IMMIGRATION-FEE PLAN DRAWS FIRE INCREASES LAMBASTED ACROSS POLITICAL LINES.Byline: LISA The first personal computer to include integrated software and use a graphical interface. Modeled after the Xerox Star and introduced in 1983 by Apple, it was ahead of its time, but never caught on due to its $10,000 price and slow speed. FRIEDMAN Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- The cost of becoming a U.S. citizen would increase sharply under a new immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. fee structure drawing fire from across the political spectrum. The proposed hike, which could go into effect in June, calls for immigrants to pay between $300 and $900 for a range of paperwork. Administration officials pegged the average increase at 13 percent, but in some cases immigrants could actually be paying 80 percent more. ``The new fees reflect the growing costs of keeping our national immigration service secure and efficient,'' said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Emilio Gonzalez. Aside from covering the costs of processing applications and making up for lost revenue, the money will be used to modernize the agency's technology, collect biometric data from applicants and reduce the agency's gaping backlog, Gonzalez said. But Democrats who now control Congress say they worry that the new fees will make applying for citizenship and other benefits prohibitive for most immigrants. Rep. Zoe Lofgren Zoe Lofgren (born Sue Lofgren on December 21 1947), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995, representing the 16th District of California (map), based in San Jose. , D-San Jose, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee panel on immigration, called for ``fair and reasonable'' increases and said she intends to examine the agency's justification for the hike. A spokeswoman said Lofgren might hold hearings. Immigrant activists called the hike alarming. ``America should be embracing those who want to become citizens, not erecting barriers to achieving this worthy goal,'' said Christina DeConcini, policy director of the National Immigration Forum The National Immigration Forum (also called "The Forum") is an immigrant rights organization based in Washington, DC that publishes studies, lobbies congress members, and networks local organizations with the goal of increasing public support for immigration to the United in Washington, D.C. DeConcini noted that fees for citizenship applications have increased four times in eight years. Congress, she said, should be funding the agency so it doesn't have to depend so heavily on fees. Mark Kirkorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) is a right-leaning, immigration reduction-oriented, non-profit, non-partisan research organization and was founded in 1985 with roots in the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and anti-immigration activist John in Washington, D.C. -- which has called for limits on legal immigration -- said he agrees with immigrant activists. ``In this case, they're actually right,'' he said. ``The idea that a candidate for citizenship has to come up with $600 to apply, that's a little ridiculous.'' lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com (202) 662-8731 Proposed immigration service fees Application to replace a permanent resident card Permanent Resident Card may refer to:
Current fee: $190; proposed fee: $290 Petition for alien fiance (I-129F) Current fee: $170; proposed fee: $455 Application to register permanent status or adjust status (I-485) Current fee: $325; proposed fee: $905 Application for naturalization naturalization, official act by which a person is made a national of a country other than his or her native one. In some countries naturalized persons do not necessarily become citizens but may merely acquire a new nationality. (N-400) Current fee: $330; proposed fee: $595 SOURCE: USCIS USCIS US Citizenship and Immigration Services CAPTION(S): box Box: Proposed immigration service fees (see text) |
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