CR-1/IR-1 $165 - Additional 'Immigrant Fee'

[mindthegap 2,590]

Just received my interview date (finally...) and discovered this- not sure if it is known on here as is so new, but have never seen it mentioned.

Effective Feb 1st 2013, for immigrant visas, you now have a new USCIS 'Immigrant Fee' of $165, which has to be paid after issuance/receipt of visa but before travel. K visa exempt for some reason, but CR-1/IR-1 have to pay. This is in addition to the $230 visa fee.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=3037

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3a2bb75e8109b310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

In addition to this, effective Jan 22nd 2013, London is charging $1.00 per sheet for any photocopies required of documents if you don't bring your own photocopies to give them.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=3042

Edited January 18, 2013 by mindthegap

[Lou29 5]

I wasn't aware of this fee. Not really too sure how they can justify it. I assume you are still able to fly into the states once you receive your visa in the post but will not be given the actual green card until it's paid? As long as it's something I can take care of once I'm actually with my husband in the states then I'll worry about it then.

Any other thoughts on this from anyone?

mindthegap, from looking at your timeline you moved fast but I'm not sure if you did the direct consular filing? My application has already been through the USCIS and NVC so not sure if that fee applies to folks like me? Just a guess. You've moved much faster than some people on this CR1 journey.

[Mina90 134]

They announced this fee a while ago. Some members here already know, while others didn't/don't. I knew about it a few months ago that this additional $165 fee was going to be added. Since our I-130 was just approved, I know there is no way we will be able to avoid that fee, I know we're going to have to pay it. They had just "cut-down" the cost of the IV bill from $330 to $230, saving us $100, but now a new fee of $165. So, we are technically paying more than before.

[FlorRosa 0]

Just received my interview date (finally...) and discovered this- not sure if it is known on here as is so new, but have never seen it mentioned.

Effective Feb 1st 2013, for immigrant visas, you now have a new USCIS 'Immigrant Fee' of $165, which has to be paid after issuance/receipt of visa but before travel. K visa exempt for some reason, but CR-1/IR-1 have to pay. This is in addition to the $230 visa fee.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=3037

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3a2bb75e8109b310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

In addition to this, effective Jan 22nd 2013, London is charging $1.00 per sheet for any photocopies required of documents if you don't bring your own photocopies to give them.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=3042

Hi!

I am not understanding now what else do we have t pay! When we started the I-130 process we paid $420. So now when its time for the interview I will have to pay $165 PLUS $230?

[GeorgiaPeach 2]

Just received my interview date (finally...) and discovered this- not sure if it is known on here as is so new, but have never seen it mentioned.

Effective Feb 1st 2013, for immigrant visas, you now have a new USCIS 'Immigrant Fee' of $165, which has to be paid after issuance/receipt of visa but before travel. K visa exempt for some reason, but CR-1/IR-1 have to pay. This is in addition to the $230 visa fee.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=3037

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3a2bb75e8109b310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

In addition to this, effective Jan 22nd 2013, London is charging $1.00 per sheet for any photocopies required of documents if you don't bring your own photocopies to give them.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=3042

Thanks, mindthegap, for the useful info & CONGRATS on receiving your interview date. When is it?

Very frustrating with the additional fees, but what can you do? Thanks for the heads up on the $1.00 copy fees. Definitely won't allow them to suck any more money from us if I can help it! Keep us updated on your progress.

[weliveyoung 0]

I've just gotten my interview appointment letter (3 weeks from now hurray!) and followed the internet link written on it about what to expect at the interview. According to the link I'll be paying $330 at the embassy, plus $45 for "security"!??, plus extra for the courier service (I'm doing DCF in London). And I just found out about this $165 charge as well, it's effective from feb. 1st and our interview is on the 11th . I thought that the embassy fee was still only $230? And is there really a security fee as well? Anyone been to their interview recently?

Edited January 21, 2013 by weliveyoung

[FlorRosa 0]

I've just gotten my interview appointment letter (3 weeks from now hurray!) and followed the internet link written on it about what to expect at the interview. According to the link I'll be paying $330 at the embassy, plus $45 for "security"!??, plus extra for the courier service (I'm doing DCF in London). And I just found out about this $165 charge as well, it's effective from feb. 1st and our interview is on the 11th . I thought that the embassy fee was still only $230? And is there really a security fee as well? Anyone been to their interview recently?

Hi Weliveyoung

Congratulations on the receipt of the interview letter! I have my interview this Thursday (if the weather helps) and I am wondering how much it will need to be paid. At first I thought I did not had to pay anything, as we already paid $420 for the I-130. Now there is a $230 fee + 45. Thankfully my interview will be before Feb 1st so I don't have to pay that.

Help please!

[mindthegap 2,590]

I've just gotten my interview appointment letter (3 weeks from now hurray!) and followed the internet link written on it about what to expect at the interview. According to the link I'll be paying $330 at the embassy, plus $45 for "security"!??, plus extra for the courier service (I'm doing DCF in London). And I just found out about this $165 charge as well, it's effective from feb. 1st and our interview is on the 11th . I thought that the embassy fee was still only $230? And is there really a security fee as well? Anyone been to their interview recently?

Look carefully at the link on the letter that you have followed - its dated 2010, so is out of date.

Visa fees were revised last year : http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=2846

CR-1/IR-1 fee is $230 (lowered from $404) and remains so - just the addition of this $165 as of feb 1st, which is not payable at the embassy but paid online after receipt of passport/visa.

[Boggy1974 124]

Hi!

I am not understanding now what else do we have t pay! When we started the I-130 process we paid $420. So now when its time for the interview I will have to pay $165 PLUS $230?

Note that the $420 you paid is for the petition stage i.e. you paid to USCIS to process your I-130 petition. The $165 fee starts on Feb 1st 2013 and payable also to USCIS.

The $230 is payable to NVC. There is also an $88 fee depending on case type.

[FlorRosa 0]

Note that the $420 you paid is for the petition stage i.e. you paid to USCIS to process your I-130 petition. The $165 fee starts on Feb 1st 2013 and payable also to USCIS.

The $230 is payable to NVC. There is also an $88 fee depending on case type.

Thanks Mindthegap and Boggy1974!!

[weliveyoung 0]

Thanks for clarifying mindthegap. I noticed that the page I was directed to was a bit old but couldn't remember when the fee revision was, that's a bit of a relief. We're planning on taking our cat as well so things are getting majorly expensive...the cat's flight actually costs more than ours.

And all the best with your interview FlorRosa!

[FlorRosa 0]

Thanks for clarifying mindthegap. I noticed that the page I was directed to was a bit old but couldn't remember when the fee revision was, that's a bit of a relief. We're planning on taking our cat as well so things are getting majorly expensive...the cat's flight actually costs more than ours.

And all the best with your interview FlorRosa!

Thanks weliveyoung! I am so excited and so worried at the same time...hurry up tomorrow! Just would like to get this done and over with....

[Kevin and Tuyen 0]

Has anyone gone through this tedious process of paying this $160 fee? Holy ####### it's intense! They want to know all kinds of personal information, 5 security questions, password has to be at least 8 characters, uppercase, lowercase, and a special character.... if you forget it, you will be asked 3 security questions, if you get one wrong, it throws up 3 new ones, you do that 3 times and it locks the account. Jesus. I doubt the FBI could crack those accounts. All to pay them $160. Who's bright idea was that? Anyways, The fee is paid online via the USCIS ELIS website (awful) and the reason for me posting here is that I paid the fee, but I cannot log back on there to print out a receipt. The last time I logged on was about a month ago when I paid it, and it said "processing". I never got an email saying complete or anything.

So my question - Do I need to print the immigrant fee receipt out when going home with my wife through immigration in order to get her Greencard? They say on the USCIS website that it is not needed to enter the U.S., only to get the greencard, if paid later, they will mail it to the house. I wonder if they want a receipt in hand for that fee in order to issue the GC. I could always print out my bank statement and have it with me where they withdrew the money.

[Darnell 8,478]

Has anyone gone through this tedious process of paying this $160 fee? Holy ####### it's intense!

1. So my question - Do I need to print the immigrant fee receipt out when going home with my wife through immigration in order to get her Greencard?

2. They say on the USCIS website that it is not needed to enter the U.S., only to get the greencard, if paid later, they will mail it to the house.

3. I wonder if they want a receipt in hand for that fee in order to issue the GC. I could always print out my bank statement and have it with me where they withdrew the money.

Yup - lots o folk. we've a thread on ELIS in the general immigration forum.

1. No.

2. POE event triggers much. The time between POE and the first trigger is 30 to 60 days. If'n she gets the green card within 90 days, well, the squirrels have been running on overtime.

3. No

[Kevin and Tuyen 0]

Thank you for the clarification - what a nightmare this entire experience has been lol