REMINDER! INCREASED FEES AND CERTAIN UPDATED FORMS TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1 WITH NO GRACE PERIOD

At the start of this year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced fee changes for several forms starting April 1, 2024.

During a biennial fee review, USCIS determined that the current fees for several forms do not recover the full cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services.

Fee changes range from only 7% increase to 2050% increase.

H-1B Registration Process fee will increase from $10 to $215.
Form I-129 Petition for L Nonimmigrant Workers will increase from $460 to $1,385.
Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (online filing) will increase from $535 to $710.
Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (paper filing) will increase from $535 to $820.
Form I-131, Application for Travel Document will increase from $575 to $630.
Form I-526/526E Immigrant Petition by Standalone/Regional Center will increase from $3,675 to $11,160.

To view the full fee schedule, click here.

Again, the final rule is effective April 1, 2024. Any benefit request postmarked on or after this date must be accompanied by the fees established by this final rule.

Additionally, applicants and petitioners must use the new "04/01/24" editions of the following forms:

Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker;

Form I-129 CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker;

Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers;

Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative; and

Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, and the form’s supplements.

Although USCIS usually provides a grace period when publishing new forms, the forms listed above include changes necessary for the Service to administer the new fees.

Therefore, USCIS will not provide a grace period for the above-listed forms.

Williams Global Law has extensive experience in a variety of immigration areas, including employment-based visas, immigrant investors, citizenship through naturalization, and family-based immigration.

For specialized insight, book a consultation with one of our expert attorneys.

Source