1. The Latest from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
The USCIS has announced new changes in its fee structure for all types of immigration. All categories
like visa processing, immigrant and non-immigrant visas will have a new fee structure come April,13,
2012. While the fees for most of the non-immigrant visas will increase, visa processing fees for
immigrants will decrease.
According to the USCIS the current fees do not cover the actual cost of processing the non-immigrant
visas. The hike in fees will support the expansion of overseas offices and employing additional staff in
order to meet the increasing demand for visas.
The fee for E visas, K visas will decrease due to relocation of costs associated with immigrant visas.
The Employment-based applications have gone down to $405
Immediate relative and Family preference application is $230
Other immigrant visa applications $220
Diversity visa program $330
Determining returning resident status $275
Apart from the fees, the looks of some of the forms have been changed.
Form I-797C from now on will be printed on plain bond paper. This is expected to save about
$1.1million a year for the agency. This for will also bring down the public misconception that Form I-
797C shows evidence of an immigration benefit or status. The new form will display “This notice does
not grant any immigration status or Benefit. This form is a Notice of Action used only for certain types
of communication between individuals and the agency like:
Receipt, rejection, transfer, reopening a case and appointment scheduled. This form will also contain
disability accommodation information at the back of the form. Earlier this information was issued
separately as a flier.
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