Source: The New York Times
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the agency that accepts applications for green cards, citizenship, and other visas. In previous years, it has been found that individual fees and expenses account for 97% of the agency’s budget. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS has predicted that by the end of the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, its application and petition receipts will drop by 60%.
Without funding support from Congress, USCIS will no longer be able to operate. In response, the agency is planning to impose a 10% “surcharge” on applications. “The government would also begin charging asylum seekers $50 for applications and $490 for work permits, which would make the United States one of just four countries to charge people for asylum.” However, these proposed changes would only continue to deter individuals from submitting applications to USCIS.
As of now, the fees have remained unchanged.
Ur Jaddou, Director of DHS Watch at America’s Voice, said, “I don’t think this is a surprise to them. This administration has been singularly focused on cutting down both illegal immigration and legal immigration and naturalization. But in doing so, they are also breaking the system itself.”