Confusion over I-130 payment from Australia

[Ando. 0]

Hello,

I am all ready to send off my I-130 package, just need to handle the payment situation. I understand that the USCIS instructions say a check from a US bank is required if paying by check. But that seems a little odd given the applicants aren't always IN the US.

My wife is from California and has a bank account there with Wells Fargo. We both live in Sydney and have done for about 6 years so she doesn't have her check book. According to this thread I would either have to have my wifes checkbook posted out to use here and write a check, or send our package to my mother in law in California and have her write a check and attach it to our package for us.

But, according to this thread it's possible to get an "international bank draft" from an Aussie bank and use that instead.

Given that ym wife has a US bank account, is there a third option of direct transfer or similar?

Can anyone help me out and give some guidance on this? I am happy to use the first option of a US bank check, but that would delay my application for a while due to playing mail tag. Also happy to do some kind of transfer from a US bank account. The Aussie bank thing seems a quicker option but I'm a little dubious and would like more info or confirmation that it is accepted by USCIS.

Thank!

Edited January 30, 2015 by sd.anderson

[Lainie B 465]

There is no direct transfer option unfortunately.

The current I-130 instructions state that it must be a cheque or money order from a US institution. So I wouldn't rely on what some people did 2 years ago, unless you can find more current evidence that an international bank draft is accepted. I recommend you either have your wife's cheque book mailed to you in Australia, or send the package to your mother in law to add a cheque.

[Ando. 0]

Ok. Thanks for the reply.

That seems like the safest option. I don't want to stuff this up!