USCIS Proposed Fee Changes

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is proposing fee changes for certain immigration benefit applications and petitions and is currently seeking public comment.  USCIS is required to reevaluate its fee structure every two years.  According to USCIS the purpose of the proposed fee changes is to better reflect the actual cost of operations.  USCIS will accept public comments on the proposed changes until July 26, 2010 at http://www.regulations.gov/.

USCIS Director, Alejandro Mayorkas, states that USCIS is “mindful of the effect of a fee increase on the communities we serve and have worked hard to minimize the size of the proposed increase through budget cuts and other measures.”  Under the proposed fee changes, a few fees, such as the I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e), would be decreased, and the N-400 Application for Naturalization fee will remain at $595, in recognition of the “unique importance of naturalization.” According to Director Mayorkas, “Requesting and obtaining U.S. citizenship deserves special consideration given the unique nature of this benefit to the individual applicant, the significant public benefit to the Nation, and the [N]ation’s proud tradition of welcoming new citizens.”