[calikismet]

Hi all -- I am cross-posting this on some of the more active forums.

On February 1, 2007, the USCIS (aka immigration service) published a proposal in the Federal Registar which would increase all immigration-related fees. The relevant ones for adoption are as follows:

The I-600A/ I-600 would increase from $545 to $670. That is an increase of $125, or 23%.

The fingerprint fee would increase from $70 per person, to $80. This is an increase of $10, or 14%.

The N-600 fee (for certificates of citizenship for those children who enter on IR4 visas) will increase from $255 to $460. This is an increase of $205, or a whopping 80%!

Given the increase in the time it is taking to complete adoptions, it is VERY realistic that families may have to file more than 1 I-600A, and certainly be fingerprinted more than once. So this is a direct hit to our pocket books. Further, many families with children from Guatemala, S. Korea, etc use the IR4 visa, which then requires the filing for a certificate of citizenship (no automatic issuance), so that is also a hefty increase.

What can you do?

The CIS has a 60-day comment period that runs from now until April 2, 2007. Please take the time to comment -- in a professional and courteous manner -- to the agency about what this increase will mean. It may help! The methods of submitting comments is included on page 2 of the publication.

Here is the link to the Federal Registar publication:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2...df/E7-1631.pdf

[KathrynAsh]

Well, the USCIS faces a $1 billion shortfall for the next two years, raising fees is a way to cover that shortfall without raising taxes or taking money from other programs.

While I don't like having to pay more to the USCIS, it is my choice to adopt, and I should have to pay the fees to cover that, not the average US tax payer. Adoption is a really expensive process, and the gov't fees are only a small part of that. If these fees are going to affect people's ability to adopt, then maybe agencies will have to lower their fees.

[Kasey]

Thanks for posting that, interesting to know and glad comments can be made!