September 2013 I-130 Filers

[VNBCI130 94]

Lord knows why we paid the $420 to begin with!!!!!

Haha was thinking about the same! And what was even more surprising is that it literally took them half a day to cash the check!! And then they said "Go to the h*** for the next 6-9 months!"

[bdrew612 1,071]

Haha was thinking about the same! And what was even more surprising is that it literally took them half a day to cash the check!! And then they said "Go to the h*** for the next 6-9 months!"

The American government! Quick to take, slow to give. Sounds like a trophy wife hahaha I kid, I kid.

[Monalisa22 84]

Lord knows why we paid the $420 to begin with!!!!!

I I know. What did the fee cover? I want to see a breakdown of the expenses.

$88 - Affidavit of Support

$230 - IV (Immigrant Visa) fee

Everything is explained in the NVC guide http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process

I Oh wow. Thank you.

[bdrew612 1,071]

I I know. What did the fee cover? I want to see a breakdown of the expenses.

I Oh wow. Thank you.

Don't forget about the Immigrant Extortion fee (Okay, not the proper term for it, but that's essentially what it is)! Once approved at the interview, you have to pay $165 to get the green card.

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Don't forget about the Immigrant Extortion fee (Okay, not the proper term for it, but that's essentially what it is)! Once approved at the interview, you have to pay $165 to get the green card.

This one http://www.uscis.gov/forms/uscis-immigrant-fee

Can be paid before or after POE.

[k.dlg 300]

For those who don't follow the FB group, I called NVC today and they stated that case numbers are being issued 20-30 days after they are received.

So they reiterated the 3 week timeline!

[bdrew612 1,071]

This one http://www.uscis.gov/forms/uscis-immigrant-fee

Can be paid before or after POE.

It's still an extortion fee lol

From what I've read it's best to pay before you head to the US

Edited April 11, 2014 by bdrew612

[JeffInMX 157]

It's still an extortion fee lol

From what I've read it's best to pay before you head to the US

Yeah, doesn't it say right at the top that it has to be paid before you head to the U.S.?

"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."

[bdrew612 1,071]

Yeah, doesn't it say right at the top that it has to be paid before you head to the U.S.?

"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."

Sure does! That fee just irks me like you wouldn't believe.

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Yeah, doesn't it say right at the top that it has to be paid before you head to the U.S.?

"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."

Yes, but then it also says there:

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.

Also, an endorsed CR-1/IR-1 visa acts as a green card for a year.

[bdrew612 1,071]

Yes, but then it also says there:

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.

Also, an endorsed CR-1/IR-1 visa acts as a green card for a year.

In that same paragraph it says it should be paid before entry.

I wouldn't recommend anyone wait until they're here to pay that. It's best to pay the fee and get it out of the way and have peace of mind (for at least 2 years until conditions are removed).

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

In that same paragraph it says it should be paid before entry.

I wouldn't recommend anyone wait until they're here to pay that. It's best to pay the fee and get it out of the way and have peace of mind (for at least 2 years until conditions are removed).

This is confusing but I am pretty sure paying this fee after POE is fine too.

Dwheels' take on it: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/483203-april-2014-interviews/?p=6858968

[bdrew612 1,071]

This is confusing but I am pretty sure paying this fee after POE is fine too.

Dwheels' take on it: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/483203-april-2014-interviews/?p=6858968

I still wouldn't recommend it. The USCIS page mentions more than once that it should be paid before entry, so I'm going to trust that. Anyway, waiting until the immigrant is here is just another delay in my book :-)

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

I still wouldn't recommend it. The USCIS page mentions more than once that it should be paid before entry, so I'm going to trust that. Anyway, waiting until the immigrant is here is just another delay in my book :-)

This would explain why the fee should be paid before POE:

We strongly encourage you to pay this fee

after you receive your immigrant visa packet from the U.S. Embassy

or Consulate abroad (including Canada and Mexico) and before you

depart for the United States. Paying before you depart for the United

States will ensure that you receive your Permanent Resident Card

(commonly referred to as a Green Card) without delay.

***

What happens if I fail to pay the fee?

USCIS will not issue your Permanent Resident Card until you have

paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee. Once the fee is paid, USCIS will

process your Permanent Resident Card.

After arriving in the United States, you will receive a passport stamp

that validates your permanent resident status for one year. Once this

stamp expires, you will need to possess a Permanent Resident Card

as evidence of your lawful permanent resident status.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/How%20Do%20I%20Guides/F4en.pdf

[bdrew612 1,071]

This is also assuming there are no delays with issuing of the green card. If we've all learned anything from this experience it's that USCIS does not do anything on time.

I'm not saying the immigrant cannot pay it after POE, I just think the immigrant should not wait until after POE. It delays issuing the green card and thus delays when conditions can be removed.

Edited April 11, 2014 by bdrew612