Visa Fees, Citizenship Fees Increases Be Out Today

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thera33

Registered Users (C)
If the pressure of waiting for your application to be finalized, here comes more pain, the USCIS will announce a cross the board increase on every processing being done by them, even the cost of a greencard application which cost $325US, will increase, name-check, etc. What are your thoughts on this.
 
So in their world the average Green Card applicant pays for 2 EADs and at least 1 AP, and they use those numbers to justify increasing the I-485 cost from $325 to $905?
Right.
 
The increase is only $105, assuming you would have had 2 EADs and 1 AP. Personally in my Green Card process I paid for 1 EAD only, so for me this would represent more like a $4-500 increase.
 
Foolishness can't be justified

Guys,

USCIS has once again outdone itself, how can they justify this stupid increase? I wonder how many immigrants will be able to afford this new proposed new fee in the near future. Couple of issues to consider: :eek:

If you have an H1-B visa, then why the hell would you need to pay this proposed $905, because your H1-B will still be in effect till you get your greencard? Technically, you will be suffering with the rest of people who need their EAD in the interim. :mad: If they increase their fees, then people should be issued EAD in 45 days, not between 45-90 days, because now they can afford to hire few dooshbags to process their paperwork... ;)

It will make more sense if they increase their fees, and cut the processing time in half. For example, if you apply for your greencard on Jan 1, 2007, then there is a guarantee that your GC will be in hand by April 1st, 2007 barring RFE and antiquated FBI computer systems for name check and background check. However, what is the point of increasing the fees, if this will give them more time to waste and issue you EAD after EAD? :rolleyes:

The new fee will be more than what people pay for their N400, but that won't be for long, because I understand USCIS is proposing an increase of the N400 fee to a $1000.00. However, timeline will increase and people will continue to be frustrated with bull... :cool:
 
I don't think that a hike in fees will cause for more pain. I mean paying 1000 bucks for the right to stay here and have the same rights as a US citizen is money well spend and usually (at least in this forum) people don't just come here for work, they come because they have relationships with people that are Americans and you just can't put a price tag on that. I actually think the applications are a bit on the cheap site, if you are thinking about the return on your investment.
 
velli said:
I don't think that a hike in fees will cause for more pain. I mean paying 1000 bucks for the right to stay here and have the same rights as a US citizen is money well spend and usually (at least in this forum) people don't just come here for work, they come because they have relationships with people that are Americans and you just can't put a price tag on that. I actually think the applications are a bit on the cheap site, if you are thinking about the return on your investment.
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Velli,

I understand the thrust of your argument. However, I have read of cases where people couldn't afford to file immigration paperwork because they couldn't afford the fees. A recent example is of this Australian guy in Key West, for 6 yrs, he and wife couldn't afford to file the paperwork because the wife is in the military and pay sucks big time. :rolleyes: He couldn't work, or worked for small pay, just to keep his family afloat...

Moreover, there are lot of people who come from poor developing countries, even developed countries who can't afford to pay the fees. So, hiking the fees isn't going to be a welcomed idea for most of these immigrations. :o I have no problem paying the fee, because I have solid financial status, but I have to always think of people who aren't fortunate enough to have money in excess. :( Paradise has its own price, but the price has to be right too. :(

Most recently, while shopping at Macys, I had an opportunity to talk to a newly minted immigrant from Ethopia, a Sales Associates. He won the diversity lottery, and he told me that the fees they have to pay to be able to obtain their greencard is enough to ruin one's family, leave them destitute and unable to even afford a plane ticket to the US. So, their strategy when they win this lottery is simple, the village or family pull together resources, with the hope that once a family member is in the US, he or she will pay back those at home in Ethopia. :p So, can you imagine how many winners of Diversity Lottery never make it to the US because of lack of finances? So, this challenge is now being brought to the US by this ridiculous hike. :cool:

USCIS can hike the fees, as long as it improves its services and cut processign times in half, so that everyone wins. Why not institute premuim processing for families? :confused:
 
Could not file immediately even when eligible - fees :(

A very simple example - myself...

My wife got her citizenship in about a year after she qualified - she was saving money for the fees. I have files my AOS in 1.5 years after my priority date - simply did not have the money to pay the fees and needed to save some.

Thus, we lost almost 3 years during which time I have had only low-paying jobs - the lack of funds to pay the fees resulted in a huge loss (of unearned/underearned income). The government lost too - because with a lower wage I paid less in taxes.

