USCIS Director Confirmed and New Fees Announced
On July 15, Joseph Edlow was confirmed by the Senate to serve as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Edlow has previously held key leadership roles within USCIS, including serving as deputy director for policy in 2020 and as chief counsel in 2019. USCIS, part of the Department of Homeland Security, oversees lawful immigration to the U.S.
His confirmation comes at a critical time. Employers across sectors rely on an efficient employment-based immigration system to meet their talent needs. SHRM’s 2023 Workplace Immigration Research found that while employers greatly value their foreign-born employees, they remain frustrated by the system’s complexity and inefficiency — raising concerns about the U.S. losing top global talent.
Following the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, USCIS published new fees for certain immigration applications. These include a $550 employment authorization fee for asylum applicants and for individuals paroled into the U.S., effective starting in fiscal 2025 (Oct. 1). These fees are in addition to existing charges. A full list of the updated fees is available in the Federal Register.
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