AOS and when to pay the fees!

[bentlebee]

My friend got an email back from KCC after she had asked the question when to pay the $ 375.- fee.

"If you are in the United States, you may be eligible to apply to the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) for adjustment of status. The option to adjust status may no longer be available to all applicants. To determine whether you are eligible to adjust your status you MUST contact the CIS. Once the CIS confirms your eligibility to adjust status they will provide you with the additional information that you need. When contacting your local CIS office they may inform you that you will not be eligible to file your adjustment until your case number is current and available for processing. Please refer to the visa bulletin at www.travel.state.gov to view the current case numbers being processed. This bulletin is updated after the 15th day of each month."


"If the CIS determines that you are eligible to adjust status you will be required to pay a non-refundable diversity-processing fee of $375.00 per person directly to the Department of State once your adjustment until your case number is current and available for processing. Information regarding where this fee should be paid is included in your information packet. This fee is assessed to cover cost incurred by the Department of State in running the lottery selection process and is separate from any fees you will need to pay the CIS as part of your adjustment application. Failure to pay this fee may result in the loss of your diversity visa. (Please mail a money order for the diversity-processing fees to the address given below.) Also, please forward the completed DSP-122 form back to KCC. This will allow the next instruction letter to be processed to you."

So basically if you pay and later be told you are either not eligible for AOS or you number doesn't become current, you can loose your money. So paying way early makes no sense, paying when your case # becomes current and USCIS has told you, you are eligible for change of status, is the best way not to risk losing any money or time. Paying without your number being current, doesn't mean you will get further in the process or ahead of others.....JMO after reading the email.

 

[Ahad]

thank you very much. this is very helpful.

 

[BlueT41]

My friend got an email back from KCC after she had asked the question when to pay the $ 375.- fee.

"If you are in the United States, you may be eligible to apply to the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) for adjustment of status. The option to adjust status may no longer be available to all applicants. To determine whether you are eligible to adjust your status you MUST contact the CIS. Once the CIS confirms your eligibility to adjust status they will provide you with the additional information that you need. When contacting your local CIS office they may inform you that you will not be eligible to file your adjustment until your case number is current and available for processing. Please refer to the visa bulletin at www.travel.state.gov to view the current case numbers being processed. This bulletin is updated after the 15th day of each month."

"If the CIS determines that you are eligible to adjust status you will be required to pay a non-refundable diversity-processing fee of $375.00 per person directly to the Department of State once your adjustment until your case number is current and available for processing. Information regarding where this fee should be paid is included in your information packet. This fee is assessed to cover cost incurred by the Department of State in running the lottery selection process and is separate from any fees you will need to pay the CIS as part of your adjustment application. Failure to pay this fee may result in the loss of your diversity visa. (Please mail a money order for the diversity-processing fees to the address given below.) Also, please forward the completed DSP-122 form back to KCC. This will allow the next instruction letter to be processed to you."

So basically if you pay and later be told you are either not eligible for AOS or you number doesn't become current, you can loose your money. So paying way early makes no sense, paying when your case # becomes current and USCIS has told you, you are eligible for change of status, is the best way not to risk losing any money or time. Paying without your number being current, doesn't mean you will get further in the process or ahead of others.....JMO after reading the email.

Actually Ahad,

There are no guarantees that anyone will get their green card, as the 1st notification states. Being in status with no violations and meeting criteria as stated in the 1st NL increases the chance of things going smoothly. So waiting until your number is current to pay the $375 does not make a difference. Waiting could actually cost you valuable time, since you need the reciept of confirmation of payment to include in your AOS package.

You should actually confirm with USCIS your eligibilty for AOS before you send the DSP 122 form to KCC as you will have to indicate "BCIS" to let KCC know your intention to file AOS instead of CP. The KCC would send you a second notification letter that states they recieved your application with intent to process AOS. This second notification letter would prompt you to pay the $375 fee.

This fee could be paid at anytime before your AOS application. Your AOS package is sent once your number is current. However I highly recommend paying this fee before your number becomes current in order to allow enough time for them to mail back the reciept for the $375 payment. That way you could include a copy in your AOS package once your number becomes current.

Following bentlebee's advice to wait till your number is current to pay the $375, would have you waiting for them to mail you back the reciept when you could have already sent out your application.

 

[bentlebee]

Actually Ahad,

There are no guarantees that anyone will get their green card, as the 1st notification states. Being in status with no violations and meeting criteria as stated in the 1st NL increases the chance of things going smoothly. So waiting until your number is current to pay the $375 does not make a difference. Waiting could actually cost you valuable time, since you need the reciept of confirmation of payment to include in your AOS package.

You should actually confirm with USCIS your eligibilty for AOS before you send the DSP 122 form to KCC as you will have to indicate "BCIS" to let KCC know your intention to file AOS instead of CP. The KCC would send you a second notification letter that states they recieved your application with intent to process AOS. This second notification letter would prompt you to pay the $375 fee.

This fee could be paid at anytime before your AOS application. Your AOS package is sent once your number is current. However I highly recommend paying this fee before your number becomes current in order to allow enough time for them to mail back the reciept for the $375 payment. That way you could include a copy in your AOS package once your number becomes current.

Following bentlebee's advice to wait till your number is current to pay the $375, would have you waiting for them to mail you back the reciept when you could have already sent out your application.

it makes sense but it also depends on what number you have. Is your number low than it doesn't matter to pay earlier but with a high number I would pay...But that is just me...on top of that I rather have the interest as long a s possible.

 

[Ahad]

Thank you for your advices guys.
OK,
BlueT41, how do I find out whether I am eligible or not? They don't even have a phone number.=( We went to a local USCIS office which was 4 hours drive. We met with the staff and he did not tell us anything. He kept repeating, come when your number becomes current, com when your number becomes current.....It was a waste time and effort.
Bentlebee: is 2010EU00018XXX a high number? What do you think?

 

[bentlebee]

I think it is a pretty reasonable number, not too high. My friend has Eu 00011xxx and was told by a lawyer that hers would probable becomes current in December 2010.


We had a similar experience at USCIS...unfriendly and not willing to be of any help. Luckily it was only a 45 min. drive. But now we know what she can expect.