The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a reminder that all immigrant visa holders must pay a mandatory fee after receiving their visa from the Department of State and before traveling to the United States. The agency stated that failure to pay this fee will result in the withholding of the applicant's Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a Green Card (Form I-551).
Fee Payment Requirement and Exemptions
According to the USCIS notice, the fee applies broadly to immigrant visa holders, with specific exemptions for SI-1, SI-2, SI-3, SQ-1, SQ-2, and SQ-3 visa categories. Holders of these special immigrant visas are not required to pay the fee.
The agency strongly encourages applicants to pay the fee immediately after collecting their immigrant visa and before departing for the United States. Payments can be made through the official USCIS website.
Who Can Pay and What Information Is Needed
For applicants unable to pay personally, USCIS confirmed that a family member, friend, employer, lawyer, or accredited representative may make the payment on their behalf. Anyone paying for another person must provide two pieces of information: the applicant's Alien Number (A-Number) and the Department of State Case ID.
Applicants who do not pay before traveling have the option to settle the fee after arriving in the United States. In such cases, USCIS will send a payment notice with instructions to the applicant's address. However, the Green Card will remain on hold until the payment is confirmed.
Why the Fee Matters
The Green Card serves as official proof of permanent residency in the United States and is required for a wide range of activities, including employment authorization and international travel. Without it, newly arrived immigrants may face significant administrative hurdles while living in the country.
USCIS has not publicly specified the exact amount of the fee in this notice, but applicants are advised to visit the USCIS website directly for the current fee schedule and payment instructions before making any travel arrangements to the United States.
In a related development, Legit.ng previously reported that the US was set to revoke the visas of over 200,000 people. If carried out, the action would be the largest single mass cancellation of visas in American history and is widely expected to face legal challenges. The State Department is set to formally announce the move in the coming weeks, covering holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have filed for asylum or have an active asylum application.
