• Julia Jalbert
  Supervisor, Non-immigrant Services
  Phone: 713-798-4604
  Email: juliaj@bcm.edu
  

• Bonnie Weisman
  Director of Employment and ISO
  Phone: 713-798-4604
  Email: bweisman@bcm.edu

The International Services Office is a team within Human Resources that serves the international population and provides information and assistance. The offfice is staffed with a team that wants to help make your time at Baylor a positive experience.

Please don't hesitate to contact International Services at 713-798-4604 or visit the office at the John P. McGovern Campus, 2450 Holcombe Blvd. at Almeda, Room OW101.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to increase processing fees
Posted 6/13/07

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing a new fee structure to "ensure appropriate funding to meet national security requirements and customer service needs, and modernize an outdated business infrastructure."    For further detail about USCIS' plans for the next few years or to read the final rule of the new fee structure, click here. The attached pdf is USCIS's new fee structure which will become effective July 30, 2007.  Please note that all H paperwork submitted to ISO after Friday, June 22nd must be drafted according to the new fee structure set forth by USCIS.  Here are specific fee changes that will affect our BCM international population:

COMMON FORMS FOR NON-IMMIGRANT VISA PETITIONS:
Form I-102 for replacement of I-94 card:  the fee will increase from $160 to $320.
Form I-129 for H-1B petition:  the petitioning fee will increase from $190 to $320.
Form I-539 used for change of status or extensions for dependents:  the fee will increase from $200 to $300
I-612 for those applying for two-year home residency requirement waivers:  the fee will increase from $265 to $545
I-765 for students or employees applying for work permission/EAD:  the fee will increase from $180 to $340
I-824 Consular notification for those applying for H-1B visa stamps abroad:  the fee will increase from $200 to $340.
I-907 premium processing request for H-1B : no change - $1,000 per request.  

COMMON FORMS FOR U.S. PERMANENT RESIDENCY/IMMIGRANT PETITIONS:
Form I-90, Replacement of Lost/Stolen Permanent Resident Card:  the fee will increase from $190 to $370.  
Form I-131, Advance Parole travel document:  the fee will increase from $170 to $305.
Form I-140, Petition for an Immigrant Worker:  the fee will increase from $195 to $305.
Form I-485, Adjustment of Status to become a permanent resident while in the U.S.:  the fee will increase from $325 to $1,010 (add'l dependent fees apply)
Form I-765 for employment authorization:  the fee will increase from $180 to $340.

COMMON FORMS FOR INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP:
N400, Naturalization:  the fee will increase from $330 to $675.
N565, Replacement of Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate:  the fee will increase from $220 to $380.

To ensure that USCIS will accept the petitions under current fee schedule, ISO must file with USCIS on or before the end of business day on Wednesday, July 17th .  Therefore, all new H petitions and the completed paperwork must arrive in ISO by the end of business day on Friday, June 22nd to allow sufficient time for ISO to process H-1B petitions under current fees.  Departments must be prepared to use the new fee structure for all paperwork submitted to ISO after Friday, June 22.  

The Visa Information Call Center in China remains closed on the order of the Chinese authorities. The United States government hopes that the Center will be permitted to resume operations soon. Consular Sections in the Embassy and Consulates General in China have been accepting and will continue to accept applications from those who already have scheduled appointments, and to process cases involving medical and humanitarian emergencies.

Once scheduled appointments are exhausted, in an effort to maintain customer service to the extent possible, the Embassy and Consulates General will begin to accept applications on a daily walk-in basis and will continue to work under that system until further notice. Because of the high demand for United States visas at this time of year, there is no guarantee that applicants can be accommodated each day. Therefore, we recommend that those with urgent travel needs arrive early to pursue their applications.

Effective June 3, 2004, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing will begin accepting visa applicants on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis as follows:

* Bearers of ordinary passports applying for business, tourism and for other unofficial purposes: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday beginning at 7:30 a.m.
* Student and exchange visa applicants: Monday through Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m.
* Public Affairs Passport holders: Wednesday beginning at 7:30 a.m.
* American Chamber of Commerce applicants: Monday through Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Applicants in the above categories should apply only at the times and days as indicated above.

Walk-in procedures will begin at other post throughout China as follows:
* Guangzhou, Shenyang, and Chengdu - May 17, 2004
* Beijing - June 3, 2004
* Shanghai - June 23, 2004

Details concerning specific walk-in procedures at each post are available at the following websites:

Beijing: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn
Chengdu: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/chengdu/
Shanghai: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/shanghai/
Shenyang: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/shenyang/
Guangzhou: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/guangzhou/

Click here to download a pdf file (184 KB) outlining the new fees.

Of particular interest to the Baylor Community, are fee increases for the following Applications and Petitions:

I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker $185 (Previously $130)
I-130 Petition to Classify State of Alien Relative for Issuance of Immigrant Visa $185 (Previously $130)
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker $190 (Previously $135)
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status $315 (Previously $255)
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status $195 (Previously $140)
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization $175 (Previously $120)

ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL POST-DOCS! Changes have been made to the visa application procedure that may increase process time. All visa applicants now need to submit to an interview, and a security clearance may be required.

Please click go to the NPA International Postdoc Committee website for
further information: http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/committees/IPC_Committee/

• Also check out the Baylor Chinese Student and Scholars Association: click here