Filed I-130 petition. Beneficiaries arrived last week of March 2023. How long after arrival will the green card arrive?

[IAmNoLawyer 1]

Hi,

 

I filed a I-130 petition for both of my parents. Beneficiaries/parents arrived in the United States last week of March 2023. How long after arrival will the green card arrive? Will there be any fees that I will need to pay for their green card? They both have a "UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR" on their passport.

I also applied and paid the Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application (DS-260) and Affidavit of Support fees a couple of years ago.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

Did you pay the 220usd each for the immigrant fee? 

[IAmNoLawyer 1]

4 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Did you pay the 220usd each for the immigrant fee? 

Thanks for the reply. Like I mentioned, I paid both the Immigrant Visa Application and Affidavit of Support fees. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

11 minutes ago, IAmNoLawyer said:

Thanks for the reply. Like I mentioned, I paid both the Immigrant Visa Application and Affidavit of Support fees. 

Those fees were paid to process the visa. 

 

Ideally, you must pay the immigrant fee to USCIS before entering the US, so they start the processing the GC.

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/uscis-immigrant-fee

 

Edited April 8, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[IAmNoLawyer 1]

1 hour ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Those fees were paid to process the visa. 

 

Ideally, you must pay the immigrant fee to USCIS before entering the US, so they start the processing the GC.

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/uscis-immigrant-fee

 

Thanks for the information. Is there a way I can find out if this has been already? If this was not paid, I am assuming I will receive a letter in the mail stating the fees will need to paid so their green cards can be issued?

Edited April 8, 2023 by IAmNoLawyer

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

3 minutes ago, IAmNoLawyer said:

Thanks for the information. Is there a way I can find out if this has been already?

What do you mean? Find out if you paid the fees? 

 

You should know if you paid the fees; my guess is you didn't. 

 

Pay them here: 

https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/enter-data

 

And read this: 

https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee

Edited April 8, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[IAmNoLawyer 1]

Just now, Allaboutwaiting said:

What do you mean? Find out if you paid the fees? 

Yes. I mean right now, I don't remember if I paid such fees. This petition lasted for about 4 years and I paid so many fees, and I don't know if if one of them was the USCIS immigrant fee.

[powerpuff 6,734]

20 minutes ago, IAmNoLawyer said:

Yes. I mean right now, I don't remember if I paid such fees. This petition lasted for about 4 years and I paid so many fees, and I don't know if if one of them was the USCIS immigrant fee.

Do some digging and Track your card transactions. 
 

You’re losing time by not finding out if you paid the fee. I’m not sure if USCIS sends a letter about non payment but one thing about USCIS is that they’re not known to be fast so they might Take weeks and months to send it.

Edited April 8, 2023 by powerpuff

[IAmNoLawyer 1]

7 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Do some digging and Track your card transactions. They will not send a letter about non payment, they do not have the capacity for that. 

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I closed my previous bank account so I have no way of tracking unless I contact them.

I checked https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/enter-data and entered my parents' information, and it seems like $220 might be due (see attached screenshot) for each of them. I am assuming if it was paid already, it wouldn't even show up, right? Also, it seems like if I had not paid the USCIS Immigrant fee, my parents should have received a handout with instructions on how to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee (USCIS Immigrant Fee handout), per this guide, How Do I Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

 

[carmel34 3,639]

If you paid their fees, you would have received an email confirmation, from pay.gov.  If you do not have confirmation of payment, and their receipt numbers show that the payment is due, pay them now.  Their green cards will arrive in 2-3 months.

[IAmNoLawyer 1]

1 minute ago, carmel34 said:

If you paid their fees, you would have received an email confirmation, from pay.gov.  If you do not have confirmation of payment, and their receipt numbers show that the payment is due, pay them now.  Their green cards will arrive in 2-3 months.

I appreciate the information. Wow, it takes that long?!

[powerpuff 6,734]

3 minutes ago, IAmNoLawyer said:

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I closed my previous bank account so I have no way of tracking unless I contact them.

I checked https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/enter-data and entered my parents' information, and it seems like $220 might be due (see attached screenshot) for each of them. I am assuming if it was paid already, it wouldn't even show up, right? Also, it seems like if I had not paid the USCIS Immigrant fee, my parents should have received a handout with instructions on how to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee (USCIS Immigrant Fee handout), per this guide, How Do I Pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

 

This fee can only be paid after visa approval. So it should have been recent as that’s the last step in the process; if you don’t remember paying this fee after their visas were approved, then you probably didn’t pay it.

 

Consulates *should * tell you about this fee but it’s not mandatory for them to do so, so I don’t think all of them are diligent about that.

[IAmNoLawyer 1]

1 minute ago, powerpuff said:

This fee can only be paid after visa approval. So it should have been recent as that’s the last step in the process; if you don’t remember paying this fee after their visas were approved, then you probably didn’t pay it.

 

Consulates *should * tell you about this fee but it’s not mandatory for them to do so, so I don’t think all of them are diligent about that.

This makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much. I did not want to pay before inquiring here first because I might have paid already and I don't want to pay twice. Like you said though, this should have been a recent payment, as you can only pay the USCIS fee after the immigrant visa interview. I am glad I reached out here first. Otherwise, I would be sitting here for nothing because I have not paid the USCIS fee. I appreciate the help @powerpuff

[powerpuff 6,734]

Just now, IAmNoLawyer said:

This makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much. I did not want to pay before inquiring here first because I might have paid already and I don't want to pay twice. Like you said though, this should have been a recent payment, as you can only pay the USCIS fee after the immigrant visa interview. I am glad I reached out here first. Otherwise, I would be sitting here for nothing because I have not paid the USCIS fee. I appreciate the help @powerpuff

Always good to be cautious and double check, especially that USCIS fees are non refundable. Good luck with the rest of the process! Hope it goes smooth

[Lil bear 4,252]

1 hour ago, IAmNoLawyer said:

Yes. I mean right now, I don't remember if I paid such fees. This petition lasted for about 4 years and I paid so many fees, and I don't know if if one of them was the USCIS immigrant fee.

The green card fee of $220 each is to be paid AFTER the visa has been issued. So it is not a fee that you would have paid years ago