USCIS ANNOUNCES FEE INCREASE EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2024

Effective April 1, 2024 the USCIS will increase filing fees on many immigration applications. 

In addition to the fee increase, the USCIS has also introduced the new Asylum Program Fee of $600, which will be an add-on to all new I-129 (H-1B, L-1, and other) and I-140 petitions.  Nonprofit petitioners will be exempt from the new Asylum Program Fee, while employers having 25 or fewer full-time employees will be subject to a reduced Asylum Program Fee of $300.

With the fee increase, the USCIS has also lengthened the premium processing timeframe from calendar days to business days.  In a separate rule taking effect February 26, 2024, the USCIS has increased the premium processing fee from $2500 to $2805.

Form / Case Type	Current Fee	New Fee
H-1B (Form I-129) for companies with 25+ employees	$460	$1,380
H-1B (Form I-129) for companies with less than 25 employees	$460	$760
L-1 (Form I-129) for companies with 25+ employees	$460	$1,985
L-1 (Form I-129) for companies with less than 25 employees	$460	$995
Dependents of H or L (Form I-539)	$370	$470
Employment-Based Green Card (Form I-140) for companies with 25+ employees	$700	$1,315
Employment-Based Green Card (Form I-140) for companies with less than 25 employees	$700	$1,015
Green Card Application (Form I-485*)	$1,225	$1,440
Employment Authorization Document (Form I-765)	$410	$470
Advanced Parole Travel Permit (Form I-131)	$575	$630
Family-Based Green Card (Form I-130)	$535	$675
USCIS Immigrant Visa Fee	$220	$235

*It is important to note that the USCIS has unbundled the I-485 fees from the related I-131 Advanced Parole (travel document) and I-765 EAD (Employment Authorization Document) fees.  Under the current process, a separate I-765 and I-131 fee are not charged when the I-765 and I-131 are filed or renewed based on an I-485. 

Under the new rule, I-131s filed based on an I-485 will require the full fee payment of $630.  I-765s filed based on a pending I-485 will require a 50% reduced fee of $260.  As an example, an adult filing an I-485 for a green card with a related Advanced Parol and EAD application would pay:

• I-485 Filing Fee: $1440
• I-765 Filing Fee: $260
• I-131 Filing Fee: $630

Total: $2330

The H-1B cap registration fee will also increase from $10 to $215 per registration.  However, this specific increase will not take effect until March 2025.