Paying for the I-130 in the UK

[ivorytinkler 1]

Just a warning about the end of credit card payments as stated on the US embassy's website for sending off the i-130 form:

NEWS: End of Credit Card Payments

Effective October 19, 2016, credit card payments are no longer an accepted form of payment on petition(s) filed with USCIS Field Office – London.

The ONLY acceptable forms of payment will be (1) U.S. Bank Cashier’s checks; (2) US Bank or U.S. Post Office money order; or (3) International bank draft in USD.

All checks must be made out to: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

When we attempted to fill in all the paperwork and send off payment this week we found that the only available way to do it was via international bank draft in USD (also called a foreign draft over here) - and that most banks (we went into HSBC, Halifax, Barclays branches in London) told us that it would take 14 business days before they could issue us with one, providing we were a customer at the bank. Payment wasn't seem possible via western union or post office either.

We eventually tried a Santander branch which my wife is a customer of and they were able to issue us a foreign draft on the spot. Worth baring in mind if you are limited for time or have strict deadlines and need to get the i-130 sent off as soon as you can!

[munchmunch 0]

THANK you for this!!!

 

I bank with Halifax and it's been a nightmare! Looks like this week I'll be opening a Santander account!!!

[DaveHorton 0]

Barclays took 2 days (my wife has an account), but it was a request that seemed to confuse the counter staff, and they took some amount of persuading to do the deed. 

[Shannonmkl 0]

I'm working on completing my I-130 on behalf of my husband's visa. I bank with Barclays. I walked into a London branch today, the intl bank draft took about 15 minutes to process, and they said I could pick it up at the branch in three business days. Be warned it's a £25 processing fee, and the FX rate they give you is terrible!

[aless02 9]

by the way, you can order them online if you bank with Natwest. Took 3 business days to come, £20 fee. Halifax also offers them, but needed go in-branch to order.

[Sojourner 2]

Hello ivorytinkler.

 

I just read your post having filed my I-130 a week ago... We filed in the USCIS Credit Card Payment form as advised by someone at the London Embassy who I've been emailing with some of my questions. The Embassy's I-130 link you mentioned in your post doesn't say anything about credit cards not being accepted that "NEWS" section you quoted doesn't appear on the website... have they changed it since you last posted?? I am now nervous that this will delay our process!

 

Thank you for your help

[munchmunch 0]

Looks like it's been changed back. I assume people complained. You don't need to worry.

[Sojourner 2]

5 hours ago, munchmunch said:

Looks like it's been changed back. I assume people complained. You don't need to worry.

Thank you!

[Heather Mcnally 0]

Paid with Credit Card at the end of March.... no problems .  I had seen that notice as well and was worried, but by the time i got to filling out the paperwork it was back being accepted.