I payed $165.00 Immigrant Fee using pay.gov… still waiting for LPR Card

[NepaliDreamer 8]

I made a payment for my wife on April 16th 2013, the day after she got her visa, using the pay.gov website. I called to see where her card was in early August and they informed me her file was just getting reviewed at the Texas Service Center and she would be receiving her welcome letter soon. We came into the US on June 3rd. A week later I get a letter in the mail saying we never paid our Immigrant Fee. The following day I called USCIS and waited on hold for 90 minutes to speak with a Rep. He told me to send their letter along with a copy of my receipt for the payment to the Texas Service Center (he said he couldn't help me over the phone; couldn't take the information and initiate a service request over the phone). So I mailed the documents as he suggested. A month went by and still no card. So I called again, waited another 90 minutes and spoke with a rep who told me to give her the tracking number for the payment and she would initiate a service request to TSC. She told me there were quite a few people whose payments went "missing" when the payment database was transferred from pay.gov to USCIS ELIS. It's been ten days since and still our case shows up on USCIS as not having received payment. Still no word from USCIS… A bit frustrating to see that even with the help of computers they can't fix their blunder in less than 60 days, and that I had to bring the issue to their attention in the first place. I mean, they have my money, weren't they wondering what it was for.

[NikLR 13,220]

Not sure what's going on for you. Has your wife applied for the SSN yet or did she get it in the mail? Sometimes doing that can trigger the green card production is seems like. But if they've lost your payment you'll just have to stay on top of them. You can also contact your congressman's liasion or senator (email the ombudsman too) about your lack of green card. Remember that her visa in her passport acts as a temporary green card for a year. It normally takes 1-3 months from POE date to get the green card (it cannot be produced until the USCIS receives the documentation given to the CBP at the POE.)

You're obviously in the 3rd month so I suggest calling the USCIS again and talking to your congressman.

[Ryan H 3,798]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[Darnell 8,478]

I think better for USCIS Ombudsman, at this point. be prepared to submit all the 'stuff' again.

[NepaliDreamer 8]

Still no card and still our case shows up as having an unpaid "immigrant fee". Nearly to the end of the "if you don't receive a card within 60 days call back" period. So odd that pay.gov can find the payment but USCIS can't.

[Darnell 8,478]

So, what do you want to do ?

If it were me, I'd be b|tching with a Tier 2 Human at USCIS, asking for the name of the site manager at pay.gov and getting the payment history transferred to the card issuance.

But that's me. I'm not nice. I'm not subtle. Though I'm polite, most folk want to be elsewhere when I'm on a mission.

[NepaliDreamer 8]

Hi Darnell,

called again today and spoke with a nice ISO who assured me that I have done all I can and it's USCIS TSC's turn now. They are backlogged with many issues related to this new Immigrant Fee; mistakes people made on the form. She hoped that we will receive a Green Card within the next 30 days.

Strange that this issue hasn't come up anywhere else on this site if so many people have been affected.

I am just glad that I kept my receipt for the payment.