Federal Judge Temporarily Blocked USCIS's Fee Hike

Did you hear that? USCIS can not implement the new fees (for now)! The new fees were scheduled to go into effect on October 2nd, 2020 but now a federal judge, Jeffrey White, on Tuesday temporarily blocked USCIS from increasing fees for green card and US citizenship applications. 

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocked USCIS's Fee Hike

Judge Jeffrey White works for US District Court for the northern district of California. In his decision, he motioned serious questions about the validity of the USCIS's fee hike. He believes that the new fee rule would put low-income immigrants at a severe disadvantage.

USCIS issues a statement to respond to the news:

“This unfortunate decision leaves USCIS underfunded by millions of dollars each business day the fee rule is enjoined.  Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded.  As required by federal law, USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that current fees do not recover the cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services.  This is nothing new or abnormal.  In fact, the fee rule is two years behind schedule, and is a smaller percentage increase than the previous.  In a fee-funded agency such as USCIS, this increase is necessary to continue operations in any long-term, meaningful way to ensure cost recovery.  This decision barring USCIS from enacting its mandatory fee increase is unprecedented and harmful to the American people.”

So don't use the new fee schedule yet! As long as the injunction is in effect, USCIS can not implement the new fees from October 2nd, 2020. This might change later, we will keep following this news story and keep you all updated!

Learn about the original new fees that was scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 2nd, 2020 here.