Washington :Potential immigrants to the United States have to pay higher fees for a range of services provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS).

With effect from April 30, the cost of renewing a permanent residency card has gone up $55 to $185, according to a press release. The application for becoming a citizen is $320, an increase from $260. In addition, applicants for many services will also have to pay a $70 biometric fee to cover the cost for CIS to make an electronic record of the applicant’s fingerprints.

The fee increases are the latest step in a transition process at an agency that has undergone significant change since the September 2001 terrorist attacks. CIS Director Eduardo Aguirre said the higher fees are necessary to cover the costs of new procedures introduced into the agency’s services. It will also allow more timely service to customers, he said.

“While we have made some progress on reducing the backlog, the new fee adjustment will also ensure that this progress can continue as we explore new ideas on how to tackle this decade-old problem,” said Aguirre.