chris197337's Visa Fee question
Mar 12th 2013, 4:53 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2010
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 122
chris197337's Visa Fee question
07 November 2012....I-130 Mailed
08 November 2012....I-130 Delivered
09 November 2012....I-130 Fee Taken [AMEX]
09 November 2012....I-130 Officially Filed
15 November 2012....I-130 'Notice of Receipt' Received via Email
05 December 2012....I-130 Officially Approved
14 December 2012....I-130 Notice of Approval Received via Post
11 January 2013.......Case Number Received
11 January 2013.......Booked Medical
21 January 2013.......Attended Medical
28 January 2013.......DS-230 & DS-2001 Mailed
29 January 2013.......DS-230 & DS-2001 Delivered
02 March 2013.........Interview Appointment Letter Received
07 March 2013.........Interview Attended -- Visa Approved
12 March 2013.........Immigrant Visa Received via Courier
12 March 2013.........USCIS Immigrant Fee Paid
Note; CR-1 Visa approved exactly four months from date of posting Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative to USCIS in London
08 November 2012....I-130 Delivered
09 November 2012....I-130 Fee Taken [AMEX]
09 November 2012....I-130 Officially Filed
15 November 2012....I-130 'Notice of Receipt' Received via Email
05 December 2012....I-130 Officially Approved
14 December 2012....I-130 Notice of Approval Received via Post
11 January 2013.......Case Number Received
11 January 2013.......Booked Medical
21 January 2013.......Attended Medical
28 January 2013.......DS-230 & DS-2001 Mailed
29 January 2013.......DS-230 & DS-2001 Delivered
02 March 2013.........Interview Appointment Letter Received
07 March 2013.........Interview Attended -- Visa Approved
12 March 2013.........Immigrant Visa Received via Courier
12 March 2013.........USCIS Immigrant Fee Paid
Note; CR-1 Visa approved exactly four months from date of posting Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative to USCIS in London
Mar 12th 2013, 5:13 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Posts: 237
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
Since February 1, 2013, all individuals issued an immigrant visa overseas must pay a $165 USD USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. The fee is to be paid after the immigrant visa has been issued, but before the applicant travels to the United States on the visa.
Having received payment instructions with the package I received from the embassy, I visited www.uscis.gov/immigrantfee and followed the simple instructions, making full payment using my UK AMEX Credit Card. I also printed a copy of the receipt to provide to the United States Immigration Officer at the Point of Entry to the United States.
Hope this helps mate,
Rich.
Having received payment instructions with the package I received from the embassy, I visited www.uscis.gov/immigrantfee and followed the simple instructions, making full payment using my UK AMEX Credit Card. I also printed a copy of the receipt to provide to the United States Immigration Officer at the Point of Entry to the United States.
Hope this helps mate,
Rich.
Mar 12th 2013, 5:17 pm
#4
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Mar 12th 2013, 5:18 pm
#5
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
Not quite true. Having not paid the feee will not stop someone holding the visa from entering the US, but they wont receive the GC before paying the fee.
Last edited by civilservant; Mar 12th 2013 at 5:23 pm.
Mar 12th 2013, 5:22 pm
#6
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,679
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
Since February 1, 2013, all individuals issued an immigrant visa overseas must pay a $165 USD USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. The fee is to be paid after the immigrant visa has been issued, but before the applicant travels to the United States on the visa.
Rene
Mar 12th 2013, 5:23 pm
#7
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Mar 12th 2013, 5:38 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Posts: 237
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
While there may indeed be a lot of truth to what you are saying, I was simply relaying the information datailed on this fee payment instructions document which I received along with my passport, brown envelope, etc, in the days following my interview at the US Embassy in London.
Kind Regards,
Rich.
Mar 12th 2013, 8:58 pm
#10
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,049
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
Proving once again that the Bureau of Consular Services may not be the best place to obtain information about USCIS, and vice versa?
USCIS itself say that the fee is to be paid after receiving the visa and prior to departing for the USA. But it then goes on to describe the consequences of failure to pay.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...0045f3d6a1RCRD
Regards, JEff
USCIS itself say that the fee is to be paid after receiving the visa and prior to departing for the USA. But it then goes on to describe the consequences of failure to pay.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...0045f3d6a1RCRD
Regards, JEff
Hi both,
While there may indeed be a lot of truth to what you are saying, I was simply relaying the information datailed on this fee payment instructions document which I received along with my passport, brown envelope, etc, in the days following my interview at the US Embassy in London.
Kind Regards,
Rich.
While there may indeed be a lot of truth to what you are saying, I was simply relaying the information datailed on this fee payment instructions document which I received along with my passport, brown envelope, etc, in the days following my interview at the US Embassy in London.
Kind Regards,
Rich.
Mar 13th 2013, 8:40 am
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Posts: 237
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
I was thinking about it last night, and although it may not be an issue for the new immigrant at POE, they still won't receive a Green Card. That's not such a big deal I figured, since the endorsed visa in an immigrant's passport, serves as an I-551 (Green Card).
When I looked again at the new visa in my passport however, it says that upon endorsement, it serves as a temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for one year. So while failure to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee may not cause issues for a new immigrant at POE, they would have no evidence of permanent resident status after one year, which could cause significant issues.
In short, I think it's probably best to just pay the fee and avoid the risk.
Rich.
Mar 13th 2013, 12:26 pm
#12
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
Oh I agree, I wasn't suggesting that you don't pay the fee, just that you don't NEED to pay it prior to using your visa. One could argue in some situations that it's easier not too, since it must be paid in dollars from a US bank account (which you might not have before entering)
Im thinking spefically about a DV Lottery winner who may well have no relatives in the US.
Im thinking spefically about a DV Lottery winner who may well have no relatives in the US.
Mar 13th 2013, 1:40 pm
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Posts: 237
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
I actually paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee on my UK Credit Card [AMEX] and if memory serves me correctly, I could have used visa, mastercard, etc, at the point of payment online.
Chris; didn't you get USCIS Immigrant Fee payment instructions when you received the package from the Immigrant Visa Unit via courier?
Kind Regards, Rich.
Mar 13th 2013, 4:39 pm
#14
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,049
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
That' also what the USCIS says in the link I provided.
Regards, JEff
Regards, JEff
Mar 13th 2013, 5:26 pm
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Inverness soon LaCrosse, WI
Posts: 343
Re: chris197337's Visa Fee question
We didn't receive any information about this new fee when my husband had his visa approved back in October. However he arrived in the USA after Feb 1 and we are still waiting on his green card. Do we think that he may have to pay this fee and this could be what is holding up then mailing his green card?