I was getting really worried that they hadn't received our IV Bill yet, so I just spoke to an operator, and she said they sent it back to us because the fee went up!!! Did everyone else know about this? I assumed that the amount on our letter would be the amount we had to pay regardless of changes made while it was in the mail!
I'm just beyond upset

That's strange, how much did you send? Did they mention how much they actually want? I haven't heard of an IV fee bill increase, but I could have just missed that.

I just found this though, on the Department of State's website:

Important Notice: Application Processing Fees for Immigrant Visas Increased from $335 to $355 starting January 1, 2008. Applicants who have paid the current $335 fee prior to January 1, 2008 will not be required to make up the difference and pay the higher fee even if their application is actually processed after January 1, 2008.

Anyway, I'm sorry that you have to go through this hassle, just wanted to also say, if you kept a copy of the fee bill you could always overnight it today and not wait for the return mail.

We sent $390 and they said it's now $400
We can't just send the $400 because we don't have that money and we really need the $390 back before we can send the $400

Yeah with the Immigrant visa security surcharge of $45.00 it would now be $400.00 total.

Well blah!!

blah indeed



I wrote my husbands congressman. Maybe he will magically make me American.

It is $400.00 now. Did they send you $380.00 IV Fee Bill? Borrow $400.00 from a friend or relative or wait until you get your money back from NVC. These are the only two options you have.

I wonder if I can go to Amscot with my money order stub thing and get the money back since the money order wasn't cashed
I'm not sure how that works

I had never heard of Amscot, so I looked them up - wow they provide a lot of good services, anyway, most places should let you cancel your money order and get a refund, since you have the receipt.

The only question is, how long will it take for them to verify it hasn't been cashed.

LOL! We're in the same boat.

I would wait for the mail from NVC and send the same money order (390) plus another money order for 10 dollars. You should be good.

I've had this problem as well. I was away for Christmas so the fee bill dated Dec 7 I did not get until the beginning of Jan. I sent if off, and then it was rejected. I asked them why they did not mention the increase on the bill. Their response was they put it on the internet. So much for following your documentation instructions down to the letter. So I am now waiting for the new fee bill.

I had asked if we could send $20 with the $380. The first women at the NVC said yes. Then when I called a second time I was told no it has to be one check. Confusing responses, so I am sending one check to be safe even though will have lost money on cancelling the old one as it gets converted back into sterling plus admin charge.

I asked NVC that this price increase and not honouring the December fee bills in Jan must be effecting a lot of people and they said 'many many many' are hit by this. They are only creating more admin and hassle for themselves as well.

A question: I've realised this new one will say payee 'department of state' rather than 'THE department of state'. I assume this will be ok?

Should be fine.

As an aside, I sent them 2 money orders for the IV fee bill, the DS-230 fee and the security surcharge, they had no problem taking the two cheques

I'm so sorry

I got the money order back in the mail today (along with a I-684 RFE boo!) so I'm gonna go to AMSCOT and get them to change it into a $400 money order (or if they won't I'll just send two money orders).
It actually didn't hold me up too much because I'm visiting the US until Feb 16th so I can't get my police check for the DS230 until after that. So I'm gonna overnight this IV bill and then take a DS230 (with shortcut coversheet) back with me to Canada. Then the moment they generate it, I can overnight it with the police check and adoption papers and whatever else they want.
There's been some evidence to suggest that the Montreal consulate has been scheduling interviews based on the I130 submission date and not the NVC completion date. . . if that is true I might get a quick interview when my case is completed!
Here's hoping

Thanks for that. Hopefully second time lucky. Still waiting for the new Fee bill which was sent Feb 2. For some reason it takes over 2 weeks for mail to get to the UK from the NVC. It all seems to go via Germany!