Immigration fees will increase to prevent backlog

Dec 5, 4:47 PM EST
By ANABELLE GARAY
Associated Press Writer

DALLAS (AP) -- The fees immigrants pay for citizenship, permanent residence and other petitions will increase to prevent more backlogs in the system, the director of the nation's immigration service said Monday.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Emilio Gonzalez said the amount of the increases is still being determined, but he expected it to be significant.

"I envision that it'll go up a fair amount," he said during a visit to Dallas. "We're a business. We're not allowed to be deficient."

Currently, immigrants applying for citizenship pay $330 and $325 for permanent residency documentation known as a "green card." Applicants also pay a $70 fingerprinting fee. They could see the new prices for immigration petitions by April, Gonzalez said.

Citizenship and Immigration Services process applications for citizenship, permanent residence, work permits and other immigration documents. Over the last few years, the agency has been working through a backlog that kept some immigrants waiting up to three years for green cards or citizenship. Gonzalez contends the agency has basically eliminated the backlog for applications.