USCIS Fee Increases

I was browsing the USCIS website and I was so flabbergasted when I saw the fee increases that they will be implementing after July 30, 2007. I copied and pasted the exact words from the USCIS website and I inserted the previous fees and some notes in italics. I only included the ones that we will be using in relation to Fiance(es) or K1 petitions up to the forms needed when we file for citizenship.

For Fiance(e) petitions (Form I-129F) :

Effective July 30, 2007, the fee for general fiancée petitions will increase to $455 (from the previous $170 ) . All petitions postmarked on or after July 30 must be accompanied by the new fee. See Form to Petition for Alien Fiance(e)

For Adjustment of Status/ Filing for A Greencard ( Form I-485 ) :

Effective July 30, 2007, the fee for this application will change. All applications postmarked on or after July 30 must be accompanied by the new fee amount.

• Applicants who are filing Form I-485 based on having been admitted to the U.S. as a refugee have no fee.
• If the Applicant is under age 14:
  • And filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent, the fee is $600
  • Not filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent, the fee is $930
• If the applicant is 79 years of age or older, the fee is $930.For all others, the fee (including biometrics) is $1,010 (originally $325 + $70 for biometrics). See form on Application To Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

For Removal of Conditional Status (I-751):

Effective July 30, 2007, the fee for this petition will increase to $545 – including biometrics (from $275 to $545 ??? ) plus $80 biometric fee for each dependent you include in your petition, regardless of age. Petitions postmarked on or after July 30 must include the new fee amount. See form on Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence.

For Naturalization (N-400) :

Effective July 30, 2007, the filing fee for this application will increase to $675, including biometrics (previously $330 ) . Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces will still have no fee. Applications postmarked on or after July 30 must be accompanied by the new fee amount. See form on Application for Naturalization .

I think these fee increases are way too much !!! We legal immigrants wait for quite a long time before we come here to the United States. We file the necessary applications to have legal status here but increasing the fees about two fold from the old fees are just not fair. We know that the Bush Administration needs a lot of money but why just us? Why not round up all those illegal immigrants and make them pay too ??? For all those illegals who have been here for so long , I’m sure the government will rake in a lot of money from them so I am wondering why the government is not doing anything yet. If they are already here, getting paid too, getting welfare ( the welfare offices do not check their immigration status hence they can avail of the welfare benefits ) why not make them pay for all those years they evaded tax , for all those years they did not pay a cent to the government ???