USCIS has announced a major filing fee increase starting April 1, 2024. The fees increase in almost every type of immigration process, which we will cover below.
Green Card Filing Fees
The adjustment of status Green Card process will be significantly more expensive. If you’re getting a Green Card through a spouse or through an adult child, the employment authorization (work permit) card is no longer included with a Green Card application. USCIS is offering it for around $250 when included with other filing fees, so in almost all cases, it will still be worth it to apply for one.
Additionally, Advance Parole, which is the card that allows international travel under certain circumstances during your Green Card processing, is free right now when included with Green Card applications but will not be free starting April 1, 2024. It will be an additional $630 fee. It may still be beneficial for some applicants to apply for this depending on their circumstances; however, there is an additional cost which could affect your future travel plans.
If you’re able to file your Green Card application before April 1, 2024, you should do so, as it will be significantly less expensive. Because the paperwork and documents can take some time to prepare, you should start immediately.
Fiancé Visa Filing Fees
Form I-129F, which is the form you fill out for a fiancé or K-1 visa, will increase in price to $675 in April. Currently, it is $535. If you’re eligible, you should get this filed before the filing fee increases.
Removal of Conditions Filing Fees
Form I-751, which is the form you submit to remove the conditions on a two-year Green Card, will go up to $750. Currently, the filing fee for Removal of Conditions is $680. This increase is significantly less than what we were initially expecting from USCIS, which is good news for individuals who have two-year Green Cards that need to be updated to the 10-year Green Card.
Naturalization, or Citizenship, Filing Fees
Naturalization through filing the form N-400 will stay about the same. However, those with lower incomes—including many in the middle class—will see a substantial DECREASE in the filing fee. Unfortunately, there will likely be some additional work involved in proving your income, but it’s certainly a great incentive for those who are eligible to apply for citizenship.
H-1B Visa Filing Fees
The filing fee for H-1B Visas will increase substantially for mid-size and large companies. The initial fee for filing form I-129 will be $780 instead of $460. Luckily, for companies with 25 or fewer full-time employees and for nonprofits, the fee will remain $460.
Additionally, the H-1B lottery will increase from $10 to $215, perhaps in order to discourage non-serious lottery candidates. Since the fees increase April 1, 2024, this specific change will not have any impact until 2025 because the H-1B lottery is in March.
Read our article about H-1B visa changes in 2024 to learn more about specific updates regarding H-1B visas.
Additional USCIS changes for 2024
Fees for most other types of cases will also increase, some substantially. You can find a summary of these filing fee increases at the USCIS website.
In addition to these upcoming filing fee changes, other aspects of immigration processes are changing too.
New Editions of USCIS Forms
USCIS will also release new editions of forms you need to fill out for your immigration matter. Some of these will have a grace period, and some will not. It’s vital that you pay close attention to what the current version of the form is before you file, as USCIS will reject any forms that aren’t current. You can find the current edition date for each form online at the USCIS website.
If you have questions about the forms you need, or if you need help filling out the forms, then consult with an immigration attorney.
Discounts for Filing Online
Only some applications can be submitted online, so any discount will apply to only a few specific forms. USCIS wants to motivate individuals to apply online, so they are introducing $50 discounts if you apply online.
Oftentimes, the USCIS online system is not reliable, so many immigration attorneys still opt to file paper copies of the forms to ensure that nothing gets lost online. However, with the $50 discount on filing fees, many immigration attorneys will be reevaluating how they file their cases.
Many forms will still need to be mailed into a USCIS processing office because they are not available to submit online. For the few forms that can be filed online, we may start submitting them online more often depending on whether or not the USCIS online system becomes more reliable.
In our office, we will start conferring with other immigration attorneys and our own staff to determine the best methods for filing your case specifically. For example, it may be more reliable and more cost effective to submit the form I-130 (a necessary form for a Green Card application) online and then submitting the rest of the paperwork, which is not available to submit online, via FedEx.
Law Office of Timothy Jones
Most filing fees will increase on April 1, 2024. To save a substantial amount of money, you should consider filing for your immigration matter quickly. Remember, it takes time to gather all the necessary information and documentation for filing, so you should start your process immediately if you want to avoid the more expensive fees.
Our team at the Law Office of Timothy Jones is very efficient at communicating with clients regarding the information and documentation we need for your specific immigration case. If you would like help to start this process before the fees increase, contact our office today and we will schedule you in for a consultation with Attorney Jones.
