Significant Fee Increases Proposed
A proposed DHS rule, published in the Federal Register on November 14, would increase filing fees and would impose new filing and fee requirements for many immigration cases. The DHS accepted comments on the proposal through December 16, 2019. After the comments have been processed, the DHS will publish a final rule, which should include an effective date.
I-129 separation and H1B and L1 fee
DHS is proposing to separate the standard Form I-129
nonimmigrant worker petition into different forms for
each visa classification, and to impose different fees for
each classification. Instead of the current Form I-129 fee of
$460 an employer would file a visa-specific I-129 form with
its new accompanying fee under the proposed rule. The
change would affect all classifications sought through the
Form I-129, including H-1B, H-2A/B, L-1, O, and TN.
The proposed H-1B fee increase is 22% to $560. One of the greatest increases would be imposed on the L-1 classification, with a fee of $815 -- 77% more than employers currently pay for each L-1 initial or extension of stay petition filed with USCIS.
Fee structure for adjustment and related benefits
Currently, adjustment applicants pay a filing fee of
$1,225. This fee covers the adjustment application itself, as
well as applications for initial employment authorization
documents (EADs) and advance parole (AP). It also covers
future EAD and AP renewals while the adjustment case
is pending.
The proposal seeks to eliminate this “bundled” fee, and instead require separate fees for new and renewed EADs and APs. The cost to file an adjustment application with ancillary benefits will increase to $2,195, and applicants will be required to pay fees of $490 and $585, respectively, for each EAD and AP renewal.
fee chart 680.jpg)
APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR January 2020
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
15Jul13 |
15Jul13 |
|
2A |
Current |
Current |
|
2B |
08Aug14 |
08Aug14 |
|
3rd |
15Nov07 |
15Nov07 |
|
4th |
08Nov04 |
01Feb07 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
01Jan15 |
01Oct18 |
|
2nd |
18May09 |
Current |
|
3rd |
01Jan09 |
Current |
|
Other |
01Jan09 |
Current |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th Non-Regional Center 5th Regional Center |
01May18
U |
Current
U |
DATES FOR FILING VISA APPLICATIONS - January 2020
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
15Mar14 |
15Mar14 |
|
2A |
01Nov19 |
01Nov19 |
|
2B |
08Apr15 |
08Apr15 |
|
3rd |
15Jul08 |
15Jul08 |
|
4th |
08Jul05 |
22Jul07 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
15Mar17 |
Current |
|
2nd |
01Jul09 |
Current |
|
3rd |
01Feb10 |
01Jan19 |
|
Other |
01Feb10 |
01Jan19 |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th |
Current |
Current1B |
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