Paying USCIS fees

[onlineclicker 0]

Hi Guys,

First off, thanks guys. It's been a few months, but I'm finally ready to send in my I-130 package. Plus, I'm also well prepared for the re-establishing of residency (thanks to you fine people).

But now that I'm putting the finishing touches on my package, I have two questions:

1- Check,

I have a personal check from a US bank with sufficient funds to cover the fees. The problem is my checks don't have my name/address/phone number pre-printed on them as is instructed by USCIS (see * below for the exact text from USCIS that I'm fretting over). My dad has a personal check with his name and my mother's name pre-printed, but not address and phone number. I have a few options, please let me know which you feel is best:

1.1- Write my name, address and phone number on my check which currently has no pre-printed info

1.2- Use my father's checks with his pre-printed name and just adding his phone number and address

1.3- Trying to get my bank to send me checks with the pre-printed required info.

1.4- Have a US friend/relative send me the physical money order via snail mail and then send I in my package (I'd rather not send anyone the package... I worked too hard for this to be messed up by some well intention-ed but not obsessive like me relative)

* Personal checks must be pre-printed with the name of the bank and the account holder. Also, the account holder’s address and phone number must be pre-printed, typed or written in ink on the check. All checks must be typed or written in ink. http://www.uscis.gov/forms/paying-immigration-fees

[Moustafa/Crystal 65]

Can you find an old school type writer and type your information onto your check? That was something we used to do back in the day when we had starter checks or ran out of the pre-printed ones....

[onlineclicker 0]

Type writter... don't think I could easily find one. Good idea though.

[Ryan H 3,790]

You have two other options:

• Obtain a postal money order for the amount to cover the fee.
• Obtain a cashier's check from your bank in the amount to cover the fee.

Don't do the typewriter thing, that's not considered preprinted and could result in a check being rejected.

Edited June 21, 2015 by Ryan H

[onlineclicker 0]

Thanks, the problem is I'm outside the US (I'm an expat, sorry I didn't mention that, now that I look back I should have included that info right at the start of this thread)

[katze101 4]

I'd go with option 2, dad's check assuming it has the account number pre-printed, and write in address and phone number. USCIS's instructions say that's ok.

Also, the account holder’s address and phone number must be pre-printed, typed or written in ink on the check

Otherwise you're looking at mailing to someone in the US. I did that and it was fine.