Fee Payment By Check From Europe

[Michael2017 368]

Hi,

We wanted to send our I-130 package today, however, our bank requires the exact address of the department of homeland security, or would not issue the check due to local law (the address of the receiver must be known). Can anyone advise which address should be put?

Thanks!

[EM_Vandaveer 2,417]

The check has to be drawn on a US bank.

What some people in your situation choose to do is to send the whole I-130 packet minus payment to a trusted friend in the US, friend attaches a check for payment and sends it on to USCIS, you settle up with the friend in some other way (PayPal, bank wire, Western Union, etc.).

Edited October 3, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[Michael2017 368]

The check has to be drawn on a US bank.

Yes, the EU bank issues a Check that can be drawn in the USA. That is not a problem. The problem is, that banks in the EU require the address of the receiving party. We cant simply write Department of Homeland Security without address. However, there is nowhere information where the department of homeland security has their financial unit which will cash the check. If the addresses do not match, they will not be able to cash the check. As cash can not be added to the application, we don`t see any other option to pay the visa fees for the I-130 petition.

Anyone an idea if there are alternative payment options (we are currently both in Europe), or, which address to use on the check for the Department of Homeland Security?

The check has to be drawn on a US bank.

What some people in your situation choose to do is to send the whole I-130 packet minus payment to a trusted friend in the US, friend attaches a check for payment and sends it on to USCIS, you settle up with the friend in some other way (PayPal, bank wire, Western Union, etc.).

Can anyone in the US issue a check / money order in the name of a different person?

[EM_Vandaveer 2,417]

No, the check has to be drawn ON a US-based bank. Meaning the funds that the check is "sending" must be IN a US bank account to begin with.

So basically somebody's personal bank account in the US.

"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."

It does NOT matter whose personal bank account the check is drawn on.

It can be John Doe's bank account from Bank of America, for example. It does not have to be the petitioner's or the beneficiary's bank account.

Edited October 3, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[Michael2017 368]

Thank you so much, I think this is the link to it: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/paying-immigration-fees

Edited October 3, 2016 by Michael2017