On February 1, 2013 a new USCIS Immigrant Visa Fee in the amount of $165 will go into effect. Any beneficiaries of approved I-526 petitions (EB-5) who process for their green card at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad will need to pay the new fee on the USCIS website. Applicants will have two options for payment by providing either their checking account information or debit and credit card information. The USCIS will require that all check payment come from a U.S. bank, however, payment does not need to come from the applicant themselves. Payments made by third parties will be accepted. The current immigrant visa fee administered by the Department of State will also remain in effect and immigrant visa applicants will need to continue to pay that fee through the instructions sent to them by the Department of State’s National Visa Center. Immigrant visa applicants will be required to submit payment after they receive their visa package from the Department of State and before they depart to the U.S. to enter as new immigrants. Failure to pay the fee will result in the applicant not receiving their U.S. based green card until payment is rendered. Failure to pay will not impact the applicant’s lawful status in the U.S. New immigrants will still be able to obtain proof of their immigration status by having their passport stamped showing their lawful admission into the country as lawful permanent residents. The stamp will be valid for one year but is renewable. USCIS imposed the new fee to allow the Agency to recover the costs it incurs in the processing of paperwork by its staff in handling, filing and maintaining the immigrant visa package, as well as the cost of generating and sending out the green card or permanent resident card to new immigrants entering the U.S.
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