Consulate General of the United States Jerusalem

Important Notice: New USCIS Green Card Fee

Any individual who on or after February 1, 2013 receives an immigrant visa will be required to pay an additional USCIS Immigrant Fee of $165.  This is a new fee, and does not replace the Department of State visa application processing fee applicants are required to pay. Applicants must pay the fee online through the USCIS website after they have received their immigrant visa from the U.S. Consulate and before they travel to the United States. Applicants should submit the fee electronically on the USCIS website either using a debit or credit card or using a checking account. Please note that all payments made using a checking account must be drawn on a U.S. Bank. If the applicant is unable to make this payment, another person can make this payment on the applicant’s behalf.

If the applicant does not pay before traveling to the United State, it will not affect the lawful status of the applicant. The applicant will have their passport stamped showing their lawful admission and permanent resident status. This passport stamp will be valid for only one year.  The applicant will not receive a green card until the required USCIS Immigrant fee is paid. Therefore, 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.

For more information about the new fee, please visit the USCIS website, or click the following link. 

Effective August 15, U.S. Consulate Jerusalem will no longer accept Immigrant Visa petitions. For more information, go to: Filing a Petition

“It is the immigrants who brought to this land the skills of their hands and brains to make of it a beacon of opportunity and hope to all men.”  -- Herbert H. Lehman

Immigrating to the United States is an important decision that involves a complex and lengthy process.  Generally speaking, you qualify to immigrate to the United States if you are:

• A spouse or immediate relative of an American citizen or legal permanent resident (greencard holder)
• The fiancé of an American citizen
• Certain prospective employees of United States companies
• Selected through the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program

For complete information on who can immigrate to the U.S., please see: Visa Types for Immigrants.

In general, all prospective immigrants, except for Diversity Immigrant candidates, must have a petition filed on their behalf with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) by a U.S. citizen or a U.S. lawful permanent resident relative, or a prospective employer.  Additionally, citizens of qualifying countries may qualify for an immigrant visa through the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.

Diversity Visa applicants:  Protect yourself from Internet Scams! There is no charge to enter the visa lottery.  Learn more about avoiding Diversity Visa scams.

The “petitioner” is the person or company through whom a prospective immigrant qualifies.   The petitioner begins the process by filing a petition.

The “beneficiary” is the prospective immigrant to the United States.  Most petitions must be filed in the United States.  Please see the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for more information.  However, in limited cases petitions can also be filed at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem; please review the specific guidelines in “Step 1 – Petition” to see if you qualify to file a petition outside of the United States.

To receive an immigrant visa you will need to complete the following steps:

• Step 1 – Filing a Petition
• Step 2 – Schedule your Interview
• Step 3 – Interview
• Step 4 – Visa Issuance