The USCIS has announced today that as of July 30th there will be a new fee structure implemented in an effort to reduce processing times by the end of fiscal year 2009. The final rule is based on the USCIS’s proposed fee structure released on February 1, 2007 and comments submitted from more than 3,900 individuals and organizations.

The USCIS claims that the collection of new fees will lead to a 20 percent reduction in average application processing times by the end of fiscal year 2009, and will reduce processing times by end of fiscal year 2008 for four application types in particular, including: the I-90 (Renew/Replace Permanent Resident Card), I-140 (Immigration Petition for Alien Worker), I-485 (Adjustment of Status Petition), and the N-400 (Naturalization Petition). The USCIS hopes to reduce processing times for each of these types of petitions from six months to four months.

In addition to a reduction in processing times, the USCIS is seeking to strengthen the security and integrity of the immigration system, improve customer service, and modernize its business operations for the 21st century. As part of this effort, the Service has also implemented a number of fee waivers including a fee waiver for the $80 biometric fee for individuals who have been granted a fee waiver for their respective application (including asylum applicants, victims of human trafficking, certain juvenile immigrants, or self-petitioners under the Violence Against Woman’s Act.)

The new fee structure is effective as of July 30, 2007.

Among the most significant cost increases include: