | $930 | $1,175 |
I-290B | Notice of Appeal or Motion | $675 | $800 |
I-360 | Petition for Amerasian Widow(er), or Special Immigrant | $435 | $515 |
I-526/526E | Immigrant Petition by Standalone/Regional Center | $3,675 | $7,485 |
I-600 | Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative and I-600A Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition | $860 $775 (without biometric services) | $920 |
I-601 | Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility | $930 | $1,050 |
I-601A | Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver | $715 $630 (without biometric services) | $795 |
I-612 | Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (Under Section 212(e) of the INA, as Amended) | $930 | $1,100 |
I-687 | Application for Status as a Temporary Resident | $1,215 $1,130 (without biometric services) | $1,240 |
I-690 | Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility Under Sections 245A or 210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act | $715 | $905 |
I-694 | Notice of Appeal of Decision | $890 | $1,125 |
I-698 | Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Under Section 245A of the INA) | $1,755 $1,670 (without biometric services) | $1,670 |
I-751 | Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence | $680 $595 (without biometric services) | $750 |
I-800 | Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative and Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country | $860 $775 (without biometric services) | $920 |
I-800A | Supplement 3, Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A | $470 $385 (without biometric services) | $455 |
I-817 | Application for Family Unity Benefits | $685 $600 (without biometric services) | $760 |
I-824 | Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition | $465 | $590 |
I-829 | Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions | $3,835 $3,750 (without biometric services) | $9,525 |
I-881 | Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (for an individual adjudicated by DHS) | $370 $285 (without biometric services) | $340 |
I-910 | Application for Civil Surgeon Designation | $785 | $990 |
I-929 | Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant | $230 | $0 |
I-941 | Application for Entrepreneur Parole | $1,285 $1,200 (without biometric services) | $1,200 |
I-956 | Application for Regional Center Designation | $17,795 | $47,695 |
I-956F | Application for Approval of an Investment in a Commercial Enterprise | $17,795 | $47,695 |
I-956G | Regional Center Annual Statement | $3,035 | $4,470 |
N-300 | Application to File Declaration of Intention | $270 | $320 |
N-336 | Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings Under Section 336 | $700 | $830 (paper filing) $780 (online) |
N-470 | Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes | $355 | $420 |
N-565 | Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document | $555 | $555 (paper filing) $505 (online) |
N-600 | Application for Certificate of Citizenship | $1,170 | $1,385 (paper filing) $1,335 (online) |
N-600K | Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate | $1,170 | $1,385 (paper filing) $1,335 (online) |
USCIS Immigrant Fee |
| $220 | $235 |
We appreciate your ongoing collaboration and trust in navigating these changes. Our committed team is available to lead you through the dynamic processes, ensuring a seamless and successful immigration journey for your organization and employees. We will continue to update our partners on the latest developments.
Thank you!
Written by Taleen Khleifat.
