US Embassy announces new Immigrant Visa Fee

Effective February 1, 2013, individuals who are issued US immigrant visas outside the United States must pay a new US$165 USCIS Immigrant Fee, in addition to existing processing fees, before travelling to the United States.

A statement from the US Embassy said that Orphans (visa category IR-3 and IR-4), Returning Residents (visa category SB-1), and individuals who are issued fiancé/e visas (visa category K) are exempt from the new fee.

The website of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee <http://www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee>  provides details about the new fee, including contact information for USCIS, the release said.