USCIS Productivity Issues / Questions

[n2b]

As we all know the fees are going to increase next month. Though I am safe now lot of other people will still bear the heavy fees.

One of the reasons they say they are increasing the fees is that they are short on resources and need more people and resources. Now, to all of our surprise last month, they were able to process some 60K I485s in less than 2 weeks.

With what has happened in last 1 month and also with the new fees increase, do you guys think USCIS will improve their productivity or will remain unchanged?

July filers, do you think USCIS will process our Reciepts, EADs and APs faster or take sweet long time complaining about the backlog?

Lets discuss this issue and figure out what is the solution with this 2 face USCIS!

[pns27]

First of all these cases that they approved were being worked on for long time. Last months they just assigned Visa numbers and approved then. They did not work on these cases start to end, just assigning a visa number and approving them.

Second the motivation of putting the extra work was to reduce up coming work load (500K to 750K 485’s) and to avoid the loss of Revenue (not able to collect the tons tons of money as new fee).

USCIS was planning to improve the processing time by investing the expected extra money (extra fee they expected after Julu30) on manpower and resources.

So now they don’t have any motivation, incentive and the resources to work harder. So, they are back to normal productivity pace.

So I expect the productivity at USCIS to be very very low.

[ssnd03]

Originally Posted by n2b

As we all know the fees are going to increase next month. Though I am safe now lot of other people will still bear the heavy fees.

One of the reasons they say they are increasing the fees is that they are short on resources and need more people and resources. Now, to all of our surprise last month, they were able to process some 60K I485s in less than 2 weeks.

With what has happened in last 1 month and also with the new fees increase, do you guys think USCIS will improve their productivity or will remain unchanged?

July filers, do you think USCIS will process our Reciepts, EADs and APs faster or take sweet long time complaining about the backlog?

Lets discuss this issue and figure out what is the solution with this 2 face USCIS!

USCIS will make more money with fee increase.

But the current I485 files will end up paying more fees than the I485 filers with new fee structure

Current I485 filers:
I485+EAD+AP = $675
Yearly renewal EAD+AP = $645 (after the fee increase)

I485 filers with new fee structure
I485+EAD+AP = $1010
Yearly renewal EAD+AP = $0

Adjustment applications and ancillary benefits – The new application fee for an I-485 is a package fee that includes associated EAD and advance parole applications. Thus, if you file an I-485 with the fee listed above, while you will still need to submit applications for an EAD and advance parole, you will not need to pay a separate fee so long as your adjustment application is pending. However, if you filed your I-485 before this fee change, to apply for or renew your EAD or advance parole, you must file a new application with the new fee for those applications.

In best case scenario (and I am talking about people from Retro countries) if you get your I485 approved in two years you will pay $1320 with old fee and $1010 with new fee.

Worst case you wait for 3 or more years.... you can do the math that the old fee structure will cost you few thousands more than the new fee structure especially if you have two or more dependents.

USCIS should be happy to accept I485s for retro countries with old fee structure

So I don't think fee increase was behind visa fiasco.

I have already renewed my EAD+AP 3 times

[GCBy3000]

At any given point of time USCIS is not going to think to collect less fees from its immigrant customers. PERIOD. Yes, your Math is true and most of us including know about it. But why USCIS wants people to file 485 later? Can you think off any possible reasons? Yes there is one but it is very weak as of today.

ie. As per the presidents plan, USCIS is supposed to complete the processing of 485 and adjucation of AOS in less than 6 months. It was already signed last year and USCIS is supposed to stick to it from certain date. I am not sure of this date. If the above is true, then USCIS would be making more money out of immigrants if they file after July 31st.

Bottom line: USCIS will never want to make less money. They are smart.

FACTS:

1. When USCIS could process I-140 in one day under PP, why cant they do it for regular processing even after 10 months. Mine is waiting there for more than 10 months now. I would call the PP as LEGAL BRIBING. Indian Govt offices are lot better than this so called advanced countries Govt offices.

2. When they can process 18K 485s in one day and 60K 485 in one month, why the hell in the world they are sitting on 485's for years.

3. When the VB dates did not move at all from SEP'06- May'07, they did not move the 485 processing dates much. Which means the number of 485s they receive do not have any impact on their 485 processing. They just want to sit on it milk money from immigrants. This direction is CLERALY coming from TOP MANAGEMENT of USCIS.

