USCIS immigrant fee

After enduring the lengthy process of having his spousal petition approved by USCIS, submitting the immigrant visa application with supporting documents to the National Visa Center (NVC), and overcoming the anxiety of medical exams and the stress of the consulate interview, Tito's perseverance has finally been rewarded. His immigrant visa has been granted, and he is now poised to move to the US. Lisa, his wife, shares his joy at this wonderful news. Yet, the couple is puzzled by the consulate's directive for Tito to pay an immigrant fee, assuming the fee paid at the NVC covered the visa itself. The immigrant fee is a separate charge required by USCIS to process the immigrant visa packet and produce the Permanent Resident Card.

As a lawful permanent resident immigrating to the United States, you are required to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online unless you qualify for one of the exemptions. The USCIS utilizes this fee to process your immigrant visa packet and to issue your Permanent Resident Card, commonly referred to as a Green Card. It is highly recommended that you pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee after receiving your immigrant visa from the Department of State and prior to your departure for the United States. Alternatively, you can pay the fee upon your arrival in the United States. If you have not paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee by the time you arrive, USCIS will issue a payment notice with instructions on how to pay the fee. Your Green Card will only be issued after the USCIS Immigrant Fee has been paid.

The USCIS immigrant fee is not required for:

Children adopted under the orphan or Hague adoption programs;

Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants;

- Other Afghan nationals until September 30, 2023;

- Returning lawful permanent residents (SB-1s);

- K nonimmigrants.

Should you be unable to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee, it can be paid on your behalf by a relative, friend, employer, attorney, or accredited representative. They will require your Alien Number (A-Number) and your Department of State (DOS) Case ID to do so. During your interview at the US embassy or consulate, you should have received a USCIS Immigrant Fee handout from the DOS interviewing officer. This handout contains instructions for paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee and displays your A-Number and DOS Case ID in the top right corner. It is advisable to make a copy of this handout or note down your A-Number and DOS Case ID and keep them in a secure location. If you did not receive an immigrant data summary or the USCIS Immigrant Fee handout with your visa packet, you should reach out to the US embassy or consulate that issued your visa to obtain a copy.

The $220 fee is paid online at the USCIS website. There is a dedicated page with detailed instructions on how to pay this fee.