Who to write the I-129F Check Fee out to?

[Kacey and Roxanne 0]

Sorry xP this is my first post, i'm not even sure if this is where i go to ask this type of information.

I've checked on the USCIS Fees page and to send in with my petition and all other documents I must have a check written for $340.00 USD...but nowhere does it say who to write the check out to. I looked on the forums here on VJ (Which has been such an awesome website o.O i'm incredibly happy i found it) and i saw someone said to write the check out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Is this correct? Also, one other question. Is there another way of doing all this?? My fiance lives in Canada and i live in America, we want to live together here in America and have figured out that getting a fiance visa (k-1 visa) is the only way for her to come here so we can get married within the 90 day opening. Can we like get married in Canada or America if we just go to visit? not need to get a visa or anything, and then maybe go through another process that is more simpler and less expensive? not to mention the amount of time it takes to get through this process :/ any advice would be greatly appreciated. thank you everyone.

Kacey~

[Darnell 8,479]

make it out to Uncle Spooky Turtle.

Once he cashes it, he'll tell you how to fill out the 2nd check, to the proper entity.

Spooky Rocks !

[Que Saudade 284]

make it out to Uncle Spooky Turtle.

Once he cashes it, he'll tell you how to fill out the 2nd check, to the proper entity.

Spooky Rocks !

Please check out this link to compare K1 visa versus CR1 visa. Comparison link

[Andie 147]

In addition to the information on the recommended link above, the processing times vary - at present California Service Center is approving petitions at a faster rate than Vermont, but the Center your petition goes to is not a matter of choice, it depends where the USC lives. Also, the K3 visa referred to no longer exists.

To determine your Service center by state: If you live in:

Alaska, Arizona, California,Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon,South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.

California Service Center

If you live in:

Alabama, Arkansas,Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, SouthCarolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, WestVirginia and the District of Columbia.

Vermont Service Center

Read the Guides in the Guide link at the top of this page and decide what suits you best.

Also complete your profile when you get a minute - it makes it easier for VJers to help you with advice that may be specific to your location, embassy etc.

Edited August 9, 2012 by Andie

[Mark + Melissa 49]

Sorry xP this is my first post, i'm not even sure if this is where i go to ask this type of information.

I've checked on the USCIS Fees page and to send in with my petition and all other documents I must have a check written for $340.00 USD...but nowhere does it say who to write the check out to. I looked on the forums here on VJ (Which has been such an awesome website o.O i'm incredibly happy i found it) and i saw someone said to write the check out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Is this correct? Also, one other question. Is there another way of doing all this?? My fiance lives in Canada and i live in America, we want to live together here in America and have figured out that getting a fiance visa (k-1 visa) is the only way for her to come here so we can get married within the 90 day opening. Can we like get married in Canada or America if we just go to visit? not need to get a visa or anything, and then maybe go through another process that is more simpler and less expensive? not to mention the amount of time it takes to get through this process :/ any advice would be greatly appreciated. thank you everyone.

Kacey~

Department of Homeland Security is correct. There is no cheaper and faster option that's legal, even if you do marry. $340 is nothing. Your fiance is just coming from Canada. Imagine having to pay to visit overseas, and to have documents delivered overseas so they can be signed for and a record kept. Then imagine the cost of police certificates, certified copies, translated certified copies, medical exam, transportation and hotel to medical exam (my fiance has to fly to another city, or take an 8 hour bus trip), transportation and hotel to interview, transportation to airport. THEN file for the AOS and other stuff, without your new spouse working (because there's no green card) for up to 2 years after arrival. And don't forget the cost to pack and ship your fiance/fiancee's belongings from overseas.

This is NOT a cheap process, nor is it a timely one. And it shouldn't be in order to avoid immigration fraud, financial stability for the new couple, and that the couple have the stick-to-it-ness to make the cultural transition, which for many immigrant spouses is a HUGE deal.

[CarolAnn&Eddy 12]

Check is made out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" and it needs to be spelled out as such. My fiance is also from Canada and we are doing the K1 visa. My deciding factor for the K1 was that we did not want to be separated after we were married. California Service Center seems to be moving along very rapidly compared to Vermont. I am able to visit him in Canada while we are going through the process and just returned last week from a 3 week trip there. However, he has been denied at the border twice trying to come and visit me and it was stated by the border officer that he was high risk of immigrating illegally because we are in a relationship. So we make due with me being the one travelling.

I would suggest that you check out the comparisons for different visas as mentioned above to see what is right for your situation. Basically asking yourself if you want to be apart before or after you are married.

Another thing to remember is coming to the US with the intent to marry without appropriate visas is not only not allowed and against rules and regulations, but could potentially cause you problems in the future with your immigration process.

Good luck with whichever direction you choose.

[Que Saudade 284]

P.S. The CR1 ($420) route will be cheaper in the long run if you add all the fees associated with K1 (I-129F fee $340, Adjustment of status fee$1070).

[aws&ndd 103]

Sorry xP this is my first post, i'm not even sure if this is where i go to ask this type of information.

I've checked on the USCIS Fees page and to send in with my petition and all other documents I must have a check written for $340.00 USD...but nowhere does it say who to write the check out to. I looked on the forums here on VJ (Which has been such an awesome website o.O i'm incredibly happy i found it) and i saw someone said to write the check out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Is this correct? Also, one other question. Is there another way of doing all this?? My fiance lives in Canada and i live in America, we want to live together here in America and have figured out that getting a fiance visa (k-1 visa) is the only way for her to come here so we can get married within the 90 day opening. Can we like get married in Canada or America if we just go to visit? not need to get a visa or anything, and then maybe go through another process that is more simpler and less expensive? not to mention the amount of time it takes to get through this process :/ any advice would be greatly appreciated. thank you everyone.

Kacey~

Page 4 of the I-129f instructions tells you who to write the check out to. Here is the link to the instructions: I-129f Instructions

[TnJ 131]

Page 4 of the I-129f instructions tells you who to write the check out to. Here is the link to the instructions: I-129f Instructions

Might want to read again in case you missed something else.

[Kacey and Roxanne 0]

I thought all petitions are filed at the Dallas Lockbox and from there they decide which state it is forwarded to? the Dallas Lockbox filing location is:

2501 South State Highway 121 Business

Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067

Correct? and I went to the USCIS site and did some more looking and found the check is written out to USCIS not United States Department of Homeland Security. Is this correct too? i write it out to USCIS?

One more thing, i figure to just continue with the K-1 Visa process, we are just about done with putting together our petition packet and getting all our chickens in order before we mail it in. The CR-1 process does seem cheaper by half the price from what I read, it also allows her to automatically be a Permanent Resident upon entering the United States...only takes two months longer as well. But once we get this petition sent in...(to where exactly? ) then the process will be started and then we will be waiting. To figure out what we have to do to do the CR-1 process seems like it will be a hassle all together.

Thank you for your reply hope to hear from you soon, some time tomorrow i'm sure.

Kacey~

[TnJ 131]

The address you have there is for "Express mail and courier deliveries".

The USPS address is:

USCIS

PO Box 660151

Dallas, TX 75266

It depends on how you send it, but they both go to the same place. Then, it is determined which service center it will be forwarded to.

Where are you reading this? You send the petition to USCIS. The I-129F instructions clearly state to write the check out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" in bold print. US Department of Homeland Security is correct if you want your check cashed.

[CarolAnn&Eddy 12]

Correct? and I went to the USCIS site and did some more looking and found the check is written out to USCIS not United States Department of Homeland Security. Is this correct too? i write it out to USCIS?

This is not correct. If