As of May 19, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has moved the existing online payment for the USCIS Immigrant Fee to its Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS).  Customers must now pay the $165 immigrant fee using USCIS ELIS after they receive their immigrant visa package from the U.S. Consulate but before departing for the United States.  Applicants will not receive a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) until they have paid this fee.

This fee has been in place since February 1, 2013.  Immigrants who obtain their visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad currently pay the fee online.  The fee allows USCIS to recover the cost of processing the immigrant visa package as well as producing and delivering the permanent resident card after immigrant visa holders are admitted to the United States.  This fee is separate from the immigrant visa application fee paid to the Department of State and does not apply to Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, returning residents (SB-1s), those entering the U.S. on K visas, and those entering the U.S. under the Orphan or Hague adoption programs.

Step-by-step instructions for creating an online account and paying the immigrant fee can be found here.