Ian Wagreich Discusses Biden Administration's Proposal to Increase Fees for Employment Visa Applications

Hinshaw partner Ian Wagreich discussed with Law360  a proposal by the Biden Administration to significantly raise employment visa fees. He also reviewed the technological challenges confronting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which make the current visa system "incredibly cumbersome" for attorneys.

Wagreich noted that the proposed fee increases do not appear to address the agency's technological shortcomings, which make the process time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Wagreich also explained that while USCIS is offering lower fees for electronic filings in certain cases, including for employment authorization and change of status, petitioners are unlikely to take advantage. "USCIS will probably continue trying to find ways to encourage practitioners and individuals to e-file forms in the future, but it is really problematic given their current technology offerings," Wagreich added. "The best way to get more e-filings is to have a decent system to submit e-filings."

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"New USCIS Visa Fees Won't Solve Bigger Issues, Attys Say" was published by Law360.com on January 5, 2023.