[tcsonly]

Thanks for the detailed analysis and calculations. That will make people feel that
they will save money by filing after Aug 17th, but they have to wait until Oct 1st or longer. So, if they file now and get EAD, they will be able to move to a new job after 180 days with increased salary which will cover for the next EAD/AP renewal.

-C.

[danila]

Originally Posted by ssnd03

USCIS will make more money with fee increase.

I485 filers with new fee structure
I485+EAD+AP = $1010
Yearly renewal EAD+AP = $0

So you are saying that under the new fee structure EADs and APs will never expire? My understanding was that you will have to renew them regardless.

[Doom]

Originally Posted by danila

So you are saying that under the new fee structure EADs and APs will never expire? My understanding was that you will have to renew them regardless.

They expire every year, you still have to do the renewal but no fees for renewal... thats what it means...

[ssnd03]

Originally Posted by tcsonly

Thanks for the detailed analysis and calculations. That will make people feel that
they will save money by filing after Aug 17th, but they have to wait until Oct 1st or longer. So, if they file now and get EAD, they will be able to move to a new job after 180 days with increased salary which will cover for the next EAD/AP renewal.

-C.

They will be out of their minds to not apply I485 before Aug 17.

I just meant that new fee structure was not behind visa fisaco. Accepting retro I485s before July 31 (and now Aug 17) is good for USCIS from fee point of view.

Sure AC21 and spouse working will cover the costs for us.

No need to complain it is just a technicality

But don't expect any improvement in processing efficiency

[danila]

Originally Posted by Doom

They expire every year, you still have to do the renewal but no fees for renewal... thats what it means...

Really? Where did you get that? The only thing I can find is that if you are filing under the new fee structure EAD and AP fees are already included into the I-485 filing fee.

[buehler]

Originally Posted by danila

Really? Where did you get that? The only thing I can find is that if you are filing under the new fee structure EAD and AP fees are already included into the I-485 filing fee.

EAD and AP have always been for only one year. Are you questioning that now?

[ssnd03]

Originally Posted by danila

Really? Where did you get that? The only thing I can find is that if you are filing under the new fee structure EAD and AP fees are already included into the I-485 filing fee.

Adjustment applications and ancillary benefits – The new application fee for an I-485 is a package fee that includes associated EAD and advance parole applications. Thus, if you file an I-485 with the fee listed above, while you will still need to submit applications for an EAD and advance parole, you will not need to pay a separate fee so long as your adjustment application is pending. However, if you filed your I-485 before this fee change, to apply for or renew your EAD or advance parole, you must file a new application with the new fee for those applications.

This is from USCIS.. it makes everything clear

[danila]

Originally Posted by buehler

EAD and AP have always been for only one year. Are you questioning that now?

Nope, we are talking about filing fees here. My understanding is that you will have to pay the new filing fees to renew those regardless of the fees you payed for the initial ones

[WeShallOvercome]

Originally Posted by Doom

They expire every year, you still have to do the renewal but no fees for renewal... thats what it means...

I don't think the new fee regulation says anywhere that 'renewals' of EAD and AP would be FREE. It's just for the first time that they come free with I-485. next time you renew, they won't ask you if you paid the old fee or the new fee in the beginning. you'll have to pay the new renewal fee every time.

[danila]

Originally Posted by ssnd03

Adjustment applications and ancillary benefits – The new application fee for an I-485 is a package fee that includes associated EAD and advance parole applications. Thus, if you file an I-485 with the fee listed above, while you will still need to submit applications for an EAD and advance parole, you will not need to pay a separate fee so long as your adjustment application is pending. However, if you filed your I-485 before this fee change, to apply for or renew your EAD or advance parole, you must file a new application with the new fee for those applications.

This is from USCIS.. it makes everything clear

Can you please be so kind to provide the link to confirm that?

[danila]

Originally Posted by WeShallOvercome

I don't think the new fee regulation says anywhere that 'renewals' of EAD and AP would be FREE. It's just for the first time that they come free with I-485. next time you renew, they won't ask you if you paid the old fee or the new fee in the beginning. you'll have to pay the new renewal fee every time.

That's exactly my point. BTW, in FY06 EAD fees were the biggest cash cow totaling in $241M