USCIS Fee Hike Goes into Effect on April 1
The new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee schedule went into effect on Monday, April 1. In March, a group of immigrants and employer groups attempted to block the fee hike by filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court Tenth Circuit, but the motion was ultimately denied, allowing for USCIS to move forward as planned on April 1.
The new fee schedule means higher costs for nearly every visa and immigration category, in addition to new form editions for certain applications.
USCIS Makes H-1B Cap Selections for FY 2025
USCIS announced that they had received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the FY 2025 H-1B cap. USCIS completed the random selection process and has notified all selected beneficiaries that they are now eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition.
H-1B cap petitions can now be filed as of April 1. USCIS announced that the filing period will be at least 90 days.
Immigration Continues to Rank as Top Issue Among American Voters
According to a March 2024 poll from Gallup, American voters ranked immigration as the “most important problem facing the United States today.”
28% of respondents cited immigration as their top concern, marking the highest response since Gallup started polling immigration questions in 1981. Learn more about Gallup’s polling process here.
USCIS Rolls Out SSN Changes for Naturalization Applicants
As of April 1, U.S. citizenship applicants will be able to request a Social Security number (SSN) card on their Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization). New questions on the N-400 form will also authorize USCIS to update an applicant’s immigration status as a U.S. citizen with the Social Security Administration (SSA) office.
By selecting the SSN card and disclosure option on Form N-400, most new citizens won’t need to visit a Social Security Administration field office to apply for an SSN or a replacement card.