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What to do if…
you receive a message demanding an urgent fee to release a visa or permit

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Do not pay, click, scan, or reply. Verify through official channels you find yourself: for U.S. immigration or visa claims use official U.S. government sites, and for a non-U.S. visa or permit use that country’s official embassy, consulate, or immigration authority.

Do not do these things

  • Do not pay by gift card, wire transfer, payment app, cryptocurrency, or money transfer because someone texted or emailed you.
  • Do not click links, open attachments, or scan QR codes in the message.
  • Do not call the number in the message or keep chatting to confirm your identity.
  • Do not share passport images, visa case numbers, Social Security numbers, account logins, bank details, or one-time passcodes.
  • Do not log in to any payment portal reached from the message.
  • Do not delete the message until you have saved the details you may need for reporting.

What to do now

  1. Pause the payment. Your first job is to stop a rushed money transfer or data leak. Put the phone down, close the message, and do not answer follow-up pressure.
  2. Save the message safely. Screenshot the sender, timestamp, full wording, and any visible link or payment instructions. If it is an email, keep the original email. Do not open the link just to collect more detail.
  3. Check whether the demand matches official rules.
    • If it claims to be about a U.S. visa, use official Department of State visa fraud information and the official visa resources you navigate to yourself.
    • If it claims to be about the Diversity Visa program, be especially careful: official guidance says selection is checked online through the official DV site, and advance payment demands by check, money order, or wire transfer are a scam warning.
    • If it claims to be about USCIS fees or immigration benefits, treat payment demands by phone, email, gift card, wire transfer, payment app, cryptocurrency, or payment to an individual as highly suspicious. Navigate to uscis.gov yourself and verify through your official account or official USCIS contact routes.
    • If it claims to be about a visa or permit from another country, contact that country’s embassy, consulate, or immigration authority using contact details from its official website, not the message.
  4. Report it using the closest official route.
    • Report scams and attempted scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
    • If it is phishing or online payment fraud, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by typing ic3.gov into your browser yourself.
    • If it involves U.S. passport or visa fraud, use the Department of State reporting page for U.S. passport or visa fraud.
  5. If you already paid or shared information, act now.
    • Call your bank, card issuer, payment app, or money-transfer provider and ask whether the payment can be stopped, recalled, disputed, or the account secured.
    • If you paid by gift card, keep the card and receipt, contact the gift card company immediately, and then report it to the FTC.
    • If you shared a password or one-time code, change that password immediately, then change your email password, and turn on multi-factor authentication.
    • If you shared passport, visa, Social Security, or bank details, report the fraud and ask the relevant issuer or agency what protective step is available.

What can wait

  • You do not need to confront the sender or keep replying to learn more.
  • You do not need to complete any verification form that came through the message.
  • You do not need to decide your whole travel or immigration plan right now.
  • You do not need to pay today unless an official channel you found yourself confirms a real fee and the official payment method.

Important reassurance

Scam messages often use deadlines, threats, and official-looking wording to make you act before checking. Slowing down, saving the message, and verifying through official sites you choose is a strong protective step.

Scope note

These are first steps only: stop payment or data loss, verify through official channels, and make the key reports. If there is a real immigration or travel-document problem, later decisions may need qualified legal, immigration, financial, or consular help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, immigration, cybersecurity, or professional advice. Agencies and processes vary by country and document type. If you are being threatened in person or feel in immediate danger, prioritize safety and contact 911 or local emergency services.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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