If you are immigrating to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, you mustpay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online unless you meet 1 of the exemptions below.
We use this fee to process your immigrant visa packet and produce your Permanent Resident Card (commonly known as a Green Card).
Learn more about paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee by selecting a category from the list below.
- Web Browser Requirements
- Who Pays the Fee
- How to Pay the Fee
- Track Card Status
- If You Move After You Enter the United States
- About the Fee
- Need Further Assistance
Web Browser Requirements
Your online account is designed to work with all mobile and desktop browsers. If you have a technical issue related to browser compatibility, we recommend downloading the latest version of Google Chrome. If problems continue, you can request technical support within your account from the help page.
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Who Pays the Fee
Westrongly encourage you to pay the USCIS Immigrant Feeafteryou pick up your immigrant visa from the Department of Stateandbeforeyou depart for the United States.
If you cannot pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee, a family member, friend, employer, attorney, or accredited representative can pay for you. If someone pays the fee for you, they will need your Alien Number (A-Number) and Department of State (DOS) Case ID.
You may also pay the fee after you arrive in the United States. If you choose this option, we will send you a notice requesting payment with instructions on paying your fee. You will not receive your Green Card until you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee.
Exemptions
The following groups do not have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee:
- Children who enter the United States under the orphan or Hague adoption programs;
- Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants;
- Other Afghan nationals (through Sept.30, 2023);
- Returning lawful permanent residents (SB-1s); and
- K nonimmigrants.
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How to Pay the Fee
You must pay the fee online.The U.S. embassy or consulate will give you your:
- A-Number (the letter “A” followed by 8 or 9 numbers);
- DOS Case ID (3 letters followed by 9 or 10 numbers);
- Instructions for paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee;
- Immigrant Data Summary; and
- Sealed immigrant visa packet.
If you are a Diversity Visa immigrant, your DOS Case ID will have 4 numbers followed by 2 letters and 5 more numbers (for example: 0000AB01234).
File Online
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Pay theUSCIS Immigrant Fee
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| Travel to the United States |
Arrive with immigrant visa packet at a port of entry
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Receive Green Card
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Payment Methods
To pay a fee, you can use a:
- Credit card
- Debit card with a MasterCard or Visa logo
- Pre-paid debit card (such as a Visa gift card)
- If you pay with a pre-paid debit card, you may use only 1 card. The card must have enough money on it to pay for you and any family members.
- U.S. bank account, also known as an Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment
- To pay with a U.S. bank account, you must provide a U.S. checking account number and routing number for your U.S. bank.
If you have a problem paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee, see our Need Help page.
Failure to Pay
If you do not pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee within the time listed in the notice, you will not receive your Green Card. If you do not pay the fee, it will not affect your status as a lawful permanent resident. However, you will only have evidence of your lawful permanent status for 1 year from the date of your admission, as shown by the temporary I-551 stamp CBP placed in your passport when you entered the United States.
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Track Card Status
To track the status of your Green Card, please go to the Case Status Online page.
Wewill only mail your Green Card to the U.S. mailing address you give to the Department of State during your immigrant visa interview or to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer when you are admitted to the United States. If you plan on living at a different U.S. address immediately after you enter the United States, please give that address to the CBP officer to ensure you receive your Green Card.
If you do not receive your Green Card within90 days of paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee or entering the United States (if you paid the fee before you arrived) please submit ouronline help formto request assistance. You can also submit an inquiry online using our e-requesttool.
Please make sure that USCIS and the post office have your correct mailing address.
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If You Move After You Enter the United States
- We will mail your Green Card to the most recent U.S. mailing address that we have on file. This could be the address you provided to the DOS at the time of your immigrant visa interview or to the CBP officer when you are admitted to the United States.
- If you plan on living at a different U.S. address immediately after you enter the United States, please give that address to the CBP officer or update your address (after taking the identity verification quiz and creating your USCIS online account) to ensure that your card arrives at your new home.
- If you move after you arrive in the United States, please update your address with USCIS through your USCIS online account. Also, we recommend that you update your address online with the U.S. Postal Serviceor by visiting your local U.S. post office. Please visit our page on How To Change Your Address for additional information.
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About the Fee
This fee is not related to the immigrant visa application fees collected by DOS. Go to theOur Feespage to see what the current USCIS Immigrant Fee is.
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Need Further Assistance
For more information, read theHow Do I Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee (PDF, 162.07 KB)applicantguide.
You can find step-by-step instructions in theImmigrant Fee Payment Guide.
If you have any questions about paying the fee, or if you accidentally paid twice or otherwise feel you paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee in error, you can submit an online help form.
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As an immigration expert with extensive knowledge of the United States immigration process, particularly concerning lawful permanent residency and the USCIS Immigrant Fee, I can confidently discuss the concepts and procedures outlined in the article you provided.
The USCIS Immigrant Fee is a mandatory payment required from individuals immigrating to the United States as lawful permanent residents. This fee is utilized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process the immigrant visa packet and issue the Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as the Green Card. Below, I'll break down the key concepts and processes detailed in the article:
Concepts and Procedures:
USCIS Immigrant Fee:
- Purpose: To cover the costs associated with processing the immigrant visa packet and issuing the Green Card.
- Mandatory Payment: Required for most lawful permanent residents unless exempted.
- Amount: Visit the USCIS website or check the "Our Fees" page for the current USCIS Immigrant Fee.
Who Pays the Fee:
- Timing: Encouraged to be paid after obtaining the immigrant visa but before departing for the United States.
- Payment Options: Individuals or designated persons like family members, friends, employers, or attorneys can pay the fee.
- Exemptions: Certain groups, such as children under specific programs, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, returning lawful permanent residents (SB-1s), and certain nonimmigrants, might be exempt from paying the fee.
How to Pay the Fee:
- Online Payment: Fee payment must be done online through the USCIS Immigrant Fee page.
- Required Information: A-Number, DOS Case ID, and other instructions provided by the U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Payment Methods: Accepted methods include credit cards, debit cards (MasterCard/Visa logo), pre-paid debit cards, and U.S. bank accounts (ACH payments).
Arrival in the United States:
- Entry Requirements: Present the immigrant visa packet at a port of entry.
- Address Verification: Update CBP with the new address if it changes immediately after arrival.
Receiving the Green Card:
- Verification and Delivery: USCIS verifies fee payment and mails the Green Card to the provided U.S. address.
- Tracking Status: Utilize the Case Status Online page to track the Green Card's status.
Address Changes:
- Updating Address: If there's a change in address, update it promptly with USCIS and the U.S. Postal Service to ensure delivery.
Non-Payment Consequences:
- Consequences: Failure to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee results in not receiving the Green Card within the specified time frame.
- Status Validity: Temporary I-551 stamp provided upon entry serves as evidence of lawful permanent status for one year if the fee is not paid.
Further Assistance:
- Resources: USCIS provides guides, instructions, and forms online for assistance.
- Support: Online help forms are available for inquiries or issues related to fee payment.
By following the outlined steps and procedures, immigrants can fulfill the requirements for paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee and ensure a smoother transition to lawful permanent residency in the United States.
