loader
Page is loading...
Print Logo Logo
immigration

Alerts

October Update: Visa Status Filing Dates Announced, USCIS Fee Hike Reminder

September 25, 2020  

Highlights

The start of the government fiscal year leads to a major advancement in the Visa Bulletin for employment-based applicants, especially for Chinese and Indian nationals

USCIS fee hike, for certain types of nonimmigrant and naturalization petitions, will no longer be in effect as of Oct. 2, 2020

USCIS has changed the premium processing service timeframe from 15 calendar days to 15 business days without increasing the cost

Update: Federal Judge Blocks USCIS Fee Increase

On Sept. 29, 2020, a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a motion for a preliminary injunction against USCIS to enjoin implementation of USCIS’s new fee schedule rule and to stay its Oct. 2, 2020 effective date.

Under the fee schedule rule, the filing fees for some of the most common types of nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions would have substantially increased, some by 83 percent. With the injunction in place, the change in filing fees will not go into effect while the case is pending. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

On Sept. 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the October 2020 Visa Bulletin which indicates when immigrant visa applicants are eligible to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. The DOS issues a Visa Bulletin each month with cut-off dates based upon an applicant’s employment-based preference category and country of chargeability. Congress caps the number of green cards that may be issued each year. As a result, the number of immigrant visa applicants seeking to adjust status or, in other words, receive a green card, has exceeded the cap thus consistently creating a backlog, especially for Chinese and Indian nationals.

Oct. 1 marks the beginning of the new fiscal year for USCIS and as expected, the number of available employment-based visas has increased due to a significant drop in processing capacity attributed to COVID-19 related closures at consular posts and within USCIS service centers.

As a result, USCIS has stated on its website that applicants may use the “Dates for Filing” chart in the Bulletin when determining eligibility thus significantly advancing the filing eligibility for employment-based applicants in several categories, including for nationals of China and India. 

Dates for Filing

Employment-based All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed
 
China - Mainland Born El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
 
India Mexico Philippines
1st C 01SEP20
*+2y
C 01SEP20
*+2y
 
 C  C
 2nd   C

 01OCT16
*+2m

 C  15MAY11
*+1y,9m
 C  C
 3rd  C  01JUN18
*+1y
 C  01JAN15
*+4y,11m
 C  C
 Other Workers  C  01OCT08  C  01JAN15
 C  C
 4th  C  C  01FEB18  C  C  C
 Certain Religious Workers  C  C  01FEB18  C  C  C
 5th Non-Regional Center
(C5 and T5)
 C  15DEC15  C  C  C  C
 5th Regional Center
(I5 and R5)
 C  15DEC15
 C  C  C  C

*Indicates advancement period.

Unlike prior months, the EB-3 preference category for China and India has advanced more rapidly than for the EB-2 preference category. This means that individuals and their employers could “downgrade” an applicant’s I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker from EB-2 to EB-3 in order to become eligible to concurrently file an application for adjustment of status with USCIS.

Increased Filing Fees

The October 2020 Visa Bulletin also coincides with an increase in filing fees for some of the most common type of filings, including nonimmigrant and adjustment of status and nonimmigrant (H, L, TN, O-1, etc.) petitions. 

On Aug. 3, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule* that increases filing fees effective October 2, 2020 for certain immigration and naturalization petitions filed with USCIS. Of notable significance, the filing fee for nonimmigrant visa petitions will vary depending on the visa classification being requested (e.g. H, L, O, TN, etc.). USCIS has also announced that it will be releasing new I-129 forms for each of these different visa types. The overall cost for adjustment of status (Form I-485) petitions will also significantly increase. USCIS will no longer bundle the fee of Form I-485 with Form I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) and Form I-131 (Advance Parole/Travel Document). Applicants will be required to pay a separate fee for each of the three applications, which will total $2,270. The bundled fee was previously $1,140 for all three applications. 

Filing fees are as noted:

 Immigration Benefit Request Current Fee   Final Fee Change ($)   Percent Change
 I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card  $455  $415 ($40)   -9 percent
 I-129 (TN, E and other classifications)  $460  $695  $235  51 percent
 I-129 (H-1B)  $460  $555  $95  21 percent
 I-129 (L-1)  $460  $805  $345  75 percent
 I-129 (O-1, O-2)  $460  $705  $245  53 percent
 I-130 Petition for Alien Relative  $535  $560  $25   5 percent
 I-131 Application for Travel Document  $575  $590  $15   3 percent
 I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker  $700  $555  ($145) -21 percent
 I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status  $1,140  $1,130  ($10)  -1 percent
 I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status  $370  $400  $30   8 percent
 I-612 Application for Waiver of Foreign Residence Requirement  $930  $515  ($415) -45 percent
 I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence  $595  $760  $165  28 percent
 I-765 Application for Employment Authorization  $410  $550  $140  34 percent
 N-400 Application for Naturalization  $640  $1,170  $530  83 percent
 Biometric Fee  $85  $30  -$55 -65 percent

 

* To access the full list of fee changes, please see the Final Rule, starting on page 13. 

USCIS also changed the premium processing timeframe from 15 calendar days to 15 business days. The premium processing filing fee remains at $1,440 as set on Oct. 31, 2019.

To obtain more information, please contact the Barnes & Thornburg attorney with whom you work, or Tejas Shah at 312-214-5619 or tejas.shah@btlaw.com, or Mercedes Badia-Tavas at 312-214-8313 or mbadiatavas@btlaw.com, or Michael Durham at 574-237-1145 or m.durham@btlaw.com, Sarah Hawk at 404-264-4030 or sarah.hawk@btlaw.com, or Mayra Bruno at 312-214-4575 or mayra.bruno@btlaw.com. Assistance on drafting the alert was provided by law clerk, Mandira Sethi.

© 2020 Barnes & Thornburg LLP. All Rights Reserved. This page, and all information on it, is proprietary and the property of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. It may not be reproduced, in any form, without the express written consent of Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

This Barnes & Thornburg LLP publication should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own lawyer on any specific legal questions you may have concerning your situation.

RELATED ARTICLES

Subscribe

Do you want to receive more valuable insights directly in your inbox? Visit our subscription center and let us know what you're interested in learning more about.

View Subscription Center
Trending Connect
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to use cookies.