Green card fee questions (split topic)

[TomChe 1]

Hi everyone!

I need some adviced and information about getting the green card. I hopei can get some answers here because im so worried too much!

I arrived here in the US last 20th of June and my husband told me that he never knows where he paid the $165 for my green card because we expect in my port of entry they well ask me for the green card payment but didnt. And I didnt noticed the US embassy gives me a piece of paper it says guidelines if how to apply getting a green card. But, they says also that before you fly to the United States you need to apply green card?

And im worried mine because we apply after I get here after I stay 1month because we dont know. My questions is this fine we did the payment in about a month I stay here before we did the payment to the USCIS? And how long it takes before I get mail? Im sorry im so nervous we made mistakes because we didnt get any emails to inform we need to paid for the green card.

Hope you understand my situation.

Thank you so much! Need reply please

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Post split from old and unrelated thread.***

**Moderator hat off**

You don't "apply for a green card" before flying to the US after having been issued an immigrant visa. The $165 fee is the card production fee that must be paid at any time after the visa is issued in order to receive the green card (any time can be before or after POE).

[TomChe 1]

So, how do I get my green card? Anyway! My husband already paid the immigrant fees $165 21th of this month. So, do you have any idea if how long it takes to receive my green card? Im sorry, I just worried because they said you can have your green card 2 to 3 weeks after you arrived here in US.

Thanks!

[Ryan H 3,812]

If the fee has been paid, then you will just have to wait. Sometimes it takes longer than 2-3 weeks to receive the actual card (my wife didn't receive hers for a little over a month).

In the meantime, the visa itself endorsed by a CBP entry stamp acts as a temporary green card.

[TomChe 1]

Thank you so much for the good reply. Im just worried much because we do the paid after a month I've stayed here in US. Getting worried.

Thank you much for the responds I really appreciated! Godbless!

[NikLR 13,227]

It takes 1-3 months after paying or POE, whichever is LATER, to get the hard copy green card. Keep track in that ELIS site on how your progress is doing.

[TomChe 1]

Yes. My husband keep the email messages ELIS after he did the paid. I wish it should be fine and not getting delayed by that. Because, as we read the instructions from the US Embassy they said you did the payment before you fly to the united states. But, we didnt read that papers until we already got here in the US. Because my husband expect that my port of entry asking me the fees but never, and we try to wait email from USCIS but never received any to inform me that need to pay that fees. After a month I stayed here I ask my husband to do online payment and we did this 21th of july. I hope everything goes fine.!

[NikLR 13,227]

yes it'll be fine. it will take at least a month

You can check your status on your ELIS account but it will be at least 1 month.

[TomChe 1]

Ok thank you so much for that reply. Anyway, I just want to know how check my status in ELIS? Im sorry we dont know.

Thanks

[NikLR 13,227]

Log into the ELIS account.

[TomChe 1]

Hello guys. ,

I have some questions about my ELIS status? I checked my status today it says in process and I saw the processing arrow above it says OPTIMIZED do you have any idea whats mean for that?

Im sorry just curious!

Thanks

[NikLR 13,227]

yes when they have everything they need from the CBP, and have decided to look at it all, it goes to optimized.

[TomChe 1]

So, was that mean my GC should be coming soon? I wish and pray not takes longer.

Are you guys have experience for this situation I have it now? Im sorry! Im just excited to have it on my hand so I can find a job soon.

Thank you!

[NikLR 13,227]

So, was that mean my GC should be coming soon? I wish and pray not takes longer.

Are you guys have experience for this situation I have it now? Im sorry! Im just excited to have it on my hand so I can find a job soon.

Thank you!

Your endorsed visa IS a green card and if you have an SSN you can go find a job now.

But yes, it means soon. When it changed to closed it means your card will be produced and sent to you.

Edited July 29, 2014 by NLR

[TomChe 1]

Oh, thank you so much NLR for that answers. But wait, until now I still dont receive my SSN and we are trying to go the SSS office but my husband says we need to wait my GC. Because he said he applied me SSN for our visa paperwork before and we just hope that my SSN arrived also together with my GC but if not, we go office of SSS. Do you think this is all find?

Thanks