Applicants will soon pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee using USCIS ELIS after they receive their immigrant visa package from the Department of State and before they depart for
the United States. USCIS ELIS is easy to use and provides direct access to case status updates. New immigrants will also use USCIS ELIS to file future applications and petitions when they become available
in the system.
This fee has been in place since Feb. 1, 2013. Immigrants who receive their visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad must pay the fee online. The fee allows USCIS to recover the cost of processing the
immigrant visa package and other information as well as producing and delivering the permanent resident card after immigrant visa holders are admitted to the United States. Immigrants will soon be directed to
the USCIS ELIS website to create an online account and pay the immigrant fee.
The fee does not apply to certain special immigrants and those entering the United States through the inter-country adoption programs. The USCIS Immigrant Fee is a separate fee from the Department of State immigrant visa application.
You must pay the $165 fee online using USCIS ELIS after you receive your immigrant visa package from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad (including Canada and Mexico) and before you depart for the United States. Attorneys, accredited representatives, and employers are not authorized to create a USCIS ELIS account on your behalf to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee. Only you, as the immigrant, may open a USCIS ELIS account and pay the required fee in order to obtain your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
You will not receive a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) until you pay the required USCIS Immigrant Fee.
You may pay for yourself and for members of your family who will live with you in the United States.
Visit the USCIS Immigrant Fee page for more information about using USCIS ELIS to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee.