What happens after you arrive in the United States?
1. Arrive with your Immigrant Visa Packet at U.S. Port of Entry
• You are admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
2. Receive your Green Card (Form I-551)
• After you are admitted to the United States, USCIS will verify that you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee and mail your Green Card to the U.S. address you provided to DOS at the time of your immigrant visa interview or to CBP when you were admitted to the United States.
• If USCIS does not have a record showing you paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee, USCIS will send you a notice with instructions on how to pay the fee.
• If you paid the fee before coming to the United States and do not receive your Green Card within 45 days after being admitted to the U.S., please contact us through our online help form at
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/contactus.
• You can also schedule an InfoPass appointment with your local office if you have a question or need further assistance with your case. To make an InfoPass appointment, go to https://infopass.uscis.gov.
What should I do if I move to another U.S. address after I arrive in the United States?
• USCIS will only mail your Green Card to the U.S. mailing address you provide to the Department of State at the time of your immigrant visa interview or to the CBP officer when you are admitted to the United States. If you plan on living at a different U.S. address immediately after you enter the United States, please give that address to the CBP officer to ensure that your card arrives at your new home.
• If you move after you arrive in the United States, please update your address with USCIS by visiting www.uscis.gov/addresschange or by calling the National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283. Also, we recommend that you update your address with the U.S. Postal Service by visiting your local U.S. post office or online at
www.usps.com/umove
• All foreign nationals (permanent residents and children included) are required to report any change in address within ten (10) days to CIS using Form AR11. Foreign nationals must report address changes to CIS by completing this form and sending it to CIS. The form can be obtained from the CIS website at: www.uscis.gov/ar-11
Tips on paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee
1.Anyone may pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee for you. This includes attorneys, accredited representatives, family members, friends, and employers.
2.A-Number. If your Alien Registration Number is fewer than 9 digits, insert a zero after the “A” and before the first digit to create a 9-digit number. For example: “A12345678” would become “A012345678”.
3.Navigating on Your Computer While Paying the Fee.
Do not use your computer’s “Back” button when paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee. This may cause errors. Instead, use the navigation buttons in the system to go forward or backwards.
4. Submitting Your Payment. Click on the “Submit Payment” button only one time for each USCIS Immigrant Fee you are paying. If you click the button more than one time, you may end up paying the fee multiple times.
5.Online Payments Only. You must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online. USCIS will not accept payments by mail.
6.Print a Copy for Your Records. We recommend that you If you are unable to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee before you leave to come to the United States, you must pay this fee after you are admitted to the United States. If USCIS does not have a record showing you paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee, USCIS will send you a notice with instructions on how to pay the fee.
Please Note: You will not receive your Green Card until you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee.
If DOS issued you an immigrant visa and you are applying for admission to the United States, you must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee unless you are exempt. DOS will notify you if you are exempt from paying the fee.
The following immigrants generally are exempt from paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee:
• Children who enter the United States under either the Orphan or Hague adoption programs;
• Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants;
• Returning residents (SB-1s); and
• Individuals who are issued K visas.
What happens if I fail to pay the fee?
USCIS will not issue your Green Card until you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee. Once the fee is paid, USCIS will process your payment and issue you a Green Card. After you arrive in the United States, you will receive a stamp in your passport that validates your admission as a lawful permanent resident. The stamp is valid for 1 year. Once this stamp expires, you will need your Green Card as evidence of your lawful permanent resident status.
For more information on the USCIS Immigrant Fee, please visit
www.uscis.gov/ImmigrantFee and www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis.