Appropriations Mix-up Results In Lower INS Fees

Today marked the last day that the US asylum and refugee programs are operational. An unexpected last minute change in the homeland security bill has left them without funding. Historically, the fees for immigration benefits have included a surcharge of about $50, which is used to fund processing of asylum and refugee applications, because the applicants themselves do not pay a fee. Advocates have long sought to have the government directly fund this processing, and has secured a provision providing such funding. But as final changes were made to the language of the bill, this funding was cut, while language eliminating the surcharge was retained.

The practical effect of this, apart from the fact that processing asylum and refugee applications will be uncertain until funding is provided, is that fees for other INS applications will go down. The INS says that rather than reject applications accompanied by the stated fee (including the surcharge), it will accept these cases and set up a system to provide refunds.

The new fees are listed below.

 

 

Form

Description

New Fee

Old Fee

I-17

Petition for Approve of School

$167

$230

I-90

Application to Replace Alien Registration Card

$95

$130

I-102

Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Document

$73

$100

I-129

Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

$96

$130

I-129F

Petition for Alien Fiance(e)

$81

$110

I-130

Petition for Alien Relative

$96

$130

I-131

Application for Travel Document

$80

$110

I-140

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker

$99

$140

I-191

Application for Advance Permission to Return to Unrelinquished Domicile

$142

$195

I-192

Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant

$142

$195

I-193

Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa

$142

$195

I-212

Application to Reapply for Admission to the US after Deportation

$142

$195

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Resident of Adjust Status

$186

$255

I-526

Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur

$290

$400

I-539

Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

$102

$140

I-600/600A

Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative/Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

$332

$460

I-601

Application for Waiver on Grounds of Excludability

$142

$195

I-612

Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement

$142

$195

I-751

Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence

$105

$145

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization

$88

$120

I-817

Application for Family Unity Benefits

$104

$140

I-824

Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition

$104

$140

I-829

Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions

$286

$395

N-400

Application for Naturalization

$188

$260

N-565

Application for Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Document

$113

$155

N-600

Application for Certificate of Citizenship

$134

$185

N-643

Application for Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted Child

$105

$145

 

Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.