USCIS To Increase International Adoption Fees

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a report, “Adjustment of the Immigration and Naturalization Benefit Application and Petition Fee Schedule,” which outlines some fee changes related to adoption:

I-600A fees will increase from $545 to $670 (page 100)

Form I-600. For filing a petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative for
issuance of an immigrant visa under section 204(a) of the Act. (When more than one
petition is submitted by the same petitioner on behalf of orphans who are brothers or
sisters, only one fee will be required.)--$670.

Form I-600A. For filing an application for advance processing of orphan petition.
(When more than one petition is submitted by the same petitioner on behalf of orphans
who are brothers or sisters, only one fee will be required.)--$670.

I-600A average processing time is 3.39 months (page21)

I-600A average completion rate time is 1.53 hours (this figure reflects only time spent actually working on petition) (page 78) 

Biometric fees (digital fingerprinting) to be increased from $70/person to $80/person (page 84)

29,500 I-600A applications were filed in 2006.
This figure is expected to increase to about 29,601 by Fiscal Year 2008/2009 (page 66)

For more news and information about adoption, visit www.laurachristianson.com, and check out my Exploring Adoption bookstore

Comments

[amydeanne]

Just found your site from "In His Hands". Very interesting and great information you've posted! I'll be back!!

[Kimberley]

This news is a little disappointing since many of us who are adopting internationally will need to have our documents renewed. But, we have been warned that this was coming.
Thank you for posting this very accurate information.

[Debbie]

what a great, thorough website! Thanks for alerting me to it!