January 30th, 2024 at 04:06 am

USCIS Fees Update – USCIS Changes Fee Payment Process for Filing – USCIS Processing

The fee payment procedure for in-person filings is altered by USCIS. For the majority of petitioners, requesters, and their attorneys or authorized representatives, USCIS is initiating a new procedure that requires payment for some benefit request forms via mail.

Following the revised procedure, applicants can mail their benefit request to the field office together with a check or form G-1450 authorizing credit card transactions. To be sure that their benefit request form may be filed by mail or remotely and that they are filing at the correct location, applicants, petitioners, requesters, and their attorneys or accredited representatives should carefully read the filing instructions.

Any inaccurate files will be returned to the applicant by USCIS, who will then need to resubmit the document to the appropriate office. For those who have to pay these fees, the new procedure should save time and money by doing away with the requirement for an office appointment.

New Developments

Payments for an EOIR-29 Notice of Appeal from a DHS officer’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals can now be processed by attorneys and accredited Representatives. Following the processing of such payment, attorneys and accredited representatives are required to mail the following documents to the field office on behalf of their clients: EOIR-29, EOIR-2, EOIR-27 Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and Pay Gov receipt.

Advance parole applications for emergencies are exempt from the new procedure. The application fee must still be paid in person at the field office by check or credit card with form G1450, and applicants submitting Form I-131, an application for travel documents, with an EAP request, must still schedule an appointment with the USCIS Contact Center and apply in person with their package.

USCIS Increasing Premium Processing Fees in February 2024

A final regulation that was just released by USCIS and published in the Federal Register alerts the public to an upcoming change in premium processing costs that will take effect on February 26, 2024. The fees have been adjusted following the June 2021–June 2023 inflation index. Significant ramifications flow from this revelation for people navigating the US immigration system.

Summary of the Impending Changes in Premium Processing Fees for Various Forms

1. Form I-129, Petition for H2B or R-1 Nonimmigrant

• Current premium processing fee: $1,500
• New premium processing fee $1,685

2. Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant (other than for H2B or R-1)

• Current premium processing fee: $2,500
• New premium processing fee: $2,805

3. Form I-539, Applications to change Nonimmigrant Status

• Current premium processing fee: $1,750
• New premium processing fee: $1,965

4. Form I-140, Immigrant Petition

• Current premium processing fee: $2,500
• New premium processing fee: $2,805

5. Form I-765, Applications for Employment Authorization

• Current premium processing fee: $1,500
• New premium processing fee: $1,685

Requests for premium processing with a postmark date of February 26, 2024, or later, will be subject to this increased charge. Congress has given USCIS permission to examine and raise its premium processing costs every two years to keep up with inflation.

USCIS Reduces I-130 Processing Times for Family Petitions

USCIS Initiatives to Expedite I-130 Processing

Premium Processing and its Impact

Challenges in Processing I-130 Petitions

USCIS’s Approach to Accelerate Processing

Predictions for 2024 and Beyond

Get a peek at what to expect when it comes to I-130 processing timelines in 2024. Examine the patterns seen in the past few months regarding wait times and reductions for particular categories. Recognize that while USCIS continues to hone its procedures, additional advancements and quicker decisions are to be expected.

Applicants can expect a more prompt and efficient immigration experience as USCIS makes major efforts to improve the effectiveness of I-130 processing. Keep up with the most recent happenings, investigate 2024 projections, and confidently traverse the changing terrain of US immigration