UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Beyond frustrated with the paying-for-the-visa step. I though this was suppose to be the final and easy step before the interview?

So I tried using my DEBIT card and it was declined. I called my bank and they said it was a problem on the DOS website's end, not theirs.

We used the support email link to let them know what happened and this was there reply:

"If you were attempting to make a payment using a debit card and the payment was rejected, your banking institution may reserve the amount while waiting to see if the transaction will be approved or declined by our payment system.

Within 3 to 5 business days of the attempted transaction date, your bank should release the amount that was showing as debited because that amount was only being temporarily reserved pending a successful transaction. After that time has passed, please confirm with them that the reserved amount has been released."

Do you have any idea what this means? I have plenty of money in my account so I don't see why I would have to "reserve" any for this payment. We are going to respond to the email but it took them a week to get back to us the first time so I'm not very positive about their response times.

I am thinking about just transferring the money to my fiance (British Citizen) and then having him pay for it with his debit card. Will this work? Do they accept international debit cards? I would assume the would since it's for a visa, but then again I assumed I wouldn't have so many problems, so who knows.

[swji89 41]

I could be wrong, but I thought you had to use a credit card as opposed to a debit card?

[AMZJ 61]

I would of thought they would accept a debit card too. Didn't I read somewhere that if you can't pay it before they will accept payment on the day of your interview? I could be completely wrong don't quote me. I think best bet is to send him the money and get him to try on his debit card.

[JFH 12,191]

Beyond frustrated with the paying-for-the-visa step. I though this was suppose to be the final and easy step before the interview?

So I tried using my DEBIT card and it was declined. I called my bank and they said it was a problem on the DOS website's end, not theirs.

We used the support email link to let them know what happened and this was there reply:

"If you were attempting to make a payment using a debit card and the payment was rejected, your banking institution may reserve the amount while waiting to see if the transaction will be approved or declined by our payment system.

Within 3 to 5 business days of the attempted transaction date, your bank should release the amount that was showing as debited because that amount was only being temporarily reserved pending a successful transaction. After that time has passed, please confirm with them that the reserved amount has been released."

Do you have any idea what this means? I have plenty of money in my account so I don't see why I would have to "reserve" any for this payment. We are going to respond to the email but it took them a week to get back to us the first time so I'm not very positive about their response times.

I am thinking about just transferring the money to my fiance (British Citizen) and then having him pay for it with his debit card. Will this work? Do they accept international debit cards? I would assume the would since it's for a visa, but then again I assumed I wouldn't have so many problems, so who knows.

What they are saying is that the process works pretty much like buying something online. Before completing your order, the system checks with your card issuer that you actually have enough money in the account to proceed with the payment. The payment doesn't actually leave your account until a few days after the transaction but the amount is earmarked in your account and cannot be used for anything else.

Say you have $500 in your account and the visa fee is $150. You enter your card number and the system checks that you have enough. You do, so that's fine. It then reserves $150 in your account, meaning you now have $350 left to spend elsewhere even though they haven't taken your payment yet. It's their guarantee that they will definitely be paid. So, even though the payment process has failed, that amount is still blocked. You still have $500 in your account but $150 is locked away and you can only spend $350 until that block is released (usually 5 days). Entering the same card number again will block another $150.

It's definitely a fault their end, not with the bank or your card.

[JFH 12,191]

Waiting very impatiently for our NOA1. Never have I refreshed my inbox as often as I have been doing since UPS confirmed they delivered it to Phoenix yesterday.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Didn't I read somewhere that if you can't pay it before they will accept payment on the day of your interview? .

That is correct. They have a cashier window. But her fiancé has no money to pay for his visa.

[AMZJ 61]

That is correct. They have a cashier window. But her fiancé has no money to pay for his visa.

That's what I thought, so if she sends him the money he can pay it on the day if he can't do it on his debit card. I know when I paid for my daughters passport they accepted passport payments by card, I didn't know if that was the case with immigration fees.

Edited February 9, 2016 by AMZJ

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Do they accept more payments then just debit cards when you pay in person? My fear is that he gets the money, and then the card doesn't work (for some unforeseen reason) while he is there for his interview either. At that point we are kind of out of options, unless he can use another form of payment in person?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Do they accept more payments then just debit cards when you pay in person? My fear is that he gets the money, and then the card doesn't work (for some unforeseen reason) while he is there for his interview either. At that point we are kind of out of options, unless he can use another form of payment in person?

This is for something else, but it should give you a clue what they do and do not accept in London http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/NIV030b.pdf

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

This is for something else, but it should give you a clue what they do and do not accept in London http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/NIV030b.pdf

So in London it's credit cards only and NO debit? Strange. Unfortunately he only has a credit card so I guess we better hope we can get it to work before his interview..

[AMZJ 61]

I've used a debit card in the embassy to pay for my daughters passport with no issue whatsoever.

[AMZJ 61]

Little update on my paper chase gathering.. the doctors called me up after saying it could be months and said that they MIGHT have my letter ready for me on friday. That they have bumped it to the top of the pile as it's not an insurance claim etc, it's something that could hold up my visa. So they are hopefully working on it either this week, or next. Feeling very relieved as I was told it could take 2 months.

[trudi 1,317]

Hope you resolve the payment problem M&M, could you not wire the money to his bank if you are not able to make payment?

I paid online with no problem but I am in the UK?

Hope your doctors get your letter to you AMZJ, reading this forum has given me a new appreciation for how good my surgery was!

Flights are booked for 21st, POE will be Atlanta just going to sweat on my passport getting here in time now

[AMZJ 61]

and my police check is here! The only thing I am waiting on that I needed to do is the medical report letter. SO is going to look at getting a letter done at work and bring it with him in march to do the Affidavit. So I'm almost sorted for the next bit

[trudi 1,317]

Passport is out for delivery tomorrow