Is tightening immigration policy bringing a sense of crisis? The number of U.S. citizenship applications rises

Is the tightening of immigration policy bringing a sense of crisis? The number of applications for U.S. citizenship rises [Comprehensive report by Qiaobao.com] Applications for naturalization and citizenship usually peak before the presidential election...

[Comprehensive report by Qiaobao.com] Applications for naturalization and citizenship usually peak before the presidential election and face a trough after the election. But the number of people applying to become U.S. citizens this year exceeded that in 2016. This is the first time in 20 years that the number of citizenship applications has not dropped after a presidential election year.

According to the New York Times, 3,542 immigrants were sworn in to become U.S. citizens in Los Angeles last week. After Trump took office, he stepped up the deportation of illegal immigrants and canceled the DACA program, which made green card holders nervous.

Rosalind Gold, senior advisor of the Naleo Educational Fund, said: "In the current political and policy environment, American citizens have become more powerful."

There are currently about 8.8 million people in the United States who are eligible to be naturalized as U.S. citizens, and they have held U.S. green cards for at least 5 years.

In the first three quarters of fiscal year 2017, from October 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, 783,330 people submitted naturalization applications, compared with 725,925 people in the same period the previous year.

As the number of applicants increases, the time for processing applications also becomes longer. There were 708,638 active applications at the end of June, compared with 522,565 active applications at the end of fiscal year 2016. The waiting time has also increased from 4 months to 8.6 months. In some large cities, such as Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas and Miami, the waiting time for applications can be more than a year.

Not all permanent residents wish to become U.S. citizens. Mexico and Central American countries have lower naturalization rates than Southeast Asia and Russia. Fear of losing some benefits, application fees, and citizenship tests all deter permanent residents from naturalizing.

However, as the current political environment changes, the rights of permanent residents may be affected, and green card holders may also be deported. U.S. citizenship protects immigrants from deportation if they admit to a crime, and they can also enjoy federal benefits and jobs that only citizens enjoy.

Before last year’s election, some non-profit organizations encouraged immigrants to submit naturalization applications. Many cities have seen a surge in naturalization applications, and some adult education programs also provide immigrants with education courses related to naturalization applications.

US immigration and naturalization fees have increased significantly since last year

Starting from December 23, 2016, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement new fees. Many application fees have soared, with the highest one rising by 258%. The Immigration Bureau specially reminds immigration applicants that any cases mailed or submitted to the Immigration Bureau in any form on or after the 23rd will be charged according to the new standards.

The new fee prices implemented by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are most relevant to the Chinese:

1. Green card application: from US$985 to US$1,140, an increase of approximately 16%;

2. Updated green card application: from US$365 to US$455, an increase of approximately 25%;

3. Naturalization application: from US$595 to US$640, an increase of about 8%;

4. Investment immigration Application: from US$1,500 to US$3,675, an increase of approximately 145%

5. Citizenship paper application: from US$600 to US$1,170, an increase of approximately 95%.

The following items have the largest increase:

1. Application for exemption from entry: from US$200 to US$715, an increase of 258%

2. Application for genealogy index query and genealogy record query: from US$20 to US$75, an increase of 225%

3. Regional center recognition application under the investment immigration pilot program: increased from US$6,230 to US$17,795, an increase of 186%.

>The application fee for the investment immigration category has increased the most

Among all categories, the application fee for the EB-5 investment immigration category has increased most significantly:

1. I-526 investment immigration application: the fee has increased to US$3,675, an increase of 145%

2 , I-924 Investment Immigration Regional Center Project Certification Application: The fee rose to US$17,795, an increase of 186%

3. I-924A Regional Center Annual Certification: The fee jumped directly from 0 to US$3,035

4. I-829 Investment Immigration Temporary Green Card to Permanent Green Card Application: The fee remains unchanged, or US$3,750