4月1日起 I-539 多人申请不能一起付费了吗？

最近有多位读者问：移民局官网说「As of April 1, 2022, we will no longer accept a single, combined fee payment when filing Form I-539……」，这是说多人一起申请延期必须各自单独付费、不能用一张支票了吗？

不是的。USCIS 原文如下。

As of April 1, 2022, we will no longer accept a single, combined fee payment when filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status; Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; or Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, together with a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.

这段话的意思是：I-539（延期/转换身份）/765（工卡）/824 等申请，如果与 I-129（申请工作签证）表格一起提交，需要分别付费，比如说（I-539 一张支票）+（I-129 一张支票），而不能使用一张支票同时支付（I-538 + I-129）。

如果你对这段英文的含义仍然看不大明白的话，在 USCIS 官网点击「see more」，下面详细解释了为什么要这么做：

Separate payments are required for each of these forms. If the payments for these forms are combined, we will reject the entire package.

We are transitioning to electronically processing immigration benefit requests. As we complete this transition, we will be using multiple systems to receive and process various types of immigration benefit requests. Because the Form I-129 and related applications are not all processed in the same system, we require a separate payment instrument for each of these forms.

We acknowledge that using multiple checks or payments for the Form I-129 and related applications is more burdensome than using one payment. We are always analyzing our forms, practices, and policies to streamline filing and reduce, minimize, and control burdens to submit requests. However, we believe that the advantages of electronic processing to both the agency and to the public outweigh the minor inconvenience of submitting individual fee payments.

移民局解释说，这么做的原因是：移民局正在将这些申请的处理进行电子化，而 I-129 表格和上面列出来的其他表格将使用不同的系统处理（所以不能用一张支票来付费）。虽然这会给申请人带来一些不便，但移民局认为「电子化处理」的大方向是对的，其益处（估计是可以加快处理速度）大于「申请人需要提交多张支票」带来的不便。

如果你的父母使用邮寄表格 I-539 + I-539A 共同申请 B1/B2 身份延期，仍然可以使用一张支票来付费。