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Visa Petition Fee Increases JULY 30, 2007.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a substantial increase in petition filing fees, effective for petitions postmarked on or after July 30, 2007. The Premium Processing fee remains $1,000.
- The fee for the regular I-129 petition for a nonimmigrant worker will increase from $190 to $320.
- The fee for the I-539 petition to extend/change status (used for spouses and dependents) will increase from $200 to $300.
- The fee for the I-824 petition for action on an approved application or petition (usually used to request a duplicate I-797 notice of approval) will increase from $200 to $340.
A complete fee schedule is available on the USCIS site. To avoid delays in processing, please note the fee change and plan accordingly.
File Petitions Up to One Year in Advance!
As of May 16, 2007 visa petitioners may submit I-129 applications for O or P visas up to a maximum of one year in advance of their need for the foreign artist’s services. Previously, the earliest petitioners may file is only up to 6 months in advance of a performance. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made this rule change at the urging of the nonprofit performing arts community. Extending the earliest filing date from 6 to 12 months may provide relief for those petitioners prepared to file far in advance of a performance. Remember—file petitions as early as possible to be spared the $1,000 Premium Processing fee and to allow more time for consular processing to be completed.
Filing Addresses Changed on April 2, 2007!
The locations for filing artist visa petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently changed. Petitions filed after April 2 should be mailed to either the California Service Center or Vermont Service Center, depending on the location of the petitioner. Presently, all I-129 and I-539 visa petitions are mailed directly to the California Service Center for processing. After April 17, petitions filed to the incorrect address will be rejected and returned to the petitioner. Please see our USCIS Service Center Tips and Contact Information for complete information about the new locations for filing petitions.
California Service Center (CSC)—Petitioners Located in the Following States:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Vermont Service Center (VSC)—Petitioner Located in the Following States:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia
