11 Jan USCIS FILING FEE TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY

On January 4, 2023, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule to increase fees for most immigration benefit requests. If implemented, employers will pay significantly more for most nonimmigrant and immigrant filings. The fee increase projects to boost revenues by over $4.5 billion providing USCIS with the much-needed resources the agency claims are necessary to “improve service levels.”   The USCIS is funded mainly by these user filing fees, as opposed to appropriations, which fund other agencies like the Department of Labor (DOL).  The rule is subject to a 60-day comment period closing on March 6, 2023. Details and key takeaways appear below.

What are the key takeaways for employers from the proposed rule?

• Fees for cap H-1B registration would increase dramatically from $10 to $215 per registration. Fortunately, the comment period makes it impossible for this increase to be implemented for the upcoming cap H-1B registration in March 2023.
• Premium processing service would change from 15 calendar days to 15 business days. Business days are defined as the days that the federal government is open for business, which does not include weekends or federally observed holidays. This could add a one to two week delay to case processing.
• Adjustment of Status (AOS) applications would no longer benefit from one bundled fee for the I-485, I-131 (Advance Parole), and I-765 (EAD) applications. The total fees for a bundled AOS application (including the I-485, I-131, and I-765) would increase from $1,225 to $2,820. USCIS would also eliminate the reduced AOS fee for individuals under 14 years of age. Thus, some individuals may only opt to file the I-485 without I-131 and I-765 applications.
• Individuals with a pending AOS application would need to pay the I-765 and I-131 filing fees with USCIS when renewing Advance Parole or Employment Authorization.
• Filing fees for H-1B petitions would increase from $460 to $780 (Not including the additional $600 Asylum Program Fee).
• Filing fees for L-1 petitions would increase from $460 to $1,385 (Not including the additional $600 Asylum Program Fee).
• Filing fees for E or TN petitions would increase from $460 to $1,015 (Not including the additional $600 Asylum Program Fee).
• Filing fees for I-140 immigrant visa petitions would increase more modestly from $700 to $715 (Not including the additional $600 Asylum Program Fee).
• Filing fees for online applications would be lower than paper-based applications. For instance, USCIS proposes a new filing fee of $555 for I-765 applications filed online and $650 for paper-based I-765 applications. Similarly, the proposed filing fee for online I-539 applications is $525 and the proposed fee for paper-based I-539 applications is $620. USCIS views it less expensive to process when forms are filed electronically. The proposed rule cites the increase of online filings during COVID and encourages “continued use of online filing at the same or a higher rate after the pandemic, DHS proposes a lower fee for online filing of immigration benefit requests for which both paper and online filing options are available.”
• To encourage the naturalization of Lawful Permanent Residents (e.g. green card holders) to U.S. Citizens, USCIS proposes a modest increase for the N-400 application from $640 to $760.

Note:       This is not a legal advice

Bankruptcy Basics

1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged.  Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most your debts are paid.
2. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.
3. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement.
4. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts.  If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.
5. Bankruptcy will stop foreclosure actions.  If your trustee sale date is 10 days before, you can still file for bankruptcy.
6. If your salary is being garnished, you have a court case about debts or you are being harassed by creditors, bankruptcy can stop garnishment, court cases, harassing creditors and eliminate the debt.
7. Bankruptcy is cheaper, faster and safer than debt settlement which has no guaranteed success.
8. Preserve your health, eliminate stress and live a happy life.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

1.  PETITION FOR NURSES AND CAREGIVERS

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with nursing facilities in the U.S. to process applicants for Nurses, LVN and Caregivers in the US.  We also process petition for caregivers from the Philippines or inside the US. You may qualify if you have RN or LVN license Inside or outside the United States. Have caregiving experience.

2.     BIG TAX REFUNDS FOR SELF-EMPLOYED

The Coronavirus Cares Act Sick and Family Leave for Self-Employed provides big tax refunds for self-employed individuals for tax years 2020 and 2021.  If you have filed your tax return and failed to avail of this refund contact us for consultation.  The refund ranges from $4000 to $32000 per individual self employed depending on your income.

Call our office at 1-877-456-9266 for confidential consultation

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We help our clients recover from employers’ unpaid minimum wage and overtime.  Undocumented workers are qualified to apply.

CAR ACCIDENTS

Our Law Firm successfully settled a car accident for $675.000. 

FAMILY LAW

We also handle uncontested DIVORCE.

SUCCESS STORIES

For the month of December, 2022, we received approval from USCIS three naturalization applications, two Fiancée visa petition,  two removals of condition on residence and four adjustment of status applications.

Note:       If you have immigration problems write us a letter and we will reply to you with no initial obligation.  The Law Offices of Crispin C. Lozano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse, which could lead to deportation and family separation.  You may request a free consultation at one of our offices in Hayward or Cerritos, CA, or by phone at 1-877-456-9266. www.crispinlozanolaw.com, email at info@ccllaw.net