Who won?
 
Al Southner said:
Velli,

I understand the thrust of your argument. However, I have read of cases where people couldn't afford to file immigration paperwork because they couldn't afford the fees. A recent example is of this Australian guy in Key West, for 6 yrs, he and wife couldn't afford to file the paperwork because the wife is in the military and pay sucks big time. :rolleyes: He couldn't work, or worked for small pay, just to keep his family afloat...

Moreover, there are lot of people who come from poor developing countries, even developed countries who can't afford to pay the fees. So, hiking the fees isn't going to be a welcomed idea for most of these immigrations. :o I have no problem paying the fee, because I have solid financial status, but I have to always think of people who aren't fortunate enough to have money in excess. :( Paradise has its own price, but the price has to be right too. :(

Most recently, while shopping at Macys, I had an opportunity to talk to a newly minted immigrant from Ethopia, a Sales Associates. He won the diversity lottery, and he told me that the fees they have to pay to be able to obtain their greencard is enough to ruin one's family, leave them destitute and unable to even afford a plane ticket to the US. So, their strategy when they win this lottery is simple, the village or family pull together resources, with the hope that once a family member is in the US, he or she will pay back those at home in Ethopia. :p So, can you imagine how many winners of Diversity Lottery never make it to the US because of lack of finances? So, this challenge is now being brought to the US by this ridiculous hike. :cool:

USCIS can hike the fees, as long as it improves its services and cut processign times in half, so that everyone wins. Why not institute premuim processing for families? :confused:
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al as always you have some solid points.

I guess I would think that if someone would come from a 3rd world country or can prove financial hardship they should offer more fee waivers. I think that somewhere they need to raise the prices and maybe the service will get better.

i don't know if my case was a fluke but i think it also depends on how you prepare your file. I have heard about so many people that don't sen in their Affidavits of support or there Medical Exams. I am sure that failing to take the necessary time to prepare an application will hurt people later in longer approval times. Thats just my thinking and i could be totally wrong. You have more experience.
 
rambela said:
A very simple example - myself...

My wife got her citizenship in about a year after she qualified - she was saving money for the fees. I have files my AOS in 1.5 years after my priority date - simply did not have the money to pay the fees and needed to save some.

Thus, we lost almost 3 years during which time I have had only low-paying jobs - the lack of funds to pay the fees resulted in a huge loss (of unearned/underearned income). The government lost too - because with a lower wage I paid less in taxes.

Who won?
Click to expand...

I had the same experience. I had to wait almost 2 years after the wedding before applying for AOS because of the fact that most of our income had to go to more pressing things i.e rent, food, electricity. Those were the only things more important than AOS.
 
Velli ,
Congrats on your approval . I must tell you ....you are lucky to be in a DO which is processing cases quickly. For DOs in most other parts of the country , the average wait time for AOS without RFE is about 4 to 5 months. This is if you do not get stuck in background or name check .
So there is definetly a scope for cutting down the processing time ..especially for EAD and AP which don't require an interview.
The USCIS has improved the processing times enormously from about two year ago . I remember reading an article that said they hired a lot of temporary workers to reduce the backlog . So you see , they can do it if they really want to !!!
 
Immigration is going to become a benefit for the rich. That's how I look at it.

I really don't think that the right to remain in the US is "priceless". There are much better countries out there. Maybe the US government want to discourage immigration. They sure have a good chance to succeed.
 
i agree that there are better countries out there, but yet so many people want to come here. I think you are right on with that the US wants to discourage immigration
 
Hi All,

My 2 cents :)

I agree partly with Al.

When I approached my lawyer for this entire process, I had no clue what the amount for each of the application is.... PLUS .. the fee she charged me (lets not even get to that :) ) But in all I had to come up with at least 2500 in a weeks time.. and I am like .. you know what ... I will face fate ,,, and go back to my country if I have to and not be with my husband ... and she was like .. "whats the problem?', I said I cannot afford the fee + your fee ... and she started bidding with me as to how much I can come up with so i can pay her in installments.... ????

So, its not just people who are from a third world country, or are just above poverty line... others will feel the pinch as well of hiking the processing fee!!!

I am lucky as at that time I had my OPT and i was working, my hubby was working ... and I have family who will support me if needed...
I cannot imagine for the ones who do not have two people earning in a family??

anyway ... as far as I know the fee can be hiked only by a max of a % every so many years ... but i may be wrong :)

Cheers!
 
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