Amid criticism of increasingly poor performance by lawmakers and immigration advocates, the Immigration and Naturalization Service has stated it intends to raise fees in 1998. The State Department also has announced planned fee increases to take effect on February 1st.

The INS plans to raise fees on two dozen types of services. The current schedule took effect in July 1994 and has not been adjusted since. The INS soon plans to announce the fees in the Federal Register, but Commissioner Meissner indicated that the public would have time to comment before the fees take effect.

Meissner pledged not to let the fees increase until she sees a measured improvement in INS customer service. Meissner made a similar statement several months ago when a proposed doubling of naturalization fees was leaked. However, the INS Commissioner has failed to spell out what level of improvement is needed and how she will measure the change.

Meissner did note in an interview with the Associated Press that improving service and whittling down processing times are the agency's chief priorities in 1998. Meissner noted that in order to provide the level of service desired, the agency needs to charge more.

The State Department has already released its proposed increases in the Federal Register. The main increase that will affect visa applicants is the increase from $20 to $45 on the machine readable visa fee which all non-immigrant visa applicants pay. The State Department has noted that the increasing cost of new technology dictates that the fee be raised. Applicants frequently pay an additional visa fee, but this fee is determined based on a reciprocity schedule with the applicant's home country. The latter fee is not affected by the new rule. One other fee that is new is a $120 charge to replace lost green cards and a $50 charge for legal permanent residents to processing a returning resident application.