On February 1, 2013, the USCIS institutedan additional $165 Immigrant Fee for immigrants who received their visas atU.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. Thefee allows USCIS to recover the cost of processing the immigrant visa packageand other information as well as producing and delivering the permanentresident card after immigrant visa holders are admitted to the United States. This fee is in addition to the Department ofState NVC immigrant visa fee.
Immigrants who receive their visasat must pay the fee online. USCIS hasmoved the online payment of the USCISImmigrant Fee to its Electronic Immigration System. Customers must now pay the $165 USCISImmigrant Fee using USCIS ELIS after they receive their immigrant visa packagefrom the Department of State and before they depart for the United States.