Immigration News - Immigration Reform, Immigration Technology, Recent Developments, United States Biometrics fee to be exempted for I-539 applicants Share this article LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) September 25, 2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Monday that it will exempt the biometrics service fee for all I-539 applicants beginning Oct. 1. Key Points: Applicants are no longer required to pay the $85 biometrics service fee if their I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, submission is postmarked Oct. 1 or later. Some applicants who file their I-539 before Oct. 1 will still be scheduled for a biometrics appointment and should attend it. For applications filed after Oct. 1, USCIS may occasionally determine that biometrics are required, in which case applicants will receive a notice to appear for a biometric services appointment. Additional Information: If an applicant mistakenly submits the biometric services fee with their Form I-539 fee, the following actions will be taken based on method of payment: If the biometric services fee and filing fee are submitted separately, USCIS will return the biometric services fee and accept the Form I-539. If the biometric services fee and filing fee are combined for a paper-based Form I-539, USCIS will consider it an incorrect filing and will reject the Form I-539. If a credit card payment is authorized that combines the biometric services fee with the application fee, USCIS will accept the Form I-539 and only charge the application fee. More information regarding the Form I-539 is available here. This alert has been provided by the BAL US Practice Group. Copyright ©2023 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.