Theodore Huang, Immigration & SSD Lawyer

USCIS has moved the online payment of the USCIS Immigrant Fee to its Electronic Immigration System. Customers must now pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee using USCIS ELIS after they receive their immigrant visa package from the Department of State and before they depart for the United States. USCIS ELIS provides direct access to case status updates. New immigrants will also use USCIS ELIS to file future applications and petitions when they become available in the system.

Immigrants who receive their visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad must pay the fee online. The fee allows USCIS to recover the cost of processing the immigrant visa package and other information as well as producing and delivering the permanent resident card after immigrant visa holders are admitted to the United States. Immigrants will soon be directed to the USCIS ELIS website to create an online account and pay the immigrant fee.

Theodore Huang, Esq. has been practicing business immigration, EB-5 investor, and family immigration law since 1997. Attorney Huang has 18 recommendations on LinkedIn and an “Excellent” Avvo rating. He personally handles his cases without outsourcing. He has written numerous articles on visa matters affecting foreign new hires, start-ups, and intracompany transfers. His articles have appeared on www.VisaSoup.com, www.MyVisa.com, and www.GoFianceeVisa.com

The USCIS recently rolled out its ELIS system. The ELIS system is new Electronic Immigration System which allows applicants to complete and submit USCIS forms online. Currently, the system is only available for certain forms as the USCIS is testing out its acceptance and ability effective process immigration benefits applications.

Touted as the next step in streamlining immigration processing, the new system is receiving mixed reviews by applicants and attorneys. The system is still in need of work, and processes which should be fairly straightforward and user-friendly, unfortunately, are not.

USCIS will perform routine maintenance to conduct updates for ELIS sytem on Nov. 17, from 5 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and on Nov. 18, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EST).

Users should be careful when using the system on these days to avoid losing data. Better yet, avoid these days altogether.

Theodore Huang, Esq. has been practicing business immigration, EB-5 investor, and family immigration law since 1997. Highly recommended on LinkedIn, Attorney Huang has written numerous articles on visa matters affecting foreign new hires, start-ups, and intracompany transfers. His articles have appeared on www.EB5Planet.com, www.VisaSoup.com, www.MyVisa.com, and www.GoFianceeVisa.com  For more information and a free consultation, please contact him immediately.

On Tuesday May 22, USCIS will launch the initial release of its new electronic immigration system, USCIS ELIS. USCIS ELIS is the agency’s first-ever online immigration system created to modernize the process for both filing and adjudicating immigration benefits. The first release, which is available for certain students and visitors, lays the foundation for the Web-based future of USCIS.

The ELIS system will be rolled out in stages. No word yet on when the K-1 fiance visa related forms will be available through ELIS. ELIS is certain to change the processing of the K-1 and spousal visas; hopefully it will be for the better. Indeed, USCIS intends to streamline and make the process more efficient. Stay tuned to this site for info as it becomes available.

For help with your fiance and spousal visas, contact me at 626-771-1078