Advocates Debate Rise in Fees for US Residency, Citizenship (1/3)

For newcomers, both legal and undocumented, the cost of pursuing the American dream is about to go up. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service is doubling, and in some cases tripling, its fees. Beginning July 30, the charge for adults seeking residency will exceed $1,000; the fee for citizenship will be nearly $600.

Some say the higher fees undermine President Bush's stated goals on immigration.

Crystal Williams, a deputy director at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

"To come up with $1,000 per family member to obtain permanent residence - it is really keep a lot of people in the shadows for a very long time." Williams says the new fees constitute an enormous financial hurdle that will force countless poorer immigrants to delay applications - and may lead some to give up entirely.

But officials at the Citizenship and Immigration Service point out that the agency receives no federal funds to process applications. Costs are covered entirely by fees charged.

They say unless those fees reflect actual costs, services would have to be cut back and waiting times for applicants would increase.