Filing Fees to Rise to Ease Backlogs

The fees immigrants pay for citizenship and permanent residencypetitions will rise as officials try to prevent more backlogs in thesystem, the director of the nation’s immigration service said Tuesday.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Emilio Gonzalez saidthe amount of the increases is still being determined, but expects itto be significant.

“I envision that it’ll go up a fair amount,” he said during a visit toDallas. “We’re a business. We’re not allowed to be deficient.”

Currently, immigrants applying for citizenship pay $330 or$325 for permanent residency documentation known as a “green card.”Applicants also pay a $70 fingerprinting fee. They could see the newprices for immigration petitions by April, Gonzalez said. Click here.

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