USCIS Increases Filing Fees

Effective April 1, 2024, government filing fees for many immigration benefits will increase, including significant fee hikes for common employment-based petitions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final rule announcing the fee changes on January 31, 2024. 

New Rule Highlights:

• I-129 base filing fees will vary depending on the visa type, with significant increases for O and L petitions. 
• New Asylum Program Fee: I-129 and I-140 filings will be required to include a $600 asylum program fee on top of the increased base filing fees. 
• I-485, application for adjustment of status, filing fee will increase from $1225 to $1440 and will only include the standalone I-485. Separate fees will apply for including the Form I-765, application for employment authorization document ($260) and Form I-131, application for advance parole ($630). The fee for the total bundle will increase to $2330.
• H-1B cap registration fee will increase from $10 to $215 per registration starting in next year’s lottery. 
• Premium processing will slow down by changing the adjudication time frame from calendar days to business days. 
• *Employers with 25 or fewer employees and certain nonprofits will pay discounted filing fees and a reduced Asylum Program Fee of $300. 

Here are some of the key fee increases for business immigration cases: