USCIS Premium Processing Timeline Changes and Filing Fee Adjustments
Starting October 2, 2020
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule to adjust USCIS filing fees with a weighted average increase of 20%, dramatically limit fee waiver requests, and change premium processing times. The new filing fees are effective October 2, 2020.
With the new rule, DHS eliminates the separate $85 biometrics service fee for most applications, but the total cost for I-485 applications for adjustment of status to permanent residence increases substantially because of the DHS decision to charge separately of employment authorization and advance parole travel authorization and to charge the same I-485 filing fee for children and adults. The I-131 and I-765 applications for interim benefits had been included or bundled in the filing fee for I-485 applications for adjustment of status. Starting October 2, DHS will require separate fees of $590 for the I-131 application for travel document and $550 for the I-765 application for employment authorization.
Individuals applying for adjustment of status are not required to request a travel document or employment authorization. However, if they decide not to apply for advance parole travel authorization, they need to consider the serious adverse consequences of traveling without advance parole after filing for adjustment of status before being approved for permanent residence. If they leave without advance parole, they will be deemed to have abandoned their I-485 applications and they will be stuck outside the U.S. unless they qualify for an exception to the advance parole requirement by having a valid H-1 or L-1 or dependent visa.
USCIS will also be changing the processing timeline for cases filed with requests for premium processing. Specifically, starting October 2, USCIS will process premium process cases within 15 business days (3 full weeks), instead of the usual 15 calendar days.
The following fee updates are applicable to our firm’s clients. For a complete list of fee adjustments and more detailed information, please visit:
www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusts-fees-to-help-meet-operational-needs
| USCIS Form | Current Fee | Updated Fee Effective 10/02/2020 |
|---|---|---|
| I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Workers | ||
| I-129 H-1B | $460 | $555 |
| I-129 TN | $460 | $695 |
| I-129 L | $460 | $805 |
| I-129 O | $460 | $705 |
| I-129 H-2A Named Beneficiaries | $460 | $850 |
| I-129 H-2B Named Beneficiaries | $460 | $715 |
| I-129 H-2A Unnamed Beneficiaries | $460 | $415 |
| I-129 H-2B Unnamed Beneficiaries | $460 | $385 |
| I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card(online filing) | $455 | $405 |
| I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (paper filing) | $455 | $415 |
| I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) | $535 | $510 |
| I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (online filing) | $535 | $550 |
| I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (paper filing) | $535 | $560 |
| I-131 Application for Travel Document | $575 | $590 |
| I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (non-DACA) | $410 | $550 |
| I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (DACA Only) | $410 | $410 |
| I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker | $700 | $555 |
| I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | $1,140 | $1,130 |
| I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence | $595 | $760 |
| N-400 Application for Naturalization (online filing) | $640 | $1,160 |
| N-400 Application for Naturalization (paperfiling) | $640 | $1,170 |
| I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability | $930 | $1,010 |
| I-601A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver | $630 | $960 |
| I-612 Application for Waiver of Foreign Residence Requirement (Under Section 212(e) of the INA, as Amended) | $930 | $515 |
| Biometric Services (Non-DACA) | $85 | $30 |
| Biometric Services (DACA Only) | $85 | $85 |