I-864 payment to NVC?

[yaya]

Hey all,

I'm very confused about the $88 fee payment to NVC. If I understand correctly, even though I'm submitting the I-864 together with I-485 (and I-130 in my case) to USCIS, I do not need to send them a check for $88, but pay NVC directly. Do I do that before I send my complete package to USCIS, or will NVC contact me at some point regarding the payment?

Thanks!

[rayb]

Based on your message, I think you have everything mixed up in your planning.

1. If you are submitting the I-485 and I-130 for a conversion to Green Card status because your spouse is in the U.S., you will not be paying the NVC any money. They are not involved in what you are doing. You will be submitted two fee checks to USCIS: $1,070 for the I-485 and $420 for the I-130.

2. If your spouse is outside the U.S. , you must submit only the I-130 with the $420 fee. After the I-130 is approved by USCIS and goes to the NVC, you will be paying the NVC $88 after they bill you, then $230 after they bill you.

--Ray B

Hey all,

I'm very confused about the $88 fee payment to NVC. If I understand correctly, even though I'm submitting the I-864 together with I-485 (and I-130 in my case) to USCIS, I do not need to send them a check for $88, but pay NVC directly. Do I do that before I send my complete package to USCIS, or will NVC contact me at some point regarding the payment?

Thanks!

[yaya]

Based on your message, I think you have everything mixed up in your planning.

1. If you are submitting the I-485 and I-130 for a conversion to Green Card status because your spouse is in the U.S., you will not be paying the NVC any money. They are not involved in what you are doing. You will be submitted two fee checks to USCIS: $1,070 for the I-485 and $420 for the I-130.

2. If your spouse is outside the U.S. , you must submit only the I-130 with the $420 fee. After the I-130 is approved by USCIS and goes to the NVC, you will be paying the NVC $88 after they bill you, then $230 after they bill you.

--Ray B

Hey Ray,

Thanks, I'm absolutely confused, I agree :-) My spouse (US citizen) will be filing the I-130, and we'll be filing I-485 concurrently as I am on H-1B visa currently. Are you saying I don't need to pay for the I-864EZ? The instructions states: "Although USCIS does not charge a fee for this form, the Department of State does charge a fee when the Affidavit of Support is reviewed domestically. This does not apply when the Affidavit of Support is filed abroad.", which makes me think I DO need to pay as I am living in the US. Appreciate your help.

[rayb]

Yaya,

You're mixing "applies and oranges."

Your spouse is the petitioner and sponsor, and she completes the I-864 and signs it. The only fees you pay are the $420 for the I-130 and $1,070 for the I-485.

Does your wife have enough annualized income and a 2013 tax return to meet the sponsorship requirements?

--Ray B

Hey Ray,

Thanks, I'm absolutely confused, I agree :-) My spouse (US citizen) will be filing the I-130, and we'll be filing I-485 concurrently as I am on H-1B visa currently. Are you saying I don't need to pay for the I-864EZ? The instructions states: "Although USCIS does not charge a fee for this form, the Department of State does charge a fee when the Affidavit of Support is reviewed domestically. This does not apply when the Affidavit of Support is filed abroad.", which makes me think I DO need to pay as I am living in the US. Appreciate your help.

[yaya]

Yaya,

You're mixing "applies and oranges."

Your spouse is the petitioner and sponsor, and she completes the I-864 and signs it. The only fees you pay are the $420 for the I-130 and $1,070 for the I-485.

Does your wife have enough annualized income and a 2013 tax return to meet the sponsorship requirements?

--Ray B

Yes, she does. Does it mean she doesn't need to pay for the I-864 form? I understand she completes and signs it, but that doesn't answer the question about the fee. I will pay $420 + $1070, but since we're submitting all 3 forms (I-130, I-485 and I-864, some signed by me, some signed by her) in two packages within one big envelope that is sent to USCIS, doesn't it mean we also need to pay the $88 per the instructions?

Thanks again!

[rayb]

There is no $88 payment for the form anytime, anywhere. But if the visa applicant IS OUTSIDE the U.S. and is being processed abroad, there are two fees paid to the National Visa Center, $88 for sponsorship processing (not for the form), and $230 for an immigrant visa.

You are misreading instructions which apply to National Visa Center processing for immigrants outside the U.S.

--Ray B

Yes, she does. Does it mean she doesn't need to pay for the I-864 form? I understand she completes and signs it, but that doesn't answer the question about the fee. I will pay $420 + $1070, but since we're submitting all 3 forms (I-130, I-485 and I-864, some signed by me, some signed by her) in two packages within one big envelope that is sent to USCIS, doesn't it mean we also need to pay the $88 per the instructions?

Thanks again!

[yaya]

There is no $88 payment for the form anytime, anywhere. But if the visa applicant IS OUTSIDE the U.S. and is being processed abroad, there are two fees paid to the National Visa Center, $88 for sponsorship processing (not for the form), and $230 for an immigrant visa.

You are misreading instructions which apply to National Visa Center processing for immigrants outside the U.S.

--Ray B

Got it, thank you so much.