US increases immigration, citizenship fees

United States, 27th October: The US Embassy has increased the fees for US Citizenship and Immigration Service applications by around 10 percent.  

Such increase will, however, not be applicable to consular or visa services.

The fee hike in the US immigration and citizenship will come into effect from 23rd November 2010 onwards.

As per the revised fees for US immigration and US citizenship, any application for Petition for Alien Relative will now cost US$420 as compared to the earlier fee of US$305.      

Also, the new application fee for Travel Document will be US$360 as compared to the earlier fee of US$305. And the fee for Notice of Motion or Appeal will be US$585 from the earlier fee of US$545.

Those filing application for new US Green Card will have to shell out $985 as compared to the earlier fee of $930. And fees for making applications for replacing a US Green Card will be up to $365 from $290 while those wanting to replace a US green card will have to pay $450 instead of $370.

Immigrants seeking US work permits will have to pay an increased fee of $380 as compared to the earlier fee of $340.

The biometric fee has also been increased to $85 from the earlier $80.

Any applications made on or after 23rd November 2010 must be accompanied by the revised fee.

The US immigration officials have justified the hike in the US immigration and citizenship applications fees stating that a decline in the agency revenue due to lesser number of applications had made it compulsory for revising the fee structure.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of USCIS, said that the USCIS is grateful to people for their valuable support which led to the preparation of the final fee structure. Mayorkas reiterated the agency’s commitment towards enhancing the services for the communities.

Detailed revised fee structure for US immigration and US citizenship applications is available at the official website of the US CIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service).

The law requires the US immigration agency to conduct reviews of fee structure once in every two years in order to know the funding levels required for the services provided by the agency.