The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is currently reviewing a rule that would revise visa application fees for the first time since 2016. This rule focuses on immigrants and temporary foreign workers. In the draft regulations released last year, there were proposals for a 40% increase in fees across various categories. This increase would primarily impact companies sponsoring workers for employment-based visas. For instance, the pre-registration fees for H-1B specialty occupation visas are set to rise to $215.
The proposed fee changes have prompted nearly 8,000 public comments from a diverse range of stakeholders, including businesses, individuals, and trade organizations. A significant concern among these groups is the potential for substantial new cost barriers, especially for businesses and organizations in the arts sector.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has forwarded the final rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for the last step of regulatory clearance. Once cleared, it will be published in the Federal Register. The Biden administration aims to release the final fee schedule by April. This update signifies a crucial change in the immigration and temporary work landscape, potentially affecting numerous stakeholders.
If you or your family members have any questions about how immigration and nationality laws in the United States may affect you, or if you want to access additional information about immigration and nationality laws in the United States or Canada, please do not hesitate to contact the immigration and nationality lawyers at NPZ Law Group. You can reach us by emailing info@visaserve.com or by calling us at 201-670-0006 extension 104. We also invite you to visit our website at www.visaserve.com for more information.