U.S. Raising Visa Fees 66% on Average, to Advocates’ Dismay

[maddezmom]

Source: New York Times

By JULIA PRESTON.
Published: May 30, 2007

The federal agency that handles immigration visas confirmed yesterday that it would raise its fees by an average of 66 percent starting July 30. The step made final an increase first proposed in January, and drew a new outcry from immigration lawyers and advocacy groups.

The announcement by the agency, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, followed its review of some 3,900 letters it received during a two-month period for public comment. Given those comments — posted online at www.regulations.gov — the agency made minor adjustments to its proposal, unveiled on Jan. 31.

Among the many fees that will rise is the one for a legal immigrant to apply to become a United States citizen; it will increase 66 percent, to $675 from $405. An immigrant applying to become a legal permanent resident will pay $1,010, a 155 percent increase over the current $395 fee.

~snip~

Leaders of immigration advocacy groups said the higher fees would discourage legal immigrants from becoming American citizens. One such critic was William Ramos, director of the Washington office of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, a group that has been leading a naturalization drive for legal immigrants in Los Angeles.

“This is a fundamentally flawed system of financing our immigration services,” Mr. Ramos said. “It places an unfair burden on folks who want to become citizens and participate in all the nation has to offer.”

Immigration lawyers predicted that the increases would in effect disenfranchise many legal immigrants who might otherwise vote in 2008.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/washington/30fees.html

[sabra]

1. k & r

:kick:

[MountainLaurel]

2. Interesting connection to voting issues

Not surprising, but still scary as hell.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

3. Yes, the fees are going up

there's a proposal to increase fees for H-1Bs to $5,000. The naturalization application (N-400) may increase to over $900.

With that being said, USCIS is often in dire need of employees. Resources are scarce and I know only too well that many officers are overworked. Being an immigrant myself, I loathe the thought of paying nearly $1K to become a naturalized US citizen in the future. But I also know that these employees must be paid. USCIS is not exactly superfunded.