USCIS Announces Possible Increase In Filing Fees
This morning, Immigration Services announced a proposal to adjust filing fees for immigration and naturalization benefits. It is estimated that the new fees would be an 86% increase over the current fee structure. Immigration Services states that there is a need for an increase in the fee structure to improve customer service, strengthen the security of the current immigration system, and to modernize the organization's infrastructure.
It is estimated that the increase in fees will eventually lead to a 20% decrease in processing time by the end of 2009. Previously, Immigration Services routinely adjusted fees for inflation, and the last increase took place in October 2005.
The proposed fee structure will undergo a comment period for sixty days beginning February 1, 2007.
For more information please see this Adobe Acrobat file from the USCIS Web site.