INS Increases Fees for Many Applications and Petitions
Posted Sep 4, 1998

On August 14, 1998, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) announced that it would increase filing fees for many applications and petitions. The new fee schedule takes effect from October 13, 1998, except for the Application for Naturalization (N-400) which takes effect on January 15, 1999.

New fees for the types of applications and petitions most likely to be of interest to the readers of The Law Office of Sheela Murthy's Bulletin are as follows:

I-129, Nonimmigrant visa petition for H-1B, L-1 and several other categories:

From $85 to $120 if the beneficiary is abroad or will exit the U.S. to apply for a H-1B visa before beginning the employment; from $155 to $190 for those changing status within the U.S. from another status and from $125 to $160 when the Beneficiary is already on an H-1B status.

I-130, Family-based immigrant petition: $110

I-140, Employment-based immigrant petition: $115

I-485, Application for adjustment of status to permanent residence: $220 for all except that it is $160 if the person is under the age of 14

I-539, Application to extend or change nonimmigrant status, for B-2, H-4 and several other categories: $120

I-765, Application for employment card: $100

N-400, Application for naturalization (U.S. citizenship): $225

The Law Office of Sheela Murthy will post any additional and relevant information once the INS has published its final rule sometime in October 1998 implementing the fee increase. Please note this means that all those applications which are subject to the fee increase and are RECEIVED by the INS on or after October 13, 1998, will be rejected if not accompanied by the correct fee.