USCIS Immigrant Fee

Problems Paying Your USCIS Immigrant Fee

USCIS ELIS is having technical difficulties processing some Department of State Case ID numbers.  If you experience problems paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee, you can still travel to the United States and then pay the fee. After arriving in the United States, you will receive a passport stamp that validates your permanent resident status for one year. You will receive your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) by priority mail AFTER you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

Thank you for your patience as we correct this issue. 

How to Pay the Fee 

Foreign nationals who seek permanent residence in the United States and receive an immigrant visa from the Department of State need to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online before departing for the United States.

You must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online using USCIS ELIS. You may pay for yourself and for any family members who will live with you in the United States. You will need to complete the electronic payment request and provide:

• Your Alien number (A-Number) and your Department of State (DOS) Case ID number.
• If you pay for your family members, you must have their A-Numbers, DOS Case ID numbers and correct biographic information.
• You also will need to provide a valid credit or debit card or, if you choose to have money taken directly from your bank account, a checking account number and the routing number for your U.S. bank.

	Process for Paying Your USCIS Immigrant Fee
	Receive at the U.S. Embassy Alien number (A-Number). DOS Case ID (3 letters with 9 or 10 numbers). Sealed visa packet.
	Create an online USCIS ELIS Account Go to uscis.gov/uscis-elis. Follow directions to create an online account. Select “USCIS Immigrant Fee” and include your personal information.
	Pay USCIS Immigrant Fee Pay US$165 online. You can pay the fee for all family members in one transaction. Provide a valid credit or debit card, or U.S. bank checking account and routing numbers.
	Travel to USA
	Arrive with Immigrant Visa Packet at Port of Entry You are admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident.
	Receive Green Card After you are admitted to the United States, USCIS will verify payment of the USCIS Immigrant Fee and mail your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to the address you provided to DOS at the time of your immigrant visa interview or to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the time of your admission.

Failure to Pay

You will not receive a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) until you pay the required US$165 USCIS Immigrant Fee. Failure to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee does not affect your lawful permanent resident status, but it does affect when USCIS will be able to issue you a Green Card. You should pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee after you receive your immigrant visa package from the Department of State and before you depart for the United States.

Exemptions

Children who enter the United States under the Orphan or Hague adoption programs, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, returning residents (SB-1s), and those issued K visas, are the only categories exempt from paying the fee.

What the USCIS Immigrant Fee Covers

The USCIS Immigrant Fee allows USCIS to recover the costs for processing and maintaining the immigrant visa package, and the cost of delivering and producing the Permanent Resident Card.

About the Fee

The USCIS final rule adjusting fees for immigration applications and petitions established the USCIS Immigrant Fee. The Federal Register published the final rule on Sept. 24, 2010. The rule became effective for all foreign nationals who receive an immigrant visa on or after Feb. 1, 2013. The USCIS Immigrant Fee is not related to the immigrant visa fees collected by the Department of State.

Read our tips page on how to pay your USCIS Immigrant Fee.

Burden Disclosure Notice: OMB Control Number 1615-0122. 

USCIS Privacy Act Statement

Please contact the USCIS Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 if you have questions about paying the fee.