BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Immigrants entering and staying in the U.S. are going to have to dig deeper into their pockets.

In May the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services announced it would increase immigration application fees by almost 66 percent across the board on July 30.

The application fee for a first-time green card will go from $325 to $1,010, for temporary resident status the fee will go from $255 to $710, and naturalization will cost an extra $300.

Local immigration offices have extended their hours to meet the flood of immigrant applications.

“We’re swamped, totally swamped,” said Manuel Vigil, owner of Servico de Inmigracion.

He and others in the business have been working around the clock to process the applications and paperwork coming into their offices.

“We are encouraging the community in this area to put their applications in before the prices go up so that they can also become U.S. citizens," said John Dawson.

Dawson is the director at the Lincoln-Pacheo center in east Bakersfield. The non-profit organization is sponsored by the Republican Party to help immigrants on their road to citizenship.

Elizabeth Apariso visited the center after learning of the price hike, but said that wasn’t the only reason she decided to apply for citizenship.

“I want to become a citizen so I can vote… we need to change the laws for immigrants who are here working and fighting.”

Apariso said the U.S. has offered her and her family many opportunities she wouldn’t have had in Mexico.

“I am much more protected in the U.S. than in Mexico. I am very happy in this country.”

She and others got their paperwork filed three days ahead of the deadline. Immigrations consultants are warning those who need to file paperwork not to delay.

“They need to have their applications postmarked no later than Saturday at 1 p.m,” Dawson explained.

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