Citizenship Application Fees Could Increase Soon
According to CBS News, the government intends to hike fees for legal immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship. The fee hike, which is substantial, could put citizenship out of reach for some people. Furthermore, the government intends to eliminate fee reductions and waivers, even for those who are low income.
Contact The Law Office of Jason M. Sullivan, PLLC. We provide strategic immigration advice to those seeking an immigration benefit, including those who hope to become citizens. This is a long process, and the current Administration’s hostility to naturalization requires experienced legal help. We can review your options and submit an application before the fee hikes go into effect.
Citizenship Request Fees to Nearly Double
The Trump Administration has proposed increasing the citizenship request fee from $760 to $1,330, almost double, for anyone using a paper application. Fees for those with online filings would jump from $710 to $1,280, around 80%.
The fee to ask USCIS to reconsider a denial would also jump by $645.
The Administration’s plan also seeks to eliminate fee waivers and fee reduction for citizenship cases. Previously, applicants could qualify for a fee reduction if their household income fell below 400% of the federal poverty line. The elimination of waivers and fee reductions could make applications too expensive.
The government justifies these increases as necessary to fund the operations of USCIS. Under Trump, the agency has performed more extensive background checks, including more thorough interviews with neighbors to assess an applicant’s moral character. USCIS is largely supported by the fees it charges, so a bump up in fees might be required to keep the agency from exceeding its budget.
Act Fast
These proposed changes will not immediately go into effect. Instead, they need to undergo additional rulemaking, including public comment over a 60 day period. Still, the changes are in line with the Trump Administration’s hostility to immigration benefits, including citizenship. Increasing the costs is one way to reduce the number of people applying.
If you are considering whether to apply for citizenship, contact our office quickly. We can move to get an application filed before any increase goes into effect. We can also request a fee reduction or even waiver, if circumstances support the request.
It’s likely that any fee increase will be challenged in court. Many Trump Administration policies have been hung up in the courts for a year or more. However, there is no guarantee that the courts will set aside the fee increases. To protect yourself, you should apply for citizenship now before the cost of becoming a citizen soars.
Speak with an Experienced Naturalization Lawyer Today
Becoming a U.S. citizen is one of the most important steps an immigrant can take. Reach out to The Law Office of Jason M. Sullivan, PLLC to speak with a Portsmouth, New Hampshire or Miami, Florida citizenship and naturalization attorney. Our firm has set itself apart by providing immigration case review which identifies hurdles to obtaining citizenship. We can then work to address these hurdles to improve the chances of success.
Source:
cbsnews.com/news/us-citizenship-application-fee-trump-administration-uscis/