money order or personal check of a friend

[Sino's Suga 0]

i do not use checks... just my visa

we are to the point in our preparations of getting the payment and mailing the packet...

so which is safer to do

a money order from my bank...

or having a personal friend write a check for us with our names on the bottom of the check?

which do you think is better?

[Credzba 0]

doesn't matter to uscis I think, to you a personal check means you can get your case number off the back in case your noa1 takes forever.

So, if it was me I'd use the personal check route.. thats if your certain it wont bounce and delay your case.

[Chris@Seattle 0]

Does your Visa Card owner mail you those Visa Checks? You may try to use those.

Be aware when you get to the IV fee step where they send the US person the fee bill it is $70 (for one or more applicant) for I-864 form, and the Applicant a bar code and fee bill for $380 (unlike the US end - it is per applicant and can't be grouped together), that only accept a cashier check or money order. I messed up and sent a personal check. Got excited took the fee bill to the post office with my check and mailed it out as soon as I got it. They mailed the check back and my wife's bar code, but not my daughter's. So I had to call several times, and hat to wait an extra month to get that fixed.

I don't why the difference at this step, but that the way it is right at this moment. I have been reading news saying they are in the process of updating to accept online accplications and credit cards, but that will probably take a year or two.

Chris from Seattle

[Chris@Seattle 0]

Good point Credzba! I forgot about that the NOA1. It took a month to get my daughter case number and two months for my wife. If you use a personal check of friend my sure he can get a copy of the check or like my bank it is online. So they allow to view the check back and front. I got the case numbers off the back of the checks.

Does your Visa Card owner mail you those Visa Checks? You may try to use those.

Be aware when you get to the IV fee step where they send the US person the fee bill it is $70 (for one or more applicant) for I-864 form, and the Applicant a bar code and fee bill for $380 (unlike the US end - it is per applicant and can't be grouped together), that only accept a cashier check or money order. I messed up and sent a personal check. Got excited took the fee bill to the post office with my check and mailed it out as soon as I got it. They mailed the check back and my wife's bar code, but not my daughter's. So I had to call several times, and hat to wait an extra month to get that fixed.

I don't why the difference at this step, but that the way it is right at this moment. I have been reading news saying they are in the process of updating to accept online accplications and credit cards, but that will probably take a year or two.

Chris from Seattle

[rjp44 1]

Good point Credzba! I forgot about that the NOA1. It took a month to get my daughter case number and two months for my wife. If you use a personal check of friend my sure he can get a copy of the check or like my bank it is online. So they allow to view the check back and front. I got the case numbers off the back of the checks.

Does your Visa Card owner mail you those Visa Checks? You may try to use those.

Be aware when you get to the IV fee step where they send the US person the fee bill it is $70 (for one or more applicant) for I-864 form, and the Applicant a bar code and fee bill for $380 (unlike the US end - it is per applicant and can't be grouped together), that only accept a cashier check or money order. I messed up and sent a personal check. Got excited took the fee bill to the post office with my check and mailed it out as soon as I got it. They mailed the check back and my wife's bar code, but not my daughter's. So I had to call several times, and hat to wait an extra month to get that fixed.

I don't why the difference at this step, but that the way it is right at this moment. I have been reading news saying they are in the process of updating to accept online accplications and credit cards, but that will probably take a year or two.

Chris from Seattle

Dont forget the check or money order must be from a U.S. bank for the visa bill, and it is now $400.

[Tawing 0]

We experience it before. I advice is to use cashier's check payment to USCIS

i do not use checks... just my visa

we are to the point in our preparations of getting the payment and mailing the packet...

so which is safer to do

a money order from my bank...

or having a personal friend write a check for us with our names on the bottom of the check?

which do you think is better?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Cashier's cheque from your bank or money order from USPS would be recommended.

[suga'sino 0]

Good point Credzba! I forgot about that the NOA1. It took a month to get my daughter case number and two months for my wife. If you use a personal check of friend my sure he can get a copy of the check or like my bank it is online. So they allow to view the check back and front. I got the case numbers off the back of the checks.

Does your Visa Card owner mail you those Visa Checks? You may try to use those.

Be aware when you get to the IV fee step where they send the US person the fee bill it is $70 (for one or more applicant) for I-864 form, and the Applicant a bar code and fee bill for $380 (unlike the US end - it is per applicant and can't be grouped together), that only accept a cashier check or money order. I messed up and sent a personal check. Got excited took the fee bill to the post office with my check and mailed it out as soon as I got it. They mailed the check back and my wife's bar code, but not my daughter's. So I had to call several times, and hat to wait an extra month to get that fixed.

I don't why the difference at this step, but that the way it is right at this moment. I have been reading news saying they are in the process of updating to accept online accplications and credit cards, but that will probably take a year or two.

Chris from Seattle

Dont forget the check or money order must be from a U.S. bank for the visa bill, and it is now $400.

400??? i think the i-130 from fee is 355.

[suga'sino 0]

Good point Credzba! I forgot about that the NOA1. It took a month to get my daughter case number and two months for my wife. If you use a personal check of friend my sure he can get a copy of the check or like my bank it is online. So they allow to view the check back and front. I got the case numbers off the back of the checks.

Does your Visa Card owner mail you those Visa Checks? You may try to use those.

Be aware when you get to the IV fee step where they send the US person the fee bill it is $70 (for one or more applicant) for I-864 form, and the Applicant a bar code and fee bill for $380 (unlike the US end - it is per applicant and can't be grouped together), that only accept a cashier check or money order. I messed up and sent a personal check. Got excited took the fee bill to the post office with my check and mailed it out as soon as I got it. They mailed the check back and my wife's bar code, but not my daughter's. So I had to call several times, and hat to wait an extra month to get that fixed.

I don't why the difference at this step, but that the way it is right at this moment. I have been reading news saying they are in the process of updating to accept online accplications and credit cards, but that will probably take a year or two.

Chris from Seattle

Dont forget the check or money order must be from a U.S. bank for the visa bill, and it is now $400.

400??? i think the i-130 from fee is 355.

[rjp44 1]

Good point Credzba! I forgot about that the NOA1. It took a month to get my daughter case number and two months for my wife. If you use a personal check of friend my sure he can get a copy of the check or like my bank it is online. So they allow to view the check back and front. I got the case numbers off the back of the checks.

Does your Visa Card owner mail you those Visa Checks? You may try to use those.

Be aware when you get to the IV fee step where they send the US person the fee bill it is $70 (for one or more applicant) for I-864 form, and the Applicant a bar code and fee bill for $380 (unlike the US end - it is per applicant and can't be grouped together), that only accept a cashier check or money order. I messed up and sent a personal check. Got excited took the fee bill to the post office with my check and mailed it out as soon as I got it. They mailed the check back and my wife's bar code, but not my daughter's. So I had to call several times, and hat to wait an extra month to get that fixed.

I don't why the difference at this step, but that the way it is right at this moment. I have been reading news saying they are in the process of updating to accept online accplications and credit cards, but that will probably take a year or two.

Chris from Seattle

Dont forget the check or money order must be from a U.S. bank for the visa bill, and it is now $400.

400??? i think the i-130 from fee is 355.

The visa fee that you will get the billed when you receive the I-864 is $400. The fee for the I-130 is still $355.

Edited January 3, 2008 by rjp44