The Cost To Obtain A U.S. Green Card Could Rise Significantly
If you have wanted to come to the United States and obtain your Green Card, you may have to pay a lot more than you expected. This is because the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) needs the money. The agency is bogged down by a serious backlog of old applications and new ones streaming in for review. There simply are not enough resources to keep up with the workload. In response, fee hikes are to be expected.
For all of your questions related to U.S. immigration, what your options are to come to the country, and for information on changes in legislation or procedures, the Atlanta immigration attorneys at Shirazi Immigration Law Inc. offer resources and sound legal guidance.
Increased Green Card Application Costs
USCIS must review its fee structure regularly and assess if the levels are appropriate or if changes are needed. Every two years, USCIS has the opportunity to increase the fees. However, it has not made changes to the fee structure in some time. The last change was in 2016; since then, there have been no adjustments. Considering that the vast majority of funding that the agency brings in comes from the fees associated with immigration applications, this is where the extra costs would be assessed.
According to the Director of USCIS, Ur M. Jaddou, the proposed increased costs are a necessary action to take. The additional funding would be put towards the immense workload the agency is dealing with. In addition, Jaddou explains that resources can also be used to strengthen customer service and make it better. Specifically, the increased revenue can help the agency make up lost operating costs, help with more expedient case processing, and bring down the current backlog while also avoiding the potential for a build-up of applications in the future.
The costs the agency is proposing are aggressive. It could cost an immigrant 130% more to apply for a green card with the proposal in place. And while it is often discussed that employment visas would be where the increases will be applied, family visas will also see sharp rises in their filing fees.
The fee schedule is not in place yet, but the proposal was released at the beginning of January 2023. It is now working through the process as dictated by the Administrative Procedures Act. Depending on what happens, the agency can modify the proposal, keep it in place, or remove it altogether. It could be possible that changes to the fee structure are implemented within the next coming months of 2023.
Speak to an Atlanta Immigration Attorney Today
USCIS posts to all the major social media platforms, and using these tools can help you stay up to date on what is happening and what changes may be to come. Additionally, an attorney who stays current on all immigration matters can help you navigate the system successfully.
The Atlanta immigration lawyers at Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc., are here to help you and are dedicated to assisting you through the entire immigration process. For a consultation to discuss your needs and case, please call Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. today at 404-523-3611 for the Atlanta office, 229-520-8875 for our office in Moultrie and (706) 622-3313 for our office in Dalton.
