Urgent, little time left - money order address...?

[Kat&Bree 0]

Hi everyone,

 

My wife and I are about to send out our I-130 application. The problem is that we are trying to do this via direct consular filing here in Germany where we currently live. This process is only possible until 10/31, so we don"t have much time left. The consular website says to pay the fees with a money order made payable to the US Department of Homeland Security, but Western Union requires an actual address to send money. We can"t pay the fees through my bank because it would take too long. We called the embassy, consulate and even USCIS but with no answer (USCIS just told their address, but they weren't sure if that's what needs to be on the money order). Does anyone have experience with this or knows how to do this or what address to use? Also, if I just write the USCIS Dallas lock box address on the money order, in case it actually doesnt"t go through, will I get the money back or would it be forever lost?

 

Thanks guys,

Kat

[Villanelle 4,122]

You must pay the Form I-131A fee online. For all other applications and petitions that you submit to this office, you must pay the fees using a U.S. Cashier’s Check, U.S. Dollar Money Order, or International Bank Draft  in U.S. Dollars made payable to:  U.S. Department Homeland Security. (Print your name and address on reverse side of check)

 

Did you get an actual money order? If so you just need to make it payable to US dept homeland security. You dont necessarily need to fill out the address line but I suppose it would be best to use the address of the Embassy or the lock box. The payable to (person name field- US DHS) is the most important part needed for them to cash it, address doesnt matter much as they are the only US DHS (vs if you sent John Smith a money order, having John Smiths correct address would be important to make sure its the right John Smith cashing it) 

[Kat&Bree 0]

Well the way it works at Western Union is: You give them the cash and they write out a check and send it to whoever you want them to send it to - I would only get a receipt number saying that I paid this amount and had them send the money order. I've never done this before this is why its so confusing. But the problem is, I think, even though Homeland Securty doen't need me to put down an address, the Western Union Computer Program doesn"t allow you to send it without filling out the address field.. So what you're saying is to just put down the PO Box Address of USCIS? I don"t think it makes sense to write the embassy address, because they're not actually receiving the money, Homeland security receives the money..

[payxibka 10,047]

8 minutes ago, Kat&Bree said:

Well the way it works at Western Union is: You give them the cash and they write out a check and send it to whoever you want them to send it to - I would only get a receipt number saying that I paid this amount and had them send the money order. I've never done this before this is why its so confusing. But the problem is, I think, even though Homeland Securty doen't need me to put down an address, the Western Union Computer Program doesn"t allow you to send it without filling out the address field.. So what you're saying is to just put down the PO Box Address of USCIS? I don"t think it makes sense to write the embassy address, because they're not actually receiving the money, Homeland security receives the money..

Isnt the Embassy and USCIS office on the same compound ?

[Kat&Bree 0]

You mean the USCIS "Field Office"? I thought it was the one in the US...?! Im not sure.

[payxibka 10,047]

Just now, Kat&Bree said:

You mean the USCIS "Field Office"? I thought it was the one in the US...?! Im not sure.

You are paying into Frankfurt not the usa

[Kat&Bree 0]

are you sure?

[payxibka 10,047]

31 minutes ago, Kat&Bree said:

are you sure?

If you are filing in Frankfurt 

 

Petition and fee payment to

 

USCIS, Giessener Str. 30, Frankfurt, Germany 

 

If your petition does not include the proper fee payment it will be rejected 

[Kat&Bree 0]

I'm not asking about the address wheren to send the petition. Absolutelz that will go to the germanz address. What I'm not sure is the address to put on the money order. The money doesn't go to the consulate in Frankfurt, the money would go to the Us Dept Of Homeland Security, which is in the US. They are not requiring any kind of address on the money order, but western union can't make a money order without the address. What I would send to Frankfurt is the receipt that I made a money order.

Edited October 25, 2019 by Kat&Bree

[payxibka 10,047]

2 hours ago, Kat&Bree said:

I'm not asking about the address wheren to send the petition. Absolutelz that will go to the germanz address. What I'm not sure is the address to put on the money order. The money doesn't go to the consulate in Frankfurt, the money would go to the Us Dept Of Homeland Security, which is in the US. They are not requiring any kind of address on the money order, but western union can't make a money order without the address. What I would send to Frankfurt is the receipt that I made a money order.

Good luck,  not how it works 

[Villanelle 4,122]

Do not use western union. From what I understand WU will generate a money order and mail it to where ever you tell them. They also seem to have an issue making out money orders to gov names rather then persons name. Plus you talked about needing this by 10/31 so it would not be smart to put all your eggs in the questionable WU basket. Youd be counting on them mailing your money order and it getting to where it needs to be. I would not risk it.  From a brief google search it seems some banks in Germany will give USD bank checks (Volksbank). Others simply dont do this. Try local banks, American Express locations, or as a last resort use WU to send the money to someone in the US and have them express overnight you back a USPS money order from their post office. 

[Kat&Bree 0]

Thanks for your input. I can't find anything online about USD bank checks here, but I might just go to a bank today and ask them. The problem is that I am running out of time because DCF is only possible until next thursday, otherwise I could do a bank draft in USD from my bank account, but it'll take way too long. I was gonna start the filing process in like November but then found out its not possible anymore in november 😕

Sending money to the US and haven someone send me a cashier's check will most likely take too long, too... 

 

[Kat&Bree 0]

And another problem with the bank check is, on the USCIS website it says the payment has to be "U.S. Cashier’s Check, U.S. Dollar Money Order, or International Bank Draft" - but a bank check from some German bank is not consideres a US cashiers check, or is it considered a money order? 

[Kat&Bree 0]

I just called volksbank and they told me they can't do it unless I have an account with them. 

[Kat&Bree 0]

I called my own bank as well. They told me a "cashier's check" simply doesn't exist in Germany. Checks are madde out to someone and are drawn when the other person cashesd it, so there's never a guarantee that the payer actually has the funds. That's why here in Germany people mostly pat through direct deposit. This is also possible with USCIS according to the website, but it takes too long for me to go with that process... I guess i have no choice but to try it with Wester Union. I read mixed things, some people say it works, some people say it doesn't.. I guess I'll have to try 😕