There is a new
fee of $165.00 for Consular Processed Immigrant Visa (green card)
appointments, effective February 1, 2013. This fee will not apply to
I-485, Applications for Adjustment of Status.
Applicants will pay online through the USCIS website after they receive
their visa package from Department of State and before they depart for the
United States.
The DOS will provide applicants with specific information on
how to submit payment when they attend their consular interview. The new fee is
in addition to NVC fees charged by DOS associated with an individual’s
immigrant visa application.
The USCIS has set up a dedicated
webpage to handle the payment of the immigrant Visa Fee.
Is this in anticipation of all the undocumented being legalized an opportunity to make some big money?
ReplyDeleteHi Laynu,
ReplyDeleteI don't think so.
The USCIS says that it hasn't been compensated for the costs associated with the production of the actual green cards themselves when immigrants process at Embassies and Consulates. And so they are justifying this charge as compensation for the cost. Theoretically, the USCIS' cost for the green card for AOS applicants is embedded in the AOS $1,070 filing fees.
(All that having been said, I'm sure you're right on a macro-level. There will be a big opportunity for USCIS to make big $$ on legalization.)
Have a good weekend.