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Immigration News Briefs

Provided by Humera Subhani

April 2024

New Fees and Forms Take Effect April 1

For a full list of revised forms and fees, visit https:// www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/frequently-askedquestions- on-the-uscis-fee-rule.

Key updates:

USCIS will only accept applications or petitions with the new filing fees after April 1, 2024.
A $50 discount for filing an application online if online filing is available.
Separate filing fees for work authorization and travel documents when filed with a green card application.
Expansion of a reduced fee for naturalization applications for individuals who can demonstrate their household income is less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

With the new fee rule that goes into effect April 1, 2024, you must use the new 04/01/24 editions of the following forms: • Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker; • Form I-129 CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker; • Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers; • Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative; and • Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, and the form’s supplements. Although USCIS usually provides a grace period when publishing new forms, the forms listed above include changes necessary to administer the new fees. Beginning April 1, 2024, applicants and petitioners must submit the 04/01/24 edition of these forms with the appropriate fee listed on the USCIS Fee Schedule G-1055.

Some of the core fees updated are as follows:

USCIS is increasing the H-1B and H-1B1 petition filing fee to $780 from the current amount of $460 for employers with more than 25 full-time employees in an equivalent position in the United States. The $460 filing fee will remain the same for employers with 25 or less full-time employees in an equivalent position in the United States.

USCIS is increasing the L-1 petition filing fee to $1,385 from the current amount of $460 for employers with more than 25 full-time employees in an equivalent position in the United States. The filing fee will increase to $695 for employers with 25 or less full-time employees in an equivalent position in the United States.

USCIS is increasing the filing fee for Form I-140 from $700 to $715.

USCIS is increasing the filing fee for Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) for adult applicants from $1,140 to $1,440, an amount that include the biometrics fee that was previously submitted separately. The fee for Form I-485 for applicants under 14 applying concurrently with their parent will be increased from $750 to $950.

USCIS is increasing the filing fee for Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document) from $575 to $630.

Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) – USCIS is increasing the filing fee to $420 for applications filed online and to $470 for applications filed in paper, from the current amount of $370.

Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) – USCIS is increasing the filing fee to $470 for applications filed online and to $520 for applications filed in paper, from the current amount of $410. There is no fee for an Employment Authorization Document for applicants who filed USCIS Form I-485 on or after July 30, 2007, and before April 1, 2024, and paid the Form I-485 fee, while the I-485 remains pending.

Citizenship – USCIS is increasing the filing fee for Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) from $640 to $710 for applications made online and to $760 for applications made in paper.

Biometrics Fee – The previously separate biometrics fee has now been worked into the form filing fee.

APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR APRIL 2024

FAMILY	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	08Feb15	08Feb15
2A	08Sep20	08Sep20
2B	22Nov15	22Nov15
3rd	**01Oct09**	**01Oct09**
4th	15Dec05	08Jul07

EMPLOYMENT	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	01Mar21	Current
2nd	15Apr12	15Jan23
3rd	15Aug12	22Nov22
Other	15Aug12	08Oct20
4th	01Nov20	01Nov20
5th	01Dec20	Current1B

DATES FOR FILING VISA APPLICATIONS - APRIL 2024

FAMILY	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	01Sep17	01Sep17
2A	01Sep23	01Sep23
2B	01Jan17	01Jan17
3rd	01Mar10	01Mar10
4th	08Apr06	01Mar08

EMPLOYMENT	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	01Apr21	Current
2nd	15May12	15Feb23
3rd	15Sep12	01Feb23
Other	15Sep12	15Dec20
4th	01Dec20	01Dec20
5th	01Apr22	Current1B