Payment of the I-130 from abroad

[Aqid 1]

Hi all,

I have a question, my wife (the petitioner) and I are (the beneficiary) are both living in The Netherlands. We are filing out form I-130 to start the IR-1/CR-1 procedure. How do we pay the fee since Holland doesn't use Checks. I only have a Dutch debit account and a Dutch credit card.

Thank you,

[gonegone 0]

I don't know about Holland but in Chile I went to a bank (any bank) and requested a Cashier's check in US dollars. It took about 1 hour and it had a cost on top of the amount and they did it because I'm an account holder. It worked fine with the CIS. I would imagine something similar exists in your country:

[Aqid 1]

But it says:

Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or money order for Form I-130:

1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or other financial institution located in the United States and must be payable in U.S. currency; and

2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Did that not matter? And is there no account number or something? I'm confused, here in Europe we use bank account numbers and names to transfer money. There must be someone else from Europe who's been trough this before? Any advice?

[Nick1980 11]

But it says:

Did that not matter? And is there no account number or something? I'm confused, here in Europe we use bank account numbers and names to transfer money. There must be someone else from Europe who's been trough this before? Any advice?

You could always have someone in the USA make the payment for you. Deposit the money in their account. I will be in a similar situation, however I still have an open account in the USA.

[gonegone 0]

It did not matter, since we are not making a wire transfer. All you need is the name to whom you are making the check to.

Usually banks worldwide have arrangements with banks in the US and other places so they can create checks in their currency. So, for instance, I got my check from Santander bank here in Chile but the name of the bank in the check is actually Wachovia something in North Dakota, so it is in dollars and can be cashed in the US.

Go to a bank near you and ask them if they can generate a check in US Dollars for you, I'm pretty sure they will be able to. It's a pretty common transaction for people in international commerce, etc.

[Nick1980 11]

It did not matter, since we are not making a wire transfer. All you need is the name to whom you are making the check to.

Usually banks worldwide have arrangements with banks in the US and other places so they can create checks in their currency. So, for instance, I got my check from Santander bank here in Chile but the name of the bank in the check is actually Wachovia something in North Dakota, so it is in dollars and can be cashed in the US.

Go to a bank near you and ask them if they can generate a check in US Dollars for you, I'm pretty sure they will be able to. It's a pretty common transaction for people in international commerce, etc.

In Serbia, none of the banks do this. Netherlands is a bit more developed than Serbia so maybe they do.

[gonegone 0]

I stand corrected, then: Sometimes banks worldwide have arrangements with banks in the US..

[Nick1980 11]

I stand corrected, then: Sometimes banks worldwide have arrangements with banks in the US..

Just not in countries like Serbia We're 30 years behind civilized population here

[Ms Hogan 295]

Can you purchase a Money Order instead of a cheque?

[gonegone 0]

I couldn't purchase a money order in Chile. Believe me, I tried

[Ms Hogan 295]

I thought the person was in Netherlands?

[Aqid 1]

Yes I am, okay so the first thing I'll do is to try to get a check at my bank (ABN-Amro, which luckily is an international bank). If not, do you think I can purchase a money order? How does that work?

Regarding the comment about having somebody in the U.S send it, do you mean they should send us the check first? Because the package and the check need to be combined right?

[pushbrk 12,884]

Yes I am, okay so the first thing I'll do is to try to get a check at my bank (ABN-Amro, which luckily is an international bank). If not, do you think I can purchase a money order? How does that work?

Regarding the comment about having somebody in the U.S send it, do you mean they should send us the check first? Because the package and the check need to be combined right?

The above will not work. Get somebody in the USA to write the check and mail it to you to send with your package. Trying to pay through a foreign bank in US funds is likely to cost you several weeks, while you wait for your package to be sent back to you as "REJECTED".

[T_Kuilderd 1]

I have heard that Western Union is in Nederland but i have not confirmed that since i also have a US bank account. you may want to look online and see if you can find one.

T Kuilderd

[pushbrk 12,884]

I have heard that Western Union is in Nederland but i have not confirmed that since i also have a US bank account. you may want to look online and see if you can find one.

T Kuilderd

How do you propose to use Western Union?