9 FAM 504.6
(U) Collection of Immigrant Visa Fees
(CT:VISA-1917; 02-21-2024)
(Office of Origin: CA/VO)
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-1917; 02-21-2024)
(U) The Secretary of State has prescribed fees for the processing and issuance of the IV. The Diversity Visa Lottery Fee charged for persons selected for the Diversity Visa Program includes the IV application processing fee. 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-1917; 02-21-2024)
a. (U) A single IV application processing fee is charged combining the costs of processing and issuance of the IV. An individual registered for IV 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 they are requested to obtain the supporting documentation needed to apply formally for a visa.
b. (U) For cases processed through NVC, this fee will usually 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-1121; 07-21-2020)
(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. Post can also review the fee payment details for PIVOT cases in the IVO case notes once loaded into the system. 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-1407; 11-02-2021)
a. (U) For cases created and processed in IVIS, 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-1407; 11-02-2021)
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 promptly 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-1407; 11-02-2021)
(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 before the interview, and if not previously paid, the applicant must proceed to the cashier and pay the processing fee. The applicant must pay before the interview.
9 FAM 504.6-5(B) (U) No Second Processing Fee
(CT:VISA-1456; 01-19-2022)
a. (U) Do Not Collect a Second Processing Fee if:
(1) (U) The previously refused applicant, within one year of the date of refusal, is either issued a visa based on 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, or an I-601 waiver is requested and takes longer than a year to process;
(2) (U) The applicant 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) The visa was previously refused because the medical examination disclosed that the applicant might be ineligible under INA 212(a)(1) and the examining physician requested that the applicant undergo follow-up examinations or tests before making a final decision;
(4) (U) The 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 applicant's failure to present the document was due to the U.S. Government agency’s delay in providing it;
(5) (U) The final decision on the application is delayed pending the receipt of an AO from the Department or the completion of investigations initiated by the Department or the post;
(6) (U) The original refusal was based on a consular error;
(7) (U) Processing for an I-601 waiver takes longer than one year unless there is a delay on the part of the applicant; or
(8) (U) The immigrant visa applicant was previously refused an immigrant visa on or between December 8, 2017, and January 19, 2020, and the sole ground of ineligibility was based on Presidential Proclamation (P.P.) 9645 or 9983, and the applicant is applying again for an immigrant visa.
(a) (U) This provision also applies to the affidavit of support review fee, if the applicant would otherwise be required to pay that fee again.
(b) (U) This provision provides only for a one-time exemption from the applicable fees per applicant.
(c) (U) Some applicants were initially denied IVs under P.P. 9645 or 9983 and additional refusal grounds. These applicants are not eligible for fee exemption, unless a consular officer had previously determined that the refusal on other grounds had been overcome and the only impediment to issuance of an immigrant visa on January 20, 2021, was either P.P. 9645 or 9983, as reflected in a denial under section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f).
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-1145; 08-26-2020)
(U) See 9 FAM 504.10-5(A).
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-1407; 11-02-2021)
(U) A fee collected for the processing of an IV 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 due to action by the U.S. Government over which the applicant had no control and for which they were not responsible, that precluded the applicant from benefiting from the processing.