New Immigration Fees, effective December 23, 2016, will increase for the first time in six years by a weighted average of 21 percent for most applications and petitions. USCIS said these increases include the costs associated with fraud detection and national security, service and case processing, and providing services without charge to refugee and asylum applicants and to others eligible for fee waivers or exemptions.
The final rule includes a table summarizing current and new fees. Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23 must include the new fees or USCIS will not accept them.
USCIS said it is also offering a reduced filing fee for certain naturalization applicants with limited means.
Highlights of the fee rule include:
- A fee increase of $45, or 8 percent, from $595 to $640 for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
- A reduced filing fee of $320 for naturalization applicants with family incomes greater than 150 percent but not more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2016, this means, for example, that a household of four with an income between $36,000 and $48,600 per year could pay the reduced fee. Those eligible may apply for this option using the new Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee.
- A fee increase from $550 or $600 to $1,170 for Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, and N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322.
- A new fee of $3,035 for Form I-924A, Annual Certification of Regional Center.
The USCIS announcement is at https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-final-rule-adjusting-immigration-benefit-application-and-petition-fees.