Before you start the payment process
Eligibility
If you are immigrating to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, you must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online unless you meet 1 of the exemptions.
USCIS uses this fee to process your immigrant visa packet and produce your Permanent Resident Card (commonly known as a Green Card). We strongly encourage you to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee after you pick up your immigrant visa from the Department of State and before you depart for the United States.
You may also pay the fee after you arrive in the United States. If you arrive in the United States and haven’t yet paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee, USCIS will send you a payment notice with instructions on paying your fee. You will not receive your Green Card until you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee.
Fee
We will automatically calculate the cost for you when you submit your payment. For specific information about applicable fees, see Form G-1055.
You do not have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee for:
- Children who enter the United States under the orphan or Hague adoption programs;
- Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants;
- Other Afghan nationals (through Sept. 30, 2023);
- Returning lawful permanent residents (SB-1s); and
- K nonimmigrants.
If you cannot pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee, a family member, friend, employer, attorney or accredited representative can pay for you. If someone pays the fee for you, they will need your Alien Number (A-Number) and Department of State (DOS) Case ID.
Documents you may need
USCIS Immigrant Fee handout
At the time of your interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate, the DOS interviewing officer should have given you a USCIS Immigrant Fee handout. This document provides instructions on how to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee and includes your A-Number and DOS Case ID in the top right corner, as shown below. Make a copy of your USCIS Immigrant Fee handout or write down your A-Number and DOS Case ID and store it in a safe place. If you did not receive an immigrant data summary or a USCIS Immigrant Fee handout with your visa packet, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate that issued your visa to request a copy.
