PREMIUM PROCESSING EXPANDED AT HIGHER COST!
On September 30, 2020, President Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations Act, which will provide funding to USCIS through December 11, 2020. The following are the key components of the bill:
- USCIS will have access to all premium processing fees paid, not only for infrastructure improvement but also for their operational expenses.
- Availability of premium processing will be extended to both forms I-539 and I-765, and any other petition that the Secretary of State deems appropriate. USCIS will be required to set the fees for these new processes to not be higher than $1,750 and not take longer than 30 days to process.
- Premium processing fees will increase for current forms that are already eligible to premium process. Fees will increase from $1,440 to $2,500, except for H-2B and R-1 petitions.
- Premium processing fees will be permitted to be adjusted twice a year as long as it complies with the Consumer Price Index without having to pass a new law or proposed rule.
- The start date for the processing time will not start until all requirements and prerequisites are received by DHS.
- USCIS will be required to provide within 180 days a five year plan regarding how they will establish and implement an electronic filing processing system for all applications, how they will accept electronic filing at all locations, and how they will issue all correspondence and notices electronically.
Although the bill was signed on September 30 and is effective as of that date, implementation of the bill will rely on how quickly USCIS can implement these changes on their website and release policy guidelines for individuals.
Our office will continue to keep you up to date on any changes in immigration. Please make sure to check out Andreaβs YouTube video below where she goes into detail regarding President Trumpβs new bill. Please make sure to also check out our other blogs HERE and donβt forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE where we post videos constantly!
