Immigration services agency seeks to raise benefits processing fees

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is proposing to increase fees for immigration benefit applications and petitions to help cover a projected $200 million shortfall next year.

The agency also is seeking a nearly fourfold increase in appropriations to $248 million for processing immigration benefits in 2011 -- $193 million more than the $55 million it received for 2010, said Timothy Rosado, chief of the budget division. Appropriated funds are used for asylum and refugee programs and military naturalizations, among other things, and did not factor into the new fee proposal.

More than 90 percent of USCIS' budget comes from fees paid by applicants and petitioners to obtain immigration benefits, but applications for benefits dropped significantly during the last two quarters of 2008 and through 2009, resulting in a major decline in revenue.

While the lighter workload allowed USCIS to reduce staff and facilities expenses by about $111 million, those cuts were largely offset by pay inflation and step increases, as well as higher rent at agency facilities.

USCIS is required by law to review its fee structure every two years to ensure it is recovering the costs to administer immigration laws, process applications and maintain the infrastructure necessary to support those activities.

Agency officials are "mindful of the effect of a fee increase on the communities we serve," said Director Alejandro Mayorkas in a briefing for reporters at USCIS Washington headquarters.

Not all fees would be increased under the proposal, which was posted in the Federal Register on Wednesday. Most notably, the fee for submitting an application for naturalization would remain the same -- $595.

"Requesting and obtaining U.S. citizenship deserves special consideration, given the unique nature of this benefit to the individual applicant, the significant public benefit to the nation, and the nation's proud tradition of welcoming new citizens," Mayorkas said.

One of the most significant revenue-generators for the agency is the fee associated with the application for employment authorization. That fee would increase to $380 from $340 per application.

The proposal also would establish three new fees: application for designation as a regional center for immigrant investors would be set at $6,230; application for civil surgeon designation would be $615; and a fee to process immigrant visas granted by the State Department would be $165. None of those programs currently charges processing fees.

USCIS has taken significant steps to cut costs where possible, Mayorkas said. It has cut about $160 million from its budget by reducing travel, subscriptions and printing, among other things.

The agency is seeking public comment during the 45-day period from June 11 through July 26.