The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will be raising premium processing fees to improve its services and reduce wait times. The new fees will take effect on February 26, 2024.
The fee increase is authorized by the USCIS Stabilization Act, which was passed in 2010. The Act allows DHS to adjust the fees every two years to keep up with inflation and the cost of providing services.
The new fees will vary depending on the type of petition or application being filed. For example, the fee for Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, will increase from $1,500 to $1,685. The fee for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, will increase from $2,500 to $2,805.
USCIS says that the fee increase is necessary to improve its services and reduce wait times. The agency has been struggling to keep up with a backlog of applications and petitions, which has led to long delays for many immigrants.
USCIS says that the money from the fee increase will be used to hire more staff, improve technology, and streamline its processes. The agency says that it is committed to providing efficient and timely service to all its customers.
