INS Seeks Fee Increases to Help Pay Programs’ Costs

The cost of becoming a U.S. citizen would more than double--to $225 from $95--under an Immigration and Naturalization Service proposal released Friday that would raise 27 fees to make immigrant-related programs pay for themselves.

The increases, which await final approval by INS Commissioner Doris Meissner and would not take effect for at least six months, reflect a broad attempt by the federal government to make fee-for-service programs self-sufficient rather than subsidized by taxpayers.

But immigrant advocates chastised the INS for moving to raise its prices even as a backlog of more than 1 million people--400,000 of them in Southern California--wait for their citizenship applications to be processed.

INS officials acknowledge that people are waiting up to 14 months for their papers to move through the system, despite a government goal of six months.

The fee increases are “a disgrace to the community,” said Liliana Rascon, special programs coordinator for the Los Angeles-based National Assn. of Latino Elected Officials. “The INS should not raise its fees until it provides the services the community is waiting for.”

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ immigration task force, said: “Before the INS raises its fees, it should prove to the immigrant community that it can use its resources more wisely and carry out its duties in a timely manner.”

Responding to these complaints, Meissner said she would not implement the new fee schedule until backlogs are “beginning to subside.”

“INS is in a Catch-22 situation,” Meissner said. “We want to improve our services, and we know our customers deserve better service, but in order to get there, we have to charge what it costs.”

The proposed increases will be published in Monday’s Federal Register, triggering a 60-day public comment period. After further review, the fees must be approved by Meissner and republished in the Register. They would not take effect for two months after the second notice.

The INS would get about $1 million more a day if the new fees are implemented, officials said.

The agency collected $652 million, about one-fifth of its annual $3.1-billion budget, through program fees last year.

Among the key increases:

* Green cards, up from $75, to $110

* Petition for fiance to enter country, up from $75, to $95; for relative, up from $80, to $110

* Registration as a permanent resident, up from $130, to $220

* Work permit, up from $70, to $100

* Certificate of citizenship, up from $100, to $160. Replacement certificate, up from $65, to $135

Pro-immigration legislators and advocacy groups said that as an alternative to the fee increases, Congress should increase funding for naturalization and other INS programs.

“The Congress and the president need to step up to the plate and prioritize naturalization in a way so that fees don’t need to be increased,” said Judy Mark of the Washington-based National Immigration Forum.