An Update on Immigration Filing Fees (July 2023)

Most immigration forms require an application fee (filing fee), which usually costs hundreds of dollars. Sometimes, the applicant might be able to request a “fee waiver” if they cannot pay the filing fee. There is also a “reduced fee” option for low-income applicants for naturalization (U.S. citizenship).

TLDR: No, immigration fees have not gone up yet, but they might go up (in late 2023 at the earliest, but most likely Spring 2024).

Every couple of years, the government reviews immigration application fees and considers whether to increase them or make other changes. Previously, the Trump administration proposed steep increases in many application fees and sweeping changes to fee waivers, but these changes were challenged and blocked by the courts, so they never took effect.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration also announced proposed fee increases and collected feedback on the proposed changes. Now, the government is reviewing the feedback before it comes out with its final updated fee amounts, in what’s called a final “fee rule” or “fee schedule.”

As with the Trump fee increases, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) could be sued to stop the new fees from going into effect because it’s important to make sure that immigration benefits are accessible to all, regardless of financial resources. If lawsuits are filed challenging the Biden administration’s changes, that may further delay any changes to current immigration application fees.

The earliest we expect to see final fee changes is the end of 2023, with the highest likelihood being the Spring of 2024. Even once announced, however, the government usually provides a grace period of 30-60 days, during which people can still file under existing fees before they go up. Again, however, as occurred with the Trump fee increases, USCIS could be sued to stop new fees from going into effect, which would result in further delays.

For updates on the status of immigration fee changes, visit the USCIS website at: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees.

Listed on the following page are current fees and some of the proposed fee changes for common immigration applications—the final amounts could be higher or lower than what is proposed.

Many applications also include an $85 “biometrics fee,” which covers the fingerprint appointment for standard background checks associated with most applications. Proposed new fees would include the biometrics fee for all applicants (even those who are not currently required to pay a biometrics fee).

Note that the current fees listed in the chart on the PDF reflect the average adult applicant. Depending on the applicant’s age, some application fees are slightly lower or do not require the additional biometrics fee.

The USCIS webpage for every individual application form always lists the current filing fee. For example, go to https://www.uscis.gov/n-400 for the current N-400 naturalization application fee.

In addition, https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055 has the current “Fee Schedule” and https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees has more information on immigration filing fees, the status of any changes to fees, and other information like instructions on how to submit payment by check, credit card, money order, etc. and information on fee waivers.

Recently, USCIS announced it will no longer accept a single check, money order, etc. for combined fees when a person is submitting multiple applications at once.

For example, if filing for adjustment of status with a family petition and a waiver, you must submit separate payments for the adjustment application, family petition, and waiver application.