February 1, 2013 note
Effective February 1, 2013, all individuals issued
immigrant visas overseas must pay a $165.00 USCIS Immigrant
Fee before traveling to the United States. Only prospective
adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United
States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and
Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S.
government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are
exempt from the new fee. The below USCIS website has more
details on the new fee, including contact information for
USCIS, if there are further questions:
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Questions and Answers
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When must I pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee?
You must pay the fee prior to departing for the United States.
USCIS will not issue your green card until USCIS receives
payment. However, even if you have not paid the fee, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers will admit you, as long
as you are otherwise eligible to enter.
What if I was issued an immigrant visa before February 1,
2013? Do I have to pay the fee?
No. Only applicants issued visas on or after February 1, 2013
will pay the new fee. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) officers at the airport or land border will review
immigration records to determine when your immigrant visa was
issued. If the visa was issued on or after February 1, 2013
but the fee was not paid, the Immigrant Visa package will be
collected at the point of entry, but USCIS will not issue a
green card until the $165.00 fee is paid.
Who has to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee?
All applicants issued immigrant visas (including Diversity
Visas), except children adopted under the Orphan (IR-3/IR-4)
or Hague Processes (IH-3/IH-4), Iraqi and Afghan special
immigrants who were employed by the U.S. Government, returning
residents (SB-1s), and K visas, will pay the new fee.
How do I pay the new fee?
You will pay the fee by going to www.USCIS.gov/Immigrantfee,
clicking on the link to the USCIS intake page on Pay.gov,
answering the questions on the USCIS intake page, and
providing your checking account, debit, or credit card
information. Because checking payments must be drawn on a
U.S. bank, someone else may pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee on
your behalf.