Blog & Updates

USCIS Proposes Fee Increase

June 15, 2010 - Posted by Maurice Belanger

On June 11, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published a Proposed Rule to adjust the schedule of fees for immigration benefits.  After it completed its latest fee review earlier this year, USCIS proposed to increase fees, on average approximately 10%.  Some fees will go up much more, and some fees will be decreased.

Since the last fee increase in 2007, USCIS has heard from many advocates expressing concern that the fee for an application for naturalization is set too high for some low-income immigrants and is discouraging immigrants from applying for citizenship.  In the new proposed fee schedule, USCIS has decided to retain the current fee for naturalization ($595, though the cost of biometric services will be increased by $5 to $85).  The fee for naturalization will remain the same despite the finding by USICS in its latest fee review that the cost to the agency for processing naturalization applications is $655.  Had not the agency decided to keep the naturalization fee stable, the total cost to apply for naturalization, including the biometric fee, would have been $740.  (Currently, it is $675.)  The agency will make up the difference in recovering its costs by distributing that cost over other applications, adding approximately $8 to applications for other immigration benefits.

The public comment period for this proposed rule ends on July 26.  You can submit a comment by going to http://www.regulations.gov and typing the DHS Docket Number "USCIS–2009–0033" in the search box.

Following are links to further information:

Proposed fee rule: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-13991.pdf

Press Release (USCIS): http://tinyurl.com/37szn3z

Fact Sheet (USCIS): http://tinyurl.com/2wmxsgx

Questions and Answers (USCIS): http://tinyurl.com/332sox8

Press Release (National Immigration Forum): http://tinyurl.com/3ajrcja