We can see that the inflation could be blamed, or maybe this is another solution to trying to fix the US immigration service’s ridiculous backlogs. Right now as we speak, there may be estimated over 20 million pending visa applications at USCIS, with over 5 million pending beyond their deadlines. USCIS established a time circle system – https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-announces-new-actions-to-reduce-backlogs-expand-premium-processing-and-provide-relief-to-work. Waiting times on average varying a number of different visa types can be from a year, with over 20 percent of completed cases more than two years to receive a response.

With so many US Immigration authorities involved – such as  the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification – all agencies are demanding more funding from Congress. However, 96% of funding comes from those who fill in a visa petition. Current revenues to the agencies amount to $3.28 billion and should rise to $5.2 Billion after the rise of the fees. 

Therefore, more employees and more staff would efficiently speed up the process to review and processing cases – so starting June 17, 2023, the U.S. Department of State nonimmigrant visa (NIV) fees will rise from 7% to 15%

• Student (F) and exchange visitor (J) visas increase – $160 to $185. 
• Temporary workers (H-1B) visas increase – $190 to $205. 
• Treaty trader (E-1) and treaty investor (E-2) visas increase – from $205 to $315. 

Please be in touch with office@drsi-law.com to review updated visa types and fees.

DRSI LAW © June 2023

David J. Bier, “Processing Backlogs in the U.S. Immigration System: Describing the Scale of the Problem: Introduction,” Cato Institute Briefing Paper no. 141, October 6, 2022.

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