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One last update on this! I later found another forum where several people had had international bank drafts returned, so ended up flying to the US for a night and buying money orders. For anyone thinking of doing the same, I recommend buying them from 7-11. I tried several USPS offices first, but none would sell them to me without a social security number, despite the USPS website saying you can buy them by showing a non-US passport instead. I also tried to buy via Moneygrams, but the closest eight(!) locations listed on their website as offering money orders actually did not once I got there. In addition, I discovered I couldn't buy money orders from Western Union because trying to purchase over $2000, even across multiple locations, triggers a system request for two types of ID, and as a UK citizen without a driving licence, I only had one. In the end, I tried 7-11 and they sold them to me in multiples of $500 without even asking for ID - all very straightforward, and they are Western Union money orders. Something else to be wary of is that money orders can't be bought with credit cards, and for some reason, both of my debit cards kept being flagged as credit cards by the USPS payment system (before they realised I didn't have a social security number), blocking the transaction. The staff thought it was probably just because they were foreign, despite one card being my Wise international account. So, I ended up having to figure out a way to withdraw several thousand dollars in cash that day, which is a long story. It was lucky I did though, as the 7-11 I ended up buying them from only accepted cash purchases of money orders. Basically, it was a lot of stress, but worth it to know I have the correct payment.

Thanks for all the responses! Updating for anyone who reads this thread with the same issue: military base post offices can't sell money orders to civilians, UK banks can't sell drafts drawn on US banks, all US banks with UK arms have to be registered as UK financial bodies, Western Union doesn't sell money orders in the UK, Plastiq is a bridging facility for existing US cards, Starling's new policy only allows established LTD companies to open US accounts, and as I mentioned, I don't have a lawyer who can organise payment, as I'm only paying for an hourly review of my application, rather than being a full client, which precludes them from holding money for me. I'll likely send an international bank draft in dollars, as it seems like a few people in Germany and Australia have been successful with that method, and will update here either way.

No - I'm only using a lawyer to assess and review my application, so they can't make or organise payment for me.

I'm self-petitioning for EB-1A, hence the issue.

I should also add that unfortunately I don't have anyone in the US who can purchase money orders for me, etc - I know it's a suggestion that comes up a lot!

Hi! I'm submitting I-140 and I-907, but the instructions say payment must be made either by a US money order, or a credit card, both of which need to be from a US bank/institution. I know it's come up a few times here before, but there doesn't seem to be a clear answer. Has anyone from the UK successfully filed in the last 6-12 months using a UK payment method?