subject: American Immigration: What will be the Impact of Increased Processing Fees? [print this page] American Immigration: What will be the Impact of Increased Processing Fees?
The following article analyzes the rising costs of US Immigration petitions and applications and how these increased fees may impact those who wish to bring a foreign loved one to the United States of America.Recently promulgated rules by the Department of State have lead to increased fees for applicants applying for K1 and K3 visas overseas. In the past, application fees for K category visas were $131. Under the new rules, K visa applicants must pay $350 when applying for a K1, K2, K3, or K4 visa abroad. The reason for the increase in fees is due to the fact that the Department of State feels that more resources are necessary to effectively process certain non-immigrant visa applications. Some are of the opinion that increased fees will also be used to assist in the Department of State's efforts to uncover fraud in the US Immigration process.Even though the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (the agency which has jurisdiction over the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service commonly referred to by the acronym USCIS) are two separate government agencies they both usually have a role in the American Immigration process. For example, in K1 visa cases, USCIS is tasked with adjudicating the initial K1 visa petition. Upon approval, the K1 petition is forwarded to the National Visa Center (under the jurisdiction of the Department of State) where the case is forwarded to the Embassy or Consulate with appropriate jurisdiction. Upon the arrival of the K1 petition at a US Consulate abroad, the proposed beneficiary of the K1 visa must submit a K1 visa application and be subjected to a K1 visa interview. Should the application receive approval, the K-1 visa holder must then travel to the United States within 180 days and request admission at the Customs and Border Protection Service (USCBP, also under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security) at an American port of entry.Upon arrival in the United States and after marriage to the petitioner, the K-1 visa holder will have Ninety (90) days in which to apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence.The process of obtaining a K1 fiance visa can be complex and time consuming. There are those who hope that an increase in petition and application fees will result in a quicker, more streamlined process. However, each American Immigration case is different and it is difficult to foresee all possibilities in each and every Immigration petition and/or application.
