USCIS Updates Immigration and Naturalization Fees: What You Need to Know
The Law Office of Adebimpe Jafojo is dedicated to keeping you informed about important changes in immigration law. Today, we're discussing the recent update from USCIS regarding adjustments to certain immigration and naturalization fees.
What's Changing?
Effective April 1, 2024, USCIS will implement a new fee schedule for various immigration and naturalization benefits. This update aims to help the agency recover more of its operating costs and support faster processing times.
Key Points:
Reduced cost recovery: While fees are increasing, USCIS lowered its required annual cost recovery by $727 million.
Expanded fee exemptions: Special Immigrant Juveniles, victims of specific crimes, U.S. military service members, and families adopting internationally receive fee exemptions.
Discounts for specific groups: Nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and certain applicants for adjustment of status qualify for fee discounts.
Increased affordability: Reduced fees are available for naturalization applications based on income and online filing.
Limited fee increases: For most individual filers, new fees won't increase by more than 26%, reflecting inflation since the last fee change in 2016.
What This Means for You:
Be prepared for potential fee changes: If you're planning to file an immigration or naturalization application after April 1st, be sure to check the updated fee schedule on the USCIS website.
Seek legal guidance: Understanding the new fees and navigating the application process can be complex. We recommend consulting with an experienced immigration attorney to ensure your application is accurate and filed correctly.
We are Here to Help:
The Law Office of Adebimpe Jafojo can assist you with understanding the new fee schedule, evaluating your eligibility for fee exemptions or discounts, and navigating the entire immigration process. Contact us today for a consultation and let us help you achieve your immigration goals.
Additional Resources:
USCIS Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-uscis-fee-rule
USCIS Fee Schedule: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees
Remember, this blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with an attorney for personalized guidance related to your specific immigration situation.
