@DailyImmigrant— August 21, 2025
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it will now reject immigration benefit applications that do not include the newly mandated fees outlined in the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill.
The fee adjustments—which cover green cards, work permits, family petitions, and other filings—officially took effect July 22, but USCIS began strict enforcement on August 21. Any applications postmarked on or after that date without the correct payment will be returned to applicants as incomplete.
Agency officials argue the change is necessary to address USCIS’s ongoing budget shortfalls and processing backlogs. “Updated fees allow USCIS to sustain operations and invest in faster processing,” a spokesperson said.
Immigrant advocates, however, say the changes disproportionately hurt low-income applicants. Some community groups are calling on Congress to create waivers or reduced-fee options, especially for asylum seekers and family reunification cases.
Immigration lawyers urge applicants to double-check all fee amounts before submitting paperwork to avoid costly rejections and delays.
