U.S. Immigration Fees Expected to Rise in Sixty (60) Days
What to expect for green card acquisitions, fiancé visa applications, and other immigration filings
Heads-up: U.S. immigration fees are about to go up within the next sixty days! USCIS recently finalized a rule to increase fees for various immigration filings, aiming to help cover their costs and speed up application processing.
Here's the scoop: Fees for green card applications, fiancé visas, and other immigration forms are on the rise. This means it'll cost more soon for folks applying for permanent residency, with some fees increasing by as much as 71%. All price increases are slated to happen on April 1, 2024. But don't fret! We've got the details below so you can see how these changes might affect your application.
Immigration Fees That Are Expected to Rise
Here’s how the new USCIS fees can impact your application:
| Immigration Request | Fee Before April 1, 2024 | Fee On/After April 1, 2024 | Fee Difference | Percent Increase |
| K-1 Fiancé Visa | $535 | $675 | $140 | 26% |
| CR-1 Spousal Visa | $535 | $675 | $240 | 26% |
| Naturalization (Citizenship) | $640 | $760 | $120 | 19% |
| Adjustment of Status (child under 14) | $750 | $950 | $200 | 27% |
| Removal of Conditions | $680 | $750 | $70 | 10% |
| Marriage-Based Green Card (without EAD/AP) | $1,225 | $1,440 | $215 | 18% |
| Relative Petition (I-130) | $535 | $675 | $140 | 26% |
| Employment Authorization (EAD), online filing | $410 | $470 | $60 | 15% |
| Employment Authorization (EAD), paper filing | $410 | $520 | $110 | 27% |
| Employment Authorization (EAD) with Adjustment of Status (AOS) | $1,225 | $1,700 | $475 | 39% |
| Advance Parole (AP) (w/ AOS) | Free | $630 | $630 | N/A |
| Marriage-based green card with Relative Petition, EAD and AP | $1,760 | $3,005 | $1,245 | 71% |
FAQ Time!
Why the increase, you ask?
USCIS needs to adjust fees to cover their operational expenses and avoid future backlogs.
So what went into deciding those fee hikes?
Well, they looked at how much it costs to process each form, plus covering other agency expenses. When folks pay the full fee, it helps out with covering the costs for processing cases where fees are waived or reduced.
Another common question is: Am I not eligible for fee waivers?
The new rule says fee waivers are for those who can't swing the fees, so if you belong to the group getting certain benefits, are bringing in less than 150% of the poverty level, or are currently dealing with financial struggles, then your fees just might be waived.
Next Steps
Now, for all you visa applicants out there, make sure to get your documents in order before April 1st to lock in the current rates. Need a hand? Reach out to RapidVisa—we're here to help you navigate the process smoothly.
