NAFSA lobbies against proposed USCIS fee increases

International educators in the USA are urging the Department of Homeland Security not to introduce fee increases for certain services, including applications for students to work in Optional Practical Training and to extend status.

The planned changes were published in the Federal Register on January 4th, and are open for public comment until March 13th.

Proposed fee increases include a 68 per cent hike for the Form I-765, the application for employment authorization for international students undertaking Optional Practical Training (OPT) post-study work to US$650 (US$555 for electronically filed petitions); and a 59 per cent increase to US$620 for the Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.

In a letter to U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, NAFSA Association of International Educators expressed concerns about the fee increases, and called for a rethink on proposals.

Daniel C. Stoll, Interim Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA, highlighted that President Biden has expressed the various benefits of attracting international students, but said at a regulatory level “unnecessary barriers and disincentives are placed in their way”, while competitor nations are focused on attracting and retaining students.

“Further, excessive fees will act as disincentives for international students, scholars, and others to come to our country and remain here and receive the benefits and services they need to become full participating members of our communities,” he wrote.

The association praised a strategic plan to improve the efficiency of immigration systems and reduce backlogs, but called for alternative models of funding rather than “historically steep fee increases” to fund the plans, such as appropriated funds and allocating premium processing fees to cover operations.

The proposed changes will also have a negative impact on the ability of higher education institutions to hire foreign nationals as faculty, staff and researchers, NAFSA said, through increases of between 70 per cent 201 per cent for I-129 employer petitions for non-immigrant workers, as well as a new Asylum Program Fee of US$600 on all I-129 applications, designed to cover USCIS costs on assisting refugees.

NAFSA said that if the proposed fee increases must be introduced, higher education institutions should be exempt from the Asylum Program Fee.

The association also called for streamlined processes, such as a ‘trusted employer’ program for companies that file large numbers of petitions annually, and further moves to online filing and case management.