USCIS Filing Fee Increase
USCIS is almost entirely fee-funded and the agency has fallen into a severe budget deficit. On July 31st, USCIS announced that revised fees will go into effect on October 2, 2020.
Interestingly, some filing fees will actually be reduced (I-140, I-485 and biometrics) and for the first time, I-129 filing fee will differ for different types of I-129 petitions (i.e., H, L, O and E/TN).
Below are the more relevant fees:
Immigration Benefit Request |
Current Fee |
New Fee |
Change ($) |
Percentage Change |
I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant worker |
$460 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
I-129CW, I-129E&TN, and I-129MISC |
$460 |
$695 |
$235 |
51 percent |
I-129H1 |
$460 |
$555 |
$95 |
21 percent |
I-129L |
$460 |
$805 |
$345 |
75 percent |
I-129O |
$460 |
$705 |
$245 |
53 percent |
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) |
$535 |
$510 |
-$25 |
-5 percent |
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker |
$700 |
$555 |
-$145 |
-21 percent |
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence |
$1,140 |
$1,130 |
-$10 |
-1 percent |
I-539 Application (for H4, L2, etc.) |
$370 |
$400 |
$30 |
8 percent |
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization |
$410 |
$550 |
$140 |
34 percent |
Biometric Services |
$85 |
$30 |
-$55 |
-65 percent |