USCIS Immigrant Fee

[Kaptan 0]

Hi,

I paid our USCIS immigrant fees on ELIS on May 18th, and the payment has gone through according to my online banking, but it is still showing "in process" on the ELIS site as of today, eleven days on.

Is it normal for them to take so long to process a payment when they have already charged the credit card? Does this have anything to do with us not having entered the U.S. yet? Does the entry somehow "trigger" something that has to do with this payment?

The other possibility that comes to my mind is that I paid with my Hong Kong-based credit card (because we do not have any U.S.-based cards). Could that have caused a problem? But why would they charge the payment anyway if that were the case, could they not tell non-U.S. cards from the number?

TIA for any feedback.

[apple21 953]

The immigrant has to enter the US first.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Hi,

I paid our USCIS immigrant fees on ELIS on May 18th, and the payment has gone through according to my online banking, but it is still showing "in process" on the ELIS site as of today, eleven days on.

Is it normal for them to take so long to process a payment when they have already charged the credit card? Does this have anything to do with us not having entered the U.S. yet? Does the entry somehow "trigger" something that has to do with this payment?

The other possibility that comes to my mind is that I paid with my Hong Kong-based credit card (because we do not have any U.S.-based cards). Could that have caused a problem? But why would they charge the payment anyway if that were the case, could they not tell non-U.S. cards from the number?

TIA for any feedback.

The "in process' refers to the case, not the payment. Do you see 'bubbles'? Normally the bubble goes to "accepted" after payment and then changes to "optimized" some time relatively shortly after you enter the U.S. Then usually 4-8 weeks after entry you get your green card. There is nothing they do until you enter.

[Kaptan 0]

The "in process' refers to the case, not the payment. Do you see 'bubbles'? Normally the bubble goes to "accepted" after payment and then changes to "optimized" some time relatively shortly after you enter the U.S. Then usually 4-8 weeks after entry you get your green card. There is nothing they do until you enter.

Thank you both for your answers.

SusieQQQ, the case summary section at the bottom left shows "submitted" next to the "payment" field. The bubbles up top, however, already show "optimized."

Does this mean we now just have to enter the U.S. for the physical green card to be initiated?

[Sm1smom 242]

Thank you both for your answers.

SusieQQQ, the case summary section at the bottom left shows "submitted" next to the "payment" field. The bubbles up top, however, already show "optimized."

Does this mean we now just have to enter the U.S. for the physical green card to be initiated?

Yes. The actual GC production will not begin until after you've physically entered the U.S.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Thank you both for your answers.

SusieQQQ, the case summary section at the bottom left shows "submitted" next to the "payment" field. The bubbles up top, however, already show "optimized."

Does this mean we now just have to enter the U.S. for the physical green card to be initiated?

Yes. They have clearly made elis far more efficient than it used to be!

[Kaptan 0]

Great, thanks!