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Immigration Fees Skyrocket

Posted May 30, 07 11:16 AM CDT in

(Newser) – The price of citizenship is going up. With applications on the rise, the federal agency for citizenship and immigration is raising charges for almost all benefits, reports the Los Angeles Times. The cost of a green card will go from $325 to $930, while citizenship applications will rise from $330 to $675.

Immigration officials say they need the dough to meet rising costs, which aren't covered by tax money. But critics charge that the agency is too inefficient to justify higher fees, and that the jump in prices will unduly burden poorer immigrants. The increase comes as Congress considers an historic bill that would grant citizenship to some 12 million illegal immigrants.

Source Los Angeles Times

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US NEWS IMMIGRATION-PATHS 1 CC   (KRT Photos)
A protester holding a banner that looks like a United States green card walks down Broadway Street in the downtown Los Angeles Tuesday, May 1, 2007, on their way to the Los Angeles City Hall for a rally...   (Associated Press)
Riaz Syed displays his green card, which lets him work in the United States permanently. Syed is one of many foreign workers who are helping to fuel the internet economy.   (KRT Photos)
Immigrants Become US Citizens At Naturalization Ceremony   (Getty Images)
Tom Ridge Attends Naturalization Ceremony   (Getty Images)
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immigration • citizenship • Citizenship and Immigration Services • green card • application


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