Paying ELIS fee before visa in hand?

[PallasAthena 101]

Why must the beneficiary have the visa in hand before paying the ELIS fee? The NOA2 for the I-130 contains the A-number. Is it the same one that will appear on the IR-1 visa? Why can't we pay the ELIS fee now instead of waiting until my spouse receives his passport?

[matthewmaria 3]

as to the why, not exactly sure - other than that's how uscis has it set up.

see http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis

[pushbrk 12,876]

The "why" is because the fee is only applicable to an immigrant visa holder. It is not applicable simply to a visa applicant, which is all one is until the visa is in hand.

[NikLR 13,227]

Not everyone gets an A# beforehand and the fee is called the Immigrant fee. Until you have an approved visa, it's impossible to immigrate.

[PallasAthena 101]

He had the interview and has been approved. CEAC says "issued". We're waiting for it to arrive by mail but who knows how long that will take in his country, which is why I am asking. Everyone on VJ says "wait till the visa is in hand" so that we can pay the "immigrant fee". The A# is asked on a few forms needed for the NVC and is on the NOA2.

I'm not asking whether or not one can immigrate. I'm asking whether given our circumstances, why do we need to wait for the visa to be in hand before we pay the "immigrant fee"? Can we go ahead and pay it now, again, given what I've just told you?

[NikLR 13,227]

You can try if you want to.

Next time, try to include all the information in the initial question. It's the internet, we're not mind readers!

Also not everyone gets an A# beforehand on the NOA2. Also just because the A# is asked for on forms doesn't mean that it can be included because you may not have one! I didn't, for example. I know I'm not alone, so I'm not just talking out of my butt.

In the end... do what you want.

[pushbrk 12,876]

He had the interview and has been approved. CEAC says "issued". We're waiting for it to arrive by mail but who knows how long that will take in his country, which is why I am asking. Everyone on VJ says "wait till the visa is in hand" so that we can pay the "immigrant fee". The A# is asked on a few forms needed for the NVC and is on the NOA2.

I'm not asking whether or not one can immigrate. I'm asking whether given our circumstances, why do we need to wait for the visa to be in hand before we pay the "immigrant fee"? Can we go ahead and pay it now, again, given what I've just told you?

Go ahead and try, if you want. Please let us know how it works out. If the visa is "issued" and you know what to do, you may well have success. New information gets new answers. Provide all pertinent information the first time, and you'll get better answers.

[PallasAthena 101]

Sorry for not being clear beforehand.

My husband received his passport with visa today. The "registration number" is an 8 digit number that is different from the alien registration number on the NOA2. The one on the NOA2 begins with the letter "A" while the "registration number" on the IR-1 visa contains no letters.

On the ELIS site, it asks for the A number. However, would that just be the "registration number" on the IR-1 preceded by the letter "A"? We're unsure how to proceed on this one.

Thanks!

[pushbrk 12,876]

Would that match what you think is the A number?

[NikLR 13,227]

his alien number IS the registration number on the visa. Go with that one if the two you have are different.

A012345678 or A123456789

Needs to be 9 digits long and if there are only 8 on the visa, you add a zero to the front.

DOS number is the NVC case number.