A new fee allows USCIS to recover the costs of processing immigrant visas after individuals receive their visa packages from the American Consulate abroad.
USCIS processes approximately 36,000 immigrant visa packages each month.
On February 1, 2013, CIS will begin collecting a new Immigrant Fee of $165 from foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States.
Note: Immigrant visa applicants will have two separate fees to pay. They are still required to pay the American Consulate visa application processing fee [before the visa interview], and starting in February will also have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee [after the interview].
The new fee allows USCIS to recover the costs of processing immigrant visas in the United States after immigrant visa holders receive their visa packages from the American Consulate. This includes staff time to handle, file and maintain the immigrant visa package, and the cost of producing and delivering the permanent resident card.
Applicants will pay online through the USCIS website after they receive their visa package from the American Consulate and before they depart for the United States. The American Consulate will provide applicants with specific information on how to submit payment when their visa applications have been approved by the Consulate.
Applicants must pay this fee online through the USCIS website before they depart for the United States. They must pay the Immigrant Fee at Pay.gov. They can submit the fee electronically by answering the questions on the USCIS intake page on Pay.gov and providing their checking account, debit or credit card information. Check payments must be drawn on a U.S. bank. If the immigrant visa holder is unable to make this payment, another person can make this payment on behalf of the immigrant visa holder. [Note that USCIS will not be on the Pay.gov website until the beginning of February.]
After the immigrants receive their visa package from the American Consulate, the Consulate will give the applicant:
• A USCIS handout which will include the immigrant visa holder’s Alien number and Case ID number; and SK4VPTVN1PROD with
• Instructions on how to submit payment.
Payment should be made before traveling to the United States. Immigrant visa holders should keep a copy of their receipt for their records. More details are available at www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee.
The applicant will not receive a green card until the required USCIS Immigrant fee is paid. (= If you want a Green Card, you must pay the $165 fee). Failure to obtain the Green Card will make it difficult for an immigrant to show that he or she is authorized to accept employment in the United States or to return to the United States from temporary foreign travel.
Failure to pay does not affect the permanent resident status of the applicant. The applicant will have their passport stamped showing their lawful admission and permanent resident status. This stamp is valid for one year but it is strongly advised that new permanent residents pay the immigrant fee as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving their Permanent Resident Card.
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Q.1. Does the $165 fee cover the Green Cards for a whole family?
A.1. The new fee rule requires each immigrant visa applicant to pay $165, so a family of four persons would need to pay a total of $660.
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Q.2. If the immigrant cannot make the payment himself, who can do it for him?
A.2. Another person can make this payment on the applicant’s behalf by going to the Pay.gov website and providing the necessary credit card, debit card or checking account information.
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Q.3. Can an immigrant enter the US if the $165 fee is not paid?
A.3. After receiving the immigrant visa, an immigrant can enter the US without paying the $165 “Green Card” fee, but without the Green Card it will be difficult to apply for a job or travel outside the US.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com lehaiminh@gmail.com
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
47 Phung Khac Khoan, P. Da Kao, Q1, HCMC (848) 3914-7638
USCIS processes approximately 36,000 immigrant visa packages each month.
On February 1, 2013, CIS will begin collecting a new Immigrant Fee of $165 from foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States.
Note: Immigrant visa applicants will have two separate fees to pay. They are still required to pay the American Consulate visa application processing fee [before the visa interview], and starting in February will also have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee [after the interview].
The new fee allows USCIS to recover the costs of processing immigrant visas in the United States after immigrant visa holders receive their visa packages from the American Consulate. This includes staff time to handle, file and maintain the immigrant visa package, and the cost of producing and delivering the permanent resident card.
Applicants will pay online through the USCIS website after they receive their visa package from the American Consulate and before they depart for the United States. The American Consulate will provide applicants with specific information on how to submit payment when their visa applications have been approved by the Consulate.
Applicants must pay this fee online through the USCIS website before they depart for the United States. They must pay the Immigrant Fee at Pay.gov. They can submit the fee electronically by answering the questions on the USCIS intake page on Pay.gov and providing their checking account, debit or credit card information. Check payments must be drawn on a U.S. bank. If the immigrant visa holder is unable to make this payment, another person can make this payment on behalf of the immigrant visa holder. [Note that USCIS will not be on the Pay.gov website until the beginning of February.]
After the immigrants receive their visa package from the American Consulate, the Consulate will give the applicant:
• A USCIS handout which will include the immigrant visa holder’s Alien number and Case ID number; and SK4VPTVN1PROD with
• Instructions on how to submit payment.
Payment should be made before traveling to the United States. Immigrant visa holders should keep a copy of their receipt for their records. More details are available at www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee.
The applicant will not receive a green card until the required USCIS Immigrant fee is paid. (= If you want a Green Card, you must pay the $165 fee). Failure to obtain the Green Card will make it difficult for an immigrant to show that he or she is authorized to accept employment in the United States or to return to the United States from temporary foreign travel.
Failure to pay does not affect the permanent resident status of the applicant. The applicant will have their passport stamped showing their lawful admission and permanent resident status. This stamp is valid for one year but it is strongly advised that new permanent residents pay the immigrant fee as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving their Permanent Resident Card.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1. Does the $165 fee cover the Green Cards for a whole family?
A.1. The new fee rule requires each immigrant visa applicant to pay $165, so a family of four persons would need to pay a total of $660.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.2. If the immigrant cannot make the payment himself, who can do it for him?
A.2. Another person can make this payment on the applicant’s behalf by going to the Pay.gov website and providing the necessary credit card, debit card or checking account information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.3. Can an immigrant enter the US if the $165 fee is not paid?
A.3. After receiving the immigrant visa, an immigrant can enter the US without paying the $165 “Green Card” fee, but without the Green Card it will be difficult to apply for a job or travel outside the US.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com lehaiminh@gmail.com
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
47 Phung Khac Khoan, P. Da Kao, Q1, HCMC (848) 3914-7638
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