If you are planning to file an application for a visa, Green Card, or naturalization, we highly recommend you do so before the end of the year. Filing fees will increase by an average of 21% on December 23, 2016. In addition, due to the uncertainty of the transition to a new President and GOP-majority Congress, we recommend filing your application now so that it will be in the queue in the event programs are taken away, modified, or application wait times increase.
Fee Increase
For the first time in six years, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be increasing its filing fees to help cover the increasing costs of providing its services. Some increases will be substantial, others less so, and overall, fees will increase by a weighted average of 21%. Some more common and popular applications that will be affected include the following forms, which are used for Green Card, work permit, and citizenship applications: I-90, I-130, I-140, I-485, I-765, and N-400, to name a few. For more detailed information on each of these changes, and all other fee increases, check out our recent blog post here.
One of the steepest increases is the fee for EB-5 applications, especially Form I-526 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Entrepreneur), which will increase from $1,500 to $3,675 – an almost 145% increase. Furthermore, USCIS also added a $3,035 fee for the I-924A – Annual Certification of Regional Center, an essential form for EB-5 applicants applying through Regional Centers.
Policy Changes in the Wake of the Presidential and Congressional Election
Furthermore, in the aftermath of the recent Presidential election, the future of the immigration landscape is unclear. If you are concerned that president-elect Donald Trump will institute or eliminate immigration policies that may negatively affect you, it is crucial to apply for immigration relief before inauguration day on January 20, 2017. In the event that funds are diverted from some areas of immigration law to fund new programs, wait times could increase, and applications from other anxious applicants could multiply as well. It’s best to be ahead of the curve.
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*This article is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. This article does not make any guarantees as to the outcome of a particular matter, as each matter has its own set of circumstances and must be evaluated individually by a licensed attorney.
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