New Immigration Fee Impacts All Foreign Nationals Seeking Residency

Effective February 1, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will require a $165 immigration fee from all foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States.

The fee — which is charged in addition to the ones currently charged by the Department of State — is designed to allow the USCIS to recover costs associated with the processing of immigration visas, and the department is working to streamline the payment process by allowing applicants to submit the required fee online.

According to the USCIS website, the fee will cover “the cost of USCIS staff to handle, file and maintain the immigrant visa package, and the cost of producing and delivering the permanent resident card.”

Exemptions for the new fee include prospective parents who are seeking to adopt children into the U.S. under the Orphan or Hague processes.

For more information on this new fee with regards to payment and penalties, visit the USCIS webpage.