THE US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced recently the final rule adjusting fees for immigration applications and petitions. The final rule will increase overall fees by a weighted average of about 10 percent but will not increase the fee for the naturalization application in recognition of its unique importance to the individual applicant, the significant public benefit to the nation, and the nation’s proud tradition of welcoming new citizens. The USCIS acknowledged that holding the naturalization fee at the current level would reinforce these principles, allow more immigrants to fully participate in civic life, and complement other USCIS efforts to promote immigrant integration.
The rule will reduce fees for six individual applications and petitions [i.e., Petition for Alien Fiancé (Form I-129F), Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539), Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Form I-698), Application for Family Unity Benefits (Form I-817), Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document (Form N-565), and Application for Travel Document (Form I-131), when filed for Refugee Travel Document].
It will also eliminate two citizenship-related fees for service members and veterans of the US armed forces who are eligible to file an Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) with no fee [i.e., Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Form N-336) and Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600)].
Further, it will expand the availability of fee waivers to certain applicants and petitioners, including individuals seeking to appeal the denial of underlying applications or petitions that required no fee, individuals applying for humanitarian parole with an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131), and individuals with an Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539) who are covered under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.
The final rule was published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2010 and the adjusted fees will go into effect on November 23, 2010.
If you want to know more about this topic, please call us at (626) 331-8188 and schedule an appointment for your free initial office consultation. You may also visit us at www.palacioslawfirm.com.
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Attorney Eugene M. Palacios is the founder and principal of the Law Offices of Eugene M. Palacios. He has great depth of experience and a successful track record in handling employment and family-based petitions as well as PERM and naturalization applications. He is licensed as an attorney in California and is admitted to practice before US Immigration Courts, the US Central District Court, and California State Courts. He is also an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association. His offices are located at 100 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 600 , Glendale , California 91203 and at 800 South Barranca Avenue, Suite 250 , Covina , California 91723 .
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The above article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice for a specific immigration problem and does not create an attorney-client relationship between our office and the reader. It is for informational purposes only and reflects our law firm’s opinions and views on general issues.
( Published October 16, 2010 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. C2 )
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