Setting up a bank account to pay the $165 ELIS fee

[nomadnoor 29]

Hi All,

I was wondering which banks are willing to set up accounts for immigrants who still have not "landed," in the US? or is it better to just wait after my husband arrives in the US from Morocco to pay the $165??

Any tips and suggestions would be very helpful.

Thank you so much for your help.

Ally & Omar

[kcoyclay1 98]

You cannot set up a bank account for him without him being present and his signature being on the form. Can you imagine if that were so, how many false bank accounts would be set up under false names? The person has to be present.

[dwheels76 5,459]

Hi All,

I was wondering which banks are willing to set up accounts for immigrants who still have not "landed," in the US? or is it better to just wait after my husband arrives in the US from Morocco to pay the $165??

Any tips and suggestions would be very helpful.

Thank you so much for your help.

Ally & Omar

Wait until your husband gets back. He doesn't have a bank account set up? How was he able to pay the AOS and IV fee than? You needed a bank account for that.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

I am still in Canada and am on my wife's account. It took us awhile and I had to send forms in. She's with USAA, so a bank that does largely internet banking might be the best route if you need to do this.

[NikLR 13,220]

USAA is a military bank and unless you have a family member who was or you are previous US military, it's impossible for someone random to get a US bank account.

The petitioner should have a US bank account to pay this fee.

Edited September 27, 2014 by NLR

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

That's why I said 'a bank that does largely internet'. I know some exist in the US as my wife looked at switching from USAA a couple months ago. Can't do forms in person if you're dealing with an internet entity, so they have protocols in place to deal with these things.

Edited September 27, 2014 by Not a Tailor

[NikLR 13,220]

I agree an internet bank is a good idea I just wanted the OP to know why that particular bank may not work for them.

[nomadnoor 29]

Hi All,

I actually bank with USAA here in the US already. However I am still living abroad with my husband in Morocco as we met during my Peace Corps service in Morocco 2011 -2013 and I stayed in Morocco after my service ended.

I would have to call them from Morocco as I can't add my husband to my account. I looked into setting up his own account - it also requires a phone call.

I guess we will just pay the $165 once we are back in the US!

Thank you again for your swift advice!

Ally & Omar

Wait until your husband gets back. He doesn't have a bank account set up? How was he able to pay the AOS and IV fee than? You needed a bank account for that.

Hi dwheels76,

Both the AOS and IV fees don't have to be paid online - you can send a check into the NVC via snail mail. I paid for my husbands fees using my personal checking account.

Ally & Omar

[NikLR 13,220]

Most people pay the fees online with a check. How it works is you use a check to get the routing and account numbers and then the check number. I don't remember if the Immigrant Fee works the same way or not. I"m surprised you sent them a check when you could pay online since you have a US bank and checking account. It's just very odd to me.

But you can pay the immigrant fee after you arrive, that's not an issue. However you can ONLY pay it online with ELIS. There is no other method.

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Tax & Finances During US Immigration.