USCIS Considering an Increase in Filing Fees
Posted Nov 06, 2009
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During a visit to Los Angeles in September 2009, USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas indicated that financial issues have caused his agency to consider an increase in filing fees, according to a September 24, 2009 article in the Los Angeles Times. The article states that the fee increase is being considered as a means to fill a $118 million revenue gap, caused by a drop in applications for citizenship and skilled-worker visas.
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The LA Times reported that, in the Southern California district, citizenship applications declined to 58,000 last year, compared to 254,000 in the previous year, a decrease experts have attributed to a 69 percent fee increase for citizenship applications in July 2007. At that time, the USCIS raised the filing fees for a variety of immigration benefits, including the filing costs for green cards, which more than doubled. There was widespread complaint about the 2007 fee increases and, if the proposed fee increases are implemented, they again are likely to be controversial.
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In addition to the fee increases, the USCIS also is said to be considering budget cuts. The LA Times article notes that, although the USCIS is required to be self-supporting, agency Director Mayorkas has requested a Congressional appropriation of $206 million to make up the budget shortfall.
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During his visit to southern California, the LA Times reported, Director Mayorkas pledged to continue the Obama Administration's efforts to improve his agency's services, and, as evidence of this commitment, cited recent progress in cutting backlogs and wait times for citizenship applicants.
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As of this writing, there has been no official announcement or Federal Register notice, as required to officially propose changes in the current fees. We will continue to track this issue, and will report any developments that may affect MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers.