Work Permits and Travel Permits No Longer Bundled with Adjustment of Status Applications

As you know from our prior article, USCIS is raising their fees on October 3, 2020. For more information on the fee increase, please click here. What many applicants do not know is that this will have a severe impact on many adjustment of status applications, also known as I-485s. Prior to the fee increase, adjustment applicants were allowed to file applications for work and travel authorization at no extra cost. This amounted to a savings of almost $1000 in filing fees. Also, you could renew your work and travel permits with no filing fees as long as your green card application was pending. 

This is changing on October 3, 2020. As of October 3, 2020, USCIS will require filings fees for work permit and travel applications, even if they are filed with an I-485. Applicants who wish to apply for work and travel permits will now have to pay an additional $550 for a work permit and an additional $590 for a travel permit. 

Helpful Tips: If you are currently eligible to file an adjustment of status application, we highly recommend doing so before October 3, 2020. As long as your application is postmarked by October 2, 2020, you will not be subject to the fee increase. If you have a work or travel permit that is expiring within 120 days, you should consider filing your renewal applications before October 3, 2020. Again, as long as your application is postmarked by or before October 2, 2020, you will not be subject to the fee increase.  

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