On January 12, 1998, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) announced plans to increase fees for Forms 1-600 and I-600A from $155 to $405. Form N-643 is slated to rise from $80 to $125. If approved, these increases could take effect in approximately six months.

The 1-600 is the Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative; the I-600A is the Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition. The application for Certificate of Citizenship of Behalf of an Adopted Child is form N-643.

Joint Council is very concerned about these changes because of the significant impact they have on U.S. citizens who choose to build their families through inter-country adoption and on homeless children who need loving families.

The increases in the 1-600, I-600A, and N-643 are three of many fee increases proposed by the INS in the January 12, 1998, Federal Register, to cover anticipated shortfalls in the Immigration Examination Fee Account used to pay for the processing and adjudication of applications and petitions. This account is expected to have a shortfall of $270 million this year. One reason for the shortfall is a change enacted by Congress to the Immigration and nationality Act last year, which reduced the amount of revenue previously available for the Account. Another reason is that "current fees do not recover the full cost of processing immigration adjudication and naturalizations and petitions."

Credits: Maureen Evans