By Symon Ogeto, Masharikileo, 4/21/2004 15:30

Chicago, IL – (ML) Battling with rising security costs and a sagging economy, the United States Homeland Security has elected to pass on the financial tab over to its customers; immigrants seeking to either enter or live in the United States.

Effective Friday, April 30, 2004 application fees are slated to rise by between 30% and 50% for benefits and services sought by immigrants at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

In a USCIS press release dated April 14, agency Director Edward Aguirre said, “USCIS is committed to delivering immigration services and benefits in a compassionate, effective and secure manner.”

Mr. Aguirre added that the new fee structure would allow the agency to provide services without compromising its commitment to US national security.

This means that non-immigrant students enrolled in colleges and universities wishing to seek employment authorization documents (commonly known as EADs) under their Optional Practical Training (OPT) will now need to pay $175. The current rate is $120, making the inclement stand at 46%.

This same fee applies to two other categories of applicants - non-immigrant seeking similar EAD while in College due to sudden economic hardship and immigrants who have been authorized to seek employment pending change of status.

Other common applications such as I-539, which is used by most non-immigrants who wish to apply for extended stay in the United States, will cost $195.00 up from 140.00.  Green card applicants will have to pay $315 on their form I-485.

If you loose that white little I-94 card stapled in your passport that states your authorized duration of stay, you will need to pay $155 to replace it.

If you are a US citizen who has married a non-citizen outside the United States, you will need to pay $165 in order to file form I-129F in order to obtain K-3 or K-4 non-immigrant visa.

Rather than using taxpayer dollars, the Federal guidelines require that USCIS collect fees in order to recover full costs associated with providing immigration services. In addition, the agency is required to conduct a fee review every two years to ensure that adequate revenue is collected.

Muturi Kanjau, a Chicago-based Kenyan non-immigrant presently pursuing graduate studies feels that this increase is likely to have a tremendous impact on every immigrant and this is why he feels that it is not a fee for service as the USCIS misconstrues it to be.

“I feel as if this system is fraudulent. Every fee I have paid to USCIS has been answered with inexcusable delays caused by unending backlog”, he protests.

“It is true that immigrants have pressing needs that beg the attention of immigration agencies. However, it ought to be worth it to pay more. I see no convenience in increasing fees only to keep us waiting even when they promise to respond in 60 to 90 days which end up being months or even years of waiting” says Kanjau.

On one positive note about USCIS, Kanjau adds “ It is a relief to log on the Internet and view that status on your application. However, the inefficiency of execution of petitions and the very small cost of putting this service on the web makes the benefit dismal.”

Dr. Eustace L. Kaijage, a member of the Tanzanian community in Chicago, disagrees with Kanjau. “This increase is routine and far much lower compared to what one may pay for services by an immigration lawyer.”

Mr. Kaijage has endured similar increments for the many years he has lived in the United States. However, he agrees that students from impoverished African countries will particularly be affected when seeking immigration benefits.



Since September 11, 2001, there has been a concerted effort to recover costs associated with improving application processing times as well as providing comprehensive security. 

Thus, there is a requested increase of $60 million according to USCIS for 2005 fiscal year. These appropriated funds will particularly support backlog reduction efforts that are budgeted at $160 million.

Ironically, this increase targets only lawful immigrants residing in the United States. It does not take into account for over eight million illegal immigrants whom President George W. Bush was eying when he announced the Guest Worker Program early this year.

Over in New York’s Chinatown neighborhood, these illegal numbers emerged during this years’ tax return filing to jumpstart their partial accountability.

According to a Los Angeles story (Tax break: Cash for Citizenship?) dated April 19, several Chinese illegal immigrants started filing their income tax in hope that building a tax record is not such a bad idea. This goal is unforeseeable but such hope needs a higher calling. 

This is in hope that if Bush’s guest worker program gets a nod by Congress, there will be enough paper trail likely to lead them into citizenship. What does this mean? Whether illegal or not, immigrants are brazed on at any cost to come, live and realize the American dream.

© Masharikileo.com 2004