Immigration fees would increase by an average of 10% under new proposal

Immigration fees would increase by an average of 10% under a proposal announced Wednesday by U.S. officials.

Some of the fee increases would include applications to replace permanent resident cards, which would increase from $290 to $365; applications for naturalization certificates, which would jump from $460 to $600; and applications for status as a temporary resident, which would rise from $710 to $1,130.  

But the proposal would not increase fees for citizenship applications, one of the largest and most politically popular benefits. Those fees were hiked by 70% to $675 in 2007, an increase that immigrant-rights groups blamed for putting citizenship out of reach for the poor.

Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the proposed fee increases were needed to close a projected $200-million deficit for 2010-11. Budget cuts of $160 million were not enough to offset the gap between the agency's projected $2.1 billion in revenue and $2.3 billion in costs, he said in a national teleconference.

Fees for citizenship will not be raised "given the unique nature of this benefit to the individual applicant, the significant public benefit to the nation and the nation's proud tradition of welcoming new citizens," he said in a statement.
 
The proposal came after a lengthy fee review and meetings with community members in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and elsewhere.

Immigrant advocates hailed the decision not to raise citizenship fees.

"It's very clear the Obama administration has heard the concern of the immigrant community about keeping citizenship affordable," said Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
 
Three new fees are proposed to cover the processing costs of visas for immigrants, investors and civil surgeons.

Under the proposed changes, some fees would actually decrease. For example, applications to adjust status from temporary to permanent resident would drop from $1,370 to $1,070, and applications for family unity benefits would go from $440 to $435.

Mayorkas urged the public to weigh in on the proposal at www.regulations.gov. The 45-day public comment period runs from Friday to July 26.

-- Teresa Watanabe

Comments

[Ken]

What about illegal immigration? What fees will they have to pay?

[Jagexxx]

Lat's hope some of the fees go to building a fence!

[Maury]

Oh, how kind of them not to raise the citizenship fee again. It's already been jacked up 70% sheesh.... Maybe these thieves will come up with some other new fee to make up for this one, like the international air quality breathing fee. Yes, immigrants will have to pay an air fee to breathe our polluted air, lol.

[the old one]

Free lunch, free school, free medical, free, free, free.....they don't get free in Mexico? then why us? oh did I leave it out they don't pay taxes! when there wage is b below $31,000.00 another freebe

[1person]

So the fees would go up but the processes and services wouldn't improve? Typical

[dana]

I want all illegals to apply and become citizens or else leave my USA. But at $675 an application and most immigrants having at least a child or 2 (or 5) how are they supposed to afford that?

[whamo]

Double the fee! Employers will pay it to bring in cheap and educated labor so they can lay off American workers who demand a living wage.

[Shirley]

* endure

[Shirley]

In lieu of all the anti-immigrant sentiments, I hope to count with some of y'all s support, or at least read the petitions and learn about some of the situations most immigrants endure:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/request-to-immediately-halt-deportation-of-guatemalan-immigrants-and-provide-temporary-protective

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/tps-for-guatemala

[Jack B]

"Those fees were hiked by 70% to $675 in 2007, an increase that immigrant-rights groups blamed for putting citizenship out of reach for the poor." If they found a way to come up with the $3000 or more to get her illegally, they could surely come up with $675. How about the price paid by those who died for these rights? You know the one's that immigrants from all countries are trying are trying to take advantage of and that bleeding hearts are trying to give away.

[Curious]

Does any body knows when these fees going to be effective?