A little confused with$165 fee..

[neoflasher 3]

I am aware of this "new" $165 fee that has been made up but am a little confused. On our interview date I asked and was told that anyone that had received their visa interview date package or packet 4 before February 1st would not have to pay this fee. We received ours on January 31st. Today when my wife received the passports the lady at Domex told her that she must pay the $165 for her and each of my step daughters prior to any travel. What is the correct info on this fee? Anyone?

[Ms Hogan 295]

It is based on when you ENTER the U.S. So anyone after February 1, 2013. It is not based on when you interview or when you receive your packets.

[mfranc68 31]

From what I have heard you are good to go with POE, but they will not issue them the "green card" until after you pay the $165.00. When they go through POE they stamp their passports. The stamp is good for 90 days and serves as their "green card" untill you get the actual card in the mail. After 90 days if they have not received their "green card" they are out of status and are no longer legally in the country. So, pay the fee as soon as you can.

[UK-USA-K1 128]

The first 2 replies in this thread do not match up with what I've seen on the London Embassy website regarding this fee.

First of all, it's not if you ENTER the us after February 1, 2013, it's if your approval is after February 1, 2013.

Secondly, It must be paid after you are approved, but BEFORE you enter the US

Effective February 1, 2013, all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a $165.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States. Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee. The fee must be paid after the immigrant visa has been issued but before the applicant travels to the United States on the visa. <br style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Immigrant visa applicants attending the Embassy on or after February 1, 2013 will given a letter with instructions on how to submit this payment once they have received the immigrant visa. Further information is available from the USCIS website at www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee.

Applicants issued immigrant visas before February 1, 2013, are not required to pay the new fee, even if they travel to the United States on or after February 1. Only those applicants issued immigrant visas on or after February 1 must pay the new fee.

It is important to note, that if you applied for immigrant visa prior to February 1 but your application was refused under Section 212(g) pending additional information or refused pending receipt of an approved waiver, you will be subject to the fee if the immigrant visa is issued on or after February 1, despite the fact that you may have begun the application prior to this date.

US Embassy London: New Fee

[WorldTravelers 5]

It is based on when you ENTER the U.S. So anyone after February 1, 2013. It is not based on when you interview or when you receive your packets.

According to the information from USCIS:

http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD

you must pay the fee if you "receive an immigrant visa package" on or after Feb 1st.

The "immigrant visa package" is the sealed envelope they gave her at the embassy, which they probably gave her today with the passports.

The package with information about the interview date is not "immigrant visa package".

You, however, don't have to pay this fee prior to the travel. The stamp in the passport is valid for one year (again, according to the above website). But, they will not get their actual green card until they pay.

I wasn't aware, what mfranc68 said, that they are out of status after 90 days, but even if that's true, you still have up to 3 months to pay after their arrival.

Edited March 7, 2013 by WorldTravelers

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[neoflasher 3]

I will just pay it and get it over with. Wasn't planning on spending an extra $500. smh

[Aya820 33]

From what I have heard you are good to go with POE, but they will not issue them the "green card" until after you pay the $165.00. When they go through POE they stamp their passports. The stamp is good for 90 days and serves as their "green card" untill you get the actual card in the mail. After 90 days if they have not received their "green card" they are out of status and are no longer legally in the country. So, pay the fee as soon as you can.

Incorrect, the stamp is valid for 1 year. NEW USCIS IMMIGRANT FEE

Failure to Pay

You will not receive a green card until the required USCIS Immigrant fee is paid.

Failure to pay does not affect your lawful status. You will have your passport stamped showing your lawful admission and permanent resident status. This stamp is valid for one year but it is strongly advised that you pay the immigrant fee as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving your Permanent Resident Card.

[mfranc68 31]

Incorrect, the stamp is valid for 1 year. NEW USCIS IMMIGRANT FEE

Failure to Pay

You will not receive a green card until the required USCIS Immigrant fee is paid.

Failure to pay does not affect your lawful status. You will have your passport stamped showing your lawful admission and permanent resident status. This stamp is valid for one year but it is strongly advised that you pay the immigrant fee as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving your Permanent Resident Card.

Opppssss.....Sorry for the confusion with the number of days. I didn't realise it was good for a year,

[MrsRodriguez 4]

Im confused as well because when I picked up his visa it has a paper that States that the fee needs to be paíd after you receive the visa and before you depart to the u.s

Edited March 8, 2013 by MrsRodriguez

[The Mean Lady 604]

Im confused as well because when I picked up his visa it has a papar that States that the fee needs to be paíd after you receive the visa anf before you depart to the u.s

Im confused as well because when I picked up his visa it has a paper that States that the fee needs to be paíd after you receive the visa anf before you depart to the u.s

That is the suggestion yes, but I don't believe anything is going to happen to you if you don't pay before entry.

Your visa is still valid.

They suggest paying before entry to avoid any delay in receipt of the green card.

[Ms Hogan 295]

I have scanned a copy of the letter for the fee which came with my visa. Saylin is going to post it somewhere for reference on the site, I'm not sure where.

[jani_082008 0]

does this new fee of $165 apply for k1 visa ?

[apple21 953]

does this new fee of $165 apply for k1 visa ?

No because K1 is a NON-immigrant visa.

[apple21 953]

I am aware of this "new" $165 fee that has been made up but am a little confused. On our interview date I asked and was told that anyone that had received their visa interview date package or packet 4 before February 1st would not have to pay this fee. We received ours on January 31st. Today when my wife received the passports the lady at Domex told her that she must pay the $165 for her and each of my step daughters prior to any travel. What is the correct info on this fee? Anyone?

According to your timeline (signature) you received visa/visa packet March 7, 2013, therefore, you will pay the $165 for each applicant.