Total official filing costs?

[KevinNelson]

Okay, I knew that the I-130 for DCF filing would be U.S. $420. But now I am hearing about other expenses I was not aware of. The health exam... how much might that be? Are there costs for the DS-230? for the interview? for any other stages I am not aware of yet?

 

(Since costs for transportation and other documents may be variable, I'm mostly just interested in those "predictable" costs...)

[dnoblett]

Fees:

 

1. I-130 $420
   http://www.uscis.gov/i-130
   
2. If filed I-130 in the states and petition goes to NVC after it is approved by USCIS, NVC has a fee to process I-864 $120 http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/fees-visa-services.html#permanent
   In the case of DCF this fee is not charged.
   
3. DS-260 application fee: $325 (DCF Pays this in Guangzhou before interview, stateside filings pays this online to NVC)
   http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/fees-visa-services.html#permanent
   
4. Medical fee 1100 RMB - 1325 RMB depending on where you do the medical, this is not including vaccinations.
   http://www.ustraveldocs.com/cn/cn-iv-preparedocuments.asp
   
5. Immigrant Green-Card processing fee $165
   http://www.uscis.gov/forms/uscis-immigrant-fee

[KevinNelson]

Just discovered I have to do the online DS-260. Is that also charged? And when do I get charged?

[dnoblett]

Just discovered I have to do the online DS-260. Is that also charged? And when do I get charged?

$325 DCF cases pay this before interview at the consulate, non-DCF cases pay this to NVC in the states.

[kongboshi]

 

Just discovered I have to do the online DS-260. Is that also charged? And when do I get charged?

$325 DCF cases pay this before interview at the consulate, non-DCF cases pay this to NVC in the states.

 

Can this be paid the by USC petitioner during the 8:00 - 10:00am U.S. Citizen Services "window," or must it be done by appointment. Beneficiary's interview is scheduled at 7:45am on a Thursday, so perhaps I need to pay the fee the previous week? (We'll be there early anyway for the medical exam.)

[dnoblett]

Can this be paid the by USC petitioner during the 8:00 - 10:00am U.S. Citizen Services "window," or must it be done by appointment. Beneficiary's interview is scheduled at 7:45am on a Thursday, so perhaps I need to pay the fee the previous week? (We'll be there early anyway for the medical exam.)

Here is what CGI-Stanley states:

 

All Immigrant Visa fees are payable in U.S. dollars or Chinese Renminbi (RMB) at the Consulate's exchange rate on the day of the applicant's interview. Payments may be made in cash (U.S. dollars or Chinese RMB) or "logoed" credit/debit card: Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover. Personal checks are not accepted. A combination of U.S. dollars and Chinese RMB will not be accepted.

 

http://ustraveldocs.com/cn/cn-iv-immigrantkvisa.asp

 

Not sure if can pay before, or if payment is taken during the interview.

 

From the interview instructions:

 

 

 

You will be required to pay the visa fee at the time of visa interview if the application fee has not been paid. Payment is accepted in both U.S. dollars and RMB.

http://ustraveldocs.com/cn/Immigrant%20Visa%20Instructions%20Mar.%202016.pdf

[kongboshi]

Right. Even the instructions regarding payment seem to contradict themselves. I will inquire early, but I imagine that they send the beneficiary to pay upon completion of the interview, as they do with the petitioner when the i-130 is filed. I'll update here once I find out for sure.

[kongboshi]

Right. Even the instructions regarding payment seem to contradict themselves. I will inquire early, but I imagine that they send the beneficiary to pay upon completion of the interview, as they do with the petitioner when the i-130 is filed. I'll update here once I find out for sure.

Okay, so DW said that upon passing through security, she went up to the third floor, where she was required to give her DS-260 confirmation page to the gent behind the USCIS window. This is the one on the far side of the room, toward which the seats are facing (Same one where DCFers submit their I-130). Then, she was directed to go to the second floor to pay. The beneficiary then takes the receipt up to the third floor and shows it to the individual behind the previously mentioned window. This individual asks for additional documents. She didn't remember them all, but said that they included all notarized documents, as well as the I-864 and accompanying tax documents. At this point, she was given a number and told to have a seat until her number was called.

 

Hope this adds a bit of clarity to what it means to "pay before" one's interview.