NAFSA Comments on Immigration Benefit Application Fee Increase

This letter constitutes the comment of NAFSA: Association of International Educators on the proposed rule increasing the immigration benefit application fees. Our members file thousands of applications and petitions with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services annually.

USCIS is presently in a unique position. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the resultant separation of legacy INS into three distinct bureaus, allows each bureau to focus on its individual mission. The only mission of USCIS is to provide immigration services to applicants. USCIS funds have been separated from enforcement and border funds, so there is no longer the opportunity, as there has been in the past, for the fee funds to be diverted to other priorities. Now is the time for USCIS to seize this opportunity to create a first-rate operation that values efficiency, quality, and innovation.