In a notable development effective April 1, 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has initiated a series of fee adjustments across various immigration processes. This change comes in the wake of a ruling by Judge Charlotte N Sweeney of the US District Court for the District of Colorado on March 29, denying a motion to block the new fee structure. The decision was grounded in the plaintiffs’ failure to demonstrate immediate, significant, and irreparable harm resulting from the fee hikes, as reported by Bloomberg.
The revised fee structure is expected to have a substantial impact on Indian nationals seeking employment opportunities or investment avenues in the United States, particularly those pursuing H-1B, L-1, and EB-5 visas, which are commonly sought-after visa categories by Indians.
Under the revised fee schedule, USCIS has implemented significant increases in the costs associated with various immigration forms and services. Notably, employers sponsoring H-1B visa petitions will encounter a 70% rise in fees, while applicants filing for L-1 and O-1 visas will witness a surge of 201% and 129%, respectively. Furthermore, a new Asylum Programme fee of $600 will be applicable to specific worker and immigrant petitions. Additionally, the H-1B electronic registration fee will escalate from $10 to $215, according to USCIS.
The H-1B visa, crucial for many Indian IT professionals seeking employment in the US, now incurs substantially higher costs. The application fee for the H-1B visa has surged from $460 to $780, with the registration fee soaring from $10 to $215. This increase could potentially impact the tech industry, which heavily relies on this visa category to fulfill specialized positions.
Similarly, the L-1 visa, facilitating the transfer of employees from foreign offices to the US, has experienced a significant fee hike. The new cost for an L-1 visa application has risen from $460 to $1,385.
Furthermore, for the EB-5 investor visa, the fee has escalated from $3,675 to $11,160. This substantial increase might influence the decisions of affluent Indians considering investment in the US for residency purposes.