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USCIS Fee Change Announcement

UPDATE to USCIS Fee Change Announcement (03/21/2024)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified its new filing fee structure to confirm that UW and other state higher education institutions are subject to the lower fees for non-profits. This means that filing fees for UW H-1B petitions will not change as of April 1, 2024. Fees for other visa types and for the I-140 Immigrant Petition will change as noted on ISO’s Visa Fees page; units should continue to follow guidance on that page as to fee amounts and check issuance.

Previous announcement noted below:

USCIS Fee Change Announcement (03/14/2024)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced new filing fees to go into effect on April 1, 2024. The new fee structure will require different filing fees for Form I-129 based on the visa status sought and on the non-profit status of the employer. There is no change to the H-1B Fraud Prevention Fee of $500 or the Premium Processing Fee of $2805, but the way that the premium processing period is calculated will change from 15 calendar days to 15 business days.

ISO advisors will work hard to file as many H-1B petitions with USCIS before the fee change goes into effect on April 1. For cases that cannot be filed with USCIS before April 1, the new fee amounts will apply.

There is some ambiguity as to which fee amounts will apply to UW and other state higher education institutions. Pending resolution of that ambiguity, which we expect within the next few months, ISO recommends the following set of separate filing fee checks for H-1B petitions:

  • $460 I-129 filing fee for H-1B*
  • $320 I-129 filing fee for H-1B*
  • $600 Asylum Program fee (new)
  • $500 H-1B Fraud Prevention Fee (required for new H-1Bs and changes of employer)
  • $2805 Premium Processing Fee (where necessary or recommended by ISO to expedite USCIS processing)

*Other fees may apply for other visa types. See our Visa Fees page for information on how to request USCIS filing fee checks.

USCIS may ultimately determine that UW is subject to lower fee amounts, and return the $320 and $600 filing fee checks to UW; in that case, ISO would return the filing fee checks to the units that issued them, and update guidance to campus accordingly. For the time being, since USCIS will reject petitions if the fee checks attached to them do not match the relevant fee amounts exactly, filing with the checks listed above will minimize the chances of USCIS rejecting the petition.

If you have questions about which fee checks are required for a specific visa request, please contact ISO. For visa requests already in process, ISO will contact units to request revised fee checks where necessary.

OAP 2023-28 Strategic Plan

December 2024 Update

This blog post reflects information that was accurate when first released in January 2024. Since then, the Office of Academic Personnel has been renamed the Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty (APF)—a change that underscores our renewed commitment to supporting faculty success at every career stage. This transformation aligns our work with the University of Washington’s long-term vision for academic excellence.

As part of this evolution, APF is actively revising its mission, vision, and strategic plan to further enhance our impact and ensure our continued dedication to fostering a thriving academic community.

In the University of Washington Office of Academic Personnel, we are dedicated to fostering excellence and cultivating limitless potential. Through our commitment to championing the unique passions and common goals of UW faculty and all academic personnel, we support a community of leaders who dare to be boundless.

The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan serves as the guiding blueprint for the University of Washington Office of Academic Personnel, playing a pivotal role in defining OAP’s trajectory over the next five years. This comprehensive roadmap not only outlines key objectives but also identifies strategic initiatives designed to enable professional excellence for UW faculty and all academic personnel. By providing a cohesive and forward-thinking blueprint, this strategic plan is instrumental in optimizing resources, enhancing collaboration, and amplifying the ability of the Office of Academic Personnel to serve the University of Washington and its diverse, world-class academics and faculty from recruitment onward.

In response to the evolving needs of our dynamic academic community, the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan places a renewed emphasis on three priorities (1) the development of people, (2) forging and strengthening authentic and meaningful partnerships, and (3) the pursuit of greater clarity.

The Office of Academic Personnel is poised to be a catalyst for individual and collective growth, recognizing that the boundless potential of our academic personnel is not only an asset to the University but a driving force for positive change in the broader academic landscape. Through innovative programs, transparent communication, and collaborative initiatives, we aspire to create an environment that empowers every member of our academic community to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and leave an indelible mark on the world.

As we navigate the next five years, the Office of Academic Personnel envisions a future where our commitment to faculty development, partnership, and clarity becomes the cornerstone of faculty and academic personnel success at the University of Washington. By aligning our strategies with the aspirations of our academic personnel, we are confident that together, we will shape a future where the pursuit of knowledge knows no bounds, and the University of Washington stands as a beacon of excellence in academia.