Individuals filing a Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, no longer need to pay the $85 biometric services fees, effective October 1, 2023. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the update for filings postmarked October 1, 2023, or later.
If a Form I-539 was filed prior to October 1, 2023, some filers will be scheduled for the Application Support Center (ASC) appointment. Individuals should attend those appointments if scheduled. For some who file their form after October 1, 2023, an appointment may still be required if so determined by USCIS. If an appointment is scheduled, regardless of the date of filing, it’s imperative to attend.
Individuals who accidentally submit the biometric services fee separately from the Form I-539 fee will receive a refund for the biometric services fee. The related Form I-539 will be processed. However, if the biometric services fee is paid in one payment with the paper-based Form I-539 filing fee, it will be considered an incorrect filing and Form I-539 will be rejected. If a credit card payment is inadvertently submitted that includes both the biometric fees and the Form I-539 application fee, the application will be accepted and only the charge for the application fee will be processed.
If you have questions about the biometric services fee, process, or any other immigration-related issue, contact us at ILBSG. We actively monitor ongoing updates to ensure our clients are in full compliance with U.S. immigration laws.
