A quick drop in applications for green cards, citizenship, and other immigration programs has threatened U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with insolvency, prompting the agency to seek $1.2 billion from Congress, as well as a fee hike to stay afloat.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services relies on the fees that it charges applicants to fund its operation and has stated that it could run out of money by the end of summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in far fewer individuals applying for visas and other benefits.
Without the $1.2 billion injection from Congress, the agency has stated that it will be unable to fund its operation in a matter of months. In addition, the agency plans to impose a 10 percent surcharge on applications, on top pf previously proposed fee increases.