DHS Finalizes Immigration Form Fee Increases – Changes Effective Dec. 23, 2016. Employers Should Strongly Consider Filing As Early As Possible

In a Federal Register Notice published on October 24th, the Department of Homeland Security has finalized filing fee increases for certain filings, the first such increase in approximately six years. On average, the fees were increased by an average of 21 percent, although some filings bore more of the brunt of these increases compared to others.

Specific increases that will affect many of our clients are as follows:

Notably, the new fees will go into effect for all petitions filed on or after December 23, 2016. Employers therefore considering hiring or extending the status of foreign workers would be well advised to file as early as possible to avoid the increases and preserve their end-of-year bottom line.