Premium Processing: Race Against the Clock
USCIS introduced changes to premium processing. The processing times will remain at 15 days for nonimmigrant petitions and 45 days for immigrant (green card) petitions. However, beginning February 26, 2024, premium processing times are now measured in business days, instead of calendar days, thereby increasing overall processing time. Moreover, the filing fee for premium processing has increased to $2,805.
Filing Fee Adjustments: A Financial Burden
USCIS has increased their petition filing fees. As of April 1, 2024, significant changes have come into effect to the fee structure.
USCIS has created a new fee, the Asylum Program fee, which applies to employment based visa petitions. Employers with 26 or more full-time equivalent employees will pay $600, while small employers of 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees will pay $300. Non-profit organizations are exempt.
Additionally, the filing fees for nonimmigrant visas will now vary depending on the visa type. L visas increased from $460 to $1,385. Meanwhile, O visas increased from $460 to $1,055, while H visas increased from $460 to $780. As for the H-1B lottery, the fee to enter has increased from $10 to $215. The Fraud Prevention Fee still applies to relevant visas.
Most immigrant visa petition fees saw a, comparatively, small increase. However, the EB-5 Investor green card increased from $3,675 to $11,160. Finally, adjustment of status from a nonimmigrant visa to a green card has increased $200 and fees to apply for employment and travel authorization have been implemented.
Navigating these fee increases is challenging as the total filing fee now not only depends on whether you are filing a nonimmigrant or immigrant petition, but specifically on what visa category and how many employees the sponsoring company has. The adjustment of status fee increase may mean it is better to take advantage of consular processing at a U.S. embassy abroad instead of applying adjustment of status from within the U.S. It is increasingly vital for applicants to seek professional guidance from immigration attorneys as incorrect filing fees will result in rejected applications which causes delays in the application process. If you find yourself in need of assistance with a visa matter, don’t hesitate to schedule a free visa consultation with our office. We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of the immigration system with confidence.