9 FAM 504.6
(U) Collection of Immigrant Visa Fees
(CT:VISA-842; 06-04-2019)
(Office of Origin: CA/VO/L/R)
9 fam 504.6-1 (U) statutory and
regulatory Authorities
9 FAM 504.6-1(A) (U)
Immigration and Nationality Act
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
(U) INA 101(a)(16) (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(16)); INA 221(a) (8 U.S.C. 1201(a)).
9 FAM 504.6-1(B) (U) Code of
Federal Regulations
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
(U) 3 CFR 382; 22 CFR 22.1, 22 CFR
42.71, 22 CFR 42.74, 22 CFR 42.81(e).
9 FAM 504.6-2 (U) Schedule of
Fees
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
(U) The Secretary of State has
prescribed a fee for the processing and issuance of the immigrant visa. An
additional application fee is charged for persons selected for the Diversity
Program. The fees are specified in 22 CFR 22.1 and 9 FAM 502.6-4.
9 FAM 504.6-3 (U) Collecting the
Processing Fee
(CT:VISA-323; 04-07-2017)
a. (U) A single fee is charged
combining the costs of processing and issuance of the immigrant visa. An
individual registered for immigrant visa processing at a post designated for
this purpose by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services must pay the processing
fee. The fee must be paid when the individual is notified that a visa is
expected to become available in the near future and when he or she is requested
to obtain the supporting documentation needed to apply formally for a visa.
b. (U) For cases processed
through NVC, this fee will be collected during initial processing by NVC.
Posts will collect the visa processing fee only for those cases in which the
petition is filed at post or in which the visa file otherwise indicates that
the fee has not yet been collected.
9 FAM 504.6-4 (U) NVC Collection
of Immigrant Visa Fees
9 FAM 504.6-4(A) (U) Paying
Processing Fee Domestically
(CT:VISA-842; 06-04-2019)
(U) Most cases are processed
through NVC and the processing fee will have already been collected in the
United States before the case was forwarded to post. NVC's Post Supplement
Report, for physical IVIS cases, included
in the file of cases scheduled by NVC, will indicate whether the fee has been
paid. If the Post Supplement Report is unavailable, post can determine if the
fee has been paid using the IVIS Beneficiary Report in the CCD. PIVOT Case Summary Report for electronic MIV cases,
available in CCD, will indicate whether the fees has been paid. If
there are any questions about whether a fee was paid while a case was at NVC,
post should email NVCPost@state.gov before requiring the applicant to repay the
cashier at post.
9 FAM 504.6-4(B) (U) Sending
Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants
(CT:VISA-842; 06-04-2019)
a. (U) For cases
created and processed in IVIS:
(1) (U) Once an agent has been designated or when the Form DS-261,
Online Choice of Address and Agent, is not required (see 9 FAM
504.4-3(A)(1)), NVC sends the IV application fee bill for each applicant, and enables the option to pay the fee bill(s) in
CEAC.
b. (U) For MIV cases created and processed in PIVOT,
applicants are directed to pay.gov for online fee payments in CEAC.
9 FAM 504.6-4(C) (U) Records
Updated to Reflect Information Provided
(CT:VISA-842; 06-04-2019)
a. (U) If provided by post, the
automated Immigrant Visa Overseas (IVO) system will automatically record the
date that post prints the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants
cover letter:
(1) (U) Posts must ensure that
this letter and attachments are mailed as soon as possible after printing; and
(2) (U) If you provide later
copies of the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants to the
applicant, make a record in the comments field of the IV application to reflect
this fact.
b. (U) The IVIS system used at
NVC will also record the date the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa
Applicants is printed or available for viewing in the Consular Electronic
Application Center (CEAC)after the IV fees
are paid (see 9 FAM
504.6-4(B) above). Activities taken at NVC
for PIVOT cases are available in CCD PIVOT Case Summary.
9 FAM 504.6-5 (U) Post Collection
of Immigrant Visa Fees
9 FAM 504.6-5(A) (U) Paying
Processing Fee at Post
(CT:VISA-230; 10-25-2016)
(U) For cases processed through
NVC, this fee will be collected during initial processing by NVC. Posts will
collect the visa processing fee only for those cases in which the petition is
filed at post or in which the visa file otherwise indicates that the fee has
not yet been collected. A determination of whether the fee has been paid
should be part of the document checking process prior to interview, and if not
previously paid, the alien must proceed to the cashier and pay the processing
fee. The alien must pay before the interview.
9 FAM 504.6-5(B) (U) No Second
Processing Fee
(CT:VISA-842; 06-04-2019)
a. (U) Do Not Collect a Second
Processing Fee if the:
(1) (U) Within one year of the date of refusal, either the
previously refused alien is issued a visa on the basis of the relief
provided in INA 212(g), (h) or (i), or any similar provision of law or if
evidence is presented to overcome the refusal within one year of the date of
refusal;
(2) (U) Alien requests a
reopening of the case within one year from the date the visa was originally
refused (see 22 CFR 42.81(e));
(3) (U) Visa was previously
refused because the medical examination disclosed that the alien might be
ineligible under INA 212(a)(1) and the examining physician requested that the
applicant undergo follow-up examinations or tests prior to making a final
decision;
(4) (U) Visa was previously
refused solely for the absence of a document which is available only from a
U.S. Government agency, and if it is apparent that the failure of the alien to
present the document was due to the U.S. Government agencys delay in providing
it;
(5) (U) Final decision on the
application is delayed pending the receipt of an advisory opinion from the
Department or the completion of investigations initiated by the Department or
the post; or
(6) (U) Original refusal was
based on a consular error.
9 FAM 504.6-6 (U) Additional
Fees/Refunds
9 FAM 504.6-6(A) (U) Issuing
Replacement Visa During Validity of Original Visa
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
a. (U) If you are satisfied
that an applicant will be or was unable to use an immigrant visa (IV) during
its validity period because of reasons beyond the applicants control and for
which the applicant is not responsible then you may issue a replacement visa
with the originally allocated visa number within the same fiscal year even
though the visa has not yet expired. You should recall and cancel the
originally-issued visa and collect once again the appropriate IV application
processing fee (including the Diversity Visa Lottery Fee for a DV applicant),
unless the applicant was unable to use the visa as a result of action by the
U.S. Government over which the alien had no control and for which the alien was
not responsible.
b. (U) An applicant who will be
or was unable to use an IV during its validity period because of reasons within
the applicant's control can submit a new visa application if the petition has
not been revoked and if the basis for immigration still exists (i.e., familial
relationship).
9 FAM 504.6-6(B) (U)
Fingerprinting Applicants
(CT:VISA-230; 10-25-2016)
a. Unavailable
b. Unavailable
9 FAM 504.6-6(C) (U) Refund of
Immigrant Visa Processing Fee
(CT:VISA-1; 11-18-2015)
(U) A fee collected for the
processing of an immigrant visa application is refundable only if the principal
officer of a post or the officer in charge of a consular section determines
that the application was not adjudicated as a result of action by the U.S.
Government over which the alien had no control and for which the alien was not
responsible, that precluded the applicant from benefiting from the processing.