Key Takeaways
- New USCIS fees impact U.S. employment visa processes; large companies pay $600, small companies $300, non-profits exempt.
- Employers must provide thorough documentation, correct fees, and evidence of business size when filing immigration forms.
- Planning and legal assistance advised to manage evolving fees, prevent delays, and ensure compliance with USCIS guidelines.
Employment-based immigration to the United States 🇺🇸 requires careful attention to new fee structures and filing requirements. As reported by VisaVerge.com, recent changes to USCIS fees have created additional considerations for employers seeking to hire foreign workers.
The new USCIS Asylum Program Fee now applies to key employment visa petitions. When filing Form I-129 for temporary workers or Form I-140 for permanent workers, employers must include this extra payment along with regular filing fees.
Big companies (more than 25 full-time workers) pay $600 per petition. Small companies (25 or fewer full-time workers) pay $300. Non-profit groups don’t have to pay this fee.
To figure out if you qualify as a small company, count:
– All current full-time workers
– Seasonal workers
– Workers at your U.S. branches
You’ll need proof of your company size when you file. This could include tax documents or employee records.
The fee helps pay for processing asylum cases. USCIS expects to collect about $313 million each year from these payments. This money will help speed up asylum decisions and other immigration services.
When filing Form I-129 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-129), employers must:
1. Fill out all sections completely
2. Include the right payment amount
3. Provide proof of their business size
4. Show they need the worker
5. Prove the job meets wage requirements
For Form I-140, employers should:
1. Show they can pay the offered wage
2. Prove the worker has the right skills
3. Include proper job advertising proof
4. Submit the labor certification
5. Pay all required fees
Making mistakes with these forms can cause delays. Common problems include:
– Wrong fee amounts
– Missing documents
– Incorrect job details
– Wrong business size calculation
– Outdated forms
To avoid issues:
– Double-check all numbers
– Keep good records
– Submit recent documents
– Follow instructions exactly
– Pay fees correctly
The asylum fee adds to other costs employers face when hiring foreign workers. These might include:
– Basic filing fees
– Premium processing fees
– Legal help costs
– Advertisement expenses
– Training and relocation costs
Workers from different countries bring special considerations. For example, hiring from Canada 🇨🇦 or Mexico 🇲🇽 might qualify for NAFTA-based options. Workers from Australia 🇦🇺 might use special E-3 visas.
Before starting any hiring process:
1. Check current fees
2. Plan your timeline
3. Get your documents ready
4. Set aside enough money
5. Consider getting legal help
Employers should plan ahead. Processing times vary and can take months. Premium processing costs extra but makes things faster for some cases.
Remember that fees and rules can change. What worked last year might not work now. Stay up to date with USCIS announcements and policy changes.
Getting help from immigration lawyers can save time and prevent costly mistakes. They know the latest rules and can spot potential problems before they cause delays.
The goal is to make the process smooth while following all rules. Good planning and attention to detail help avoid problems later.
Learn Today
USCIS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services responsible for processing immigration and naturalization applications.
Form I-129: A petition for temporary workers seeking non-immigrant employment in the United States.
Form I-140: A petition filed by U.S. employers for workers seeking lawful permanent residency.
Asylum Program Fee: An additional cost imposed on certain visa petitions to support the processing of asylum cases.
Premium Processing: An optional service providing expedited processing for certain employment-based visa petitions.
This Article in a Nutshell
Attention, employers: Navigating U.S. employment-based immigration demands precision with the new USCIS fee structures. The Asylum Program Fee now impacts visa petitions—$600 for larger firms, $300 for smaller entities. Careful documentation is crucial. Stay informed! This ensures smoother processing, avoiding delays due to incorrect payments or missing paperwork. Plan wisely!
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Big Push to Clear Asylum Backlog: 62,000 Could Gain Refugee Status
• Italy Sends Migrants to Albania for Asylum Processing
• Dongquan ‘Derek’ Jin Indicted in Asylum Fraud Scheme
• Kamala Harris Proposes Stricter Asylum Policies at U.S.-Mexico Border
• International Students Seeking Asylum: Rising Trend in Canada
