New Rates for Immigration Procedures in Effect in the United States

Recently, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated the implementation of new fees for immigration procedures in the country.

Information about these variations in payments had already been announced at the beginning of 2024 by USCIS, as part of an adjustment to the current and complex economic situation the country is facing.

It might seem like everything would cost less, but that is not the case; the new adjusted prices are higher, which directly affects those who need to carry out the procedures.

All premium processing requests postmarked February 26, 2024, or later will be subject to the new fee.

Premium processing, says USCIS, is “for which DHS charges a fee in addition to the regular filing fee for individuals seeking expedited processing of eligible immigration benefit applications.”

New Fee Structure

The measure took effect on February 26 and is as follows:

• Form I-129 or Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker is priced at $1685 for H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status and $2805 for the rest of the classifications.
• Form I-140 or Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker requires a payment of $2805 for employment-based classifications.
• Form I-539 or Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status requires a payment of $1965 for specific classifications.
• Form I-765 or Application for Employment Authorization will cost $1685 for certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C.

USCIS stated that this premium processing can only be requested for a benefit if the agency announces on its website that it is available.

The increase in amounts is a policy of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aligned with the cost of living according to the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers from June 2021 to June 2023.

The increases are generally set between $150 and $300 compared to the previous fee.