USCIS Fee Increased for Green Card Applications: Here Are the Costs for EB1A
What is the government fee to obtain an EB1A green card? When will the USCIS fee increase take effect? Does the USCIS fee hike final rule apply to green card applicants?
These questions are common among EB1A aspirants, especially after the recent publication of the USCIS fee hike final rule. So, in this blog, we have covered the new USCIS fee structure for obtaining your EB1A green card. Let’s begin.
USCIS Fee Increase for Filing an EB1A Petition
The initial step in the EB1A Green Card process involves submitting Form I-140, an immigrant petition for an Alien Worker, to the USCIS.
Starting April 1, 2024, a fee of $715 is required for filing your EB1A I-140 application with the USCIS. This fee marks a 2% increase from the previous $700 fee.
If you desire expedited processing for your EB1A Petition, you have the option to request premium processing. This will result in receiving a decision on your EB1A I-140 application within 15 days.
Effective February 26, 2024, the premium processing fee increase for the I-140 application is $2,805.
Government Fee in the I-485 Stage
The second step to obtain your EB1A green card is filing the I-485 Application with the USCIS. Once your EB1A petition is approved and your priority date becomes available, you can then submit an I-485 application to the USCIS.
Starting April 1, 2024, a recent USCIS fee increase has raised the filing fee for Form I-485, which includes the biometric fee, by 18%, from $1225 to $1440.
Furthermore, once your EB1A petition is approved, your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible to get their green cards. So, you should file a separate
I-485 application for them to receive their green card.
The US immigration fee increase rule provides a benefit for an I-485 dependent applicant: You have the option to pay a reduced I-485 form fee of $950 for dependent children under the age of 14 when filing concurrently with the principal applicant (parent).
Additionally, there is a medical examination fee for green card applicants, which varies from $100 to $500.
Crucial Changes in the New Fee Hike Rule for Green Card Applicants
Effective April 1, 2024, applicants are required to pay separate filing fees for advance parole and Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications, whether filed concurrently or with a pending I-485 application.
As per the USCIS fee adjustment, the filing fee for an EAD is $260, and for advance parole, it’s $630
Is There a Grace Period Available for Green card Applications?
The USCIS fee increase final rule went into effect on April 1, 2024. According to this rule, certain forms allow for a grace period from April 1, 2024, to July 3, 2024, during which both previous and new versions of the forms are accepted, provided they are filed with the correct fee.
However, the Form I-140 application does not fall under this grace period. Starting April 1, you must file the new edition of Form I-140 with the increased fee of $715.
USCIS will use the postmarked date to determine whether you have used the correct version of the form and paid the appropriate filing fee
EB1A lawyer fee
The attorney fees for EB1A typically range between $15,000 and $25,000, depending on the services provided. However, our Smart Green Card team has pre-vetted attorneys who have proven success in EB1A cases within the business and tech sectors, as many of our clients come from these fields.
Through the Smart Green Card VIP plan, we can connect you with these pre-vetted attorneys at discounted rates for EB1A legal services, should you choose to avail yourself of this option.
Conclusion
Overall, considering the recent USCIS fee increase, if you’re aiming to obtain your EB1A green card through regular processing, you should anticipate budgeting approximately $4,000 for yourself.
For your family members as dependents, the budget varies from approximately $3,500 to $4,500, depending on factors like the age of the children and whether you are including EAD for your spouse.
Among the EB1 categories, EB1A stands out as the only option allowing self-petitioning, without requiring employer sponsorship. Additionally, EB1A final action dates for India progress more rapidly compared to EB2 and EB3 categories. If you are seeking hands-on guidance for EB1A, consider exploring the Smart Green Card VIP plan.
- SGC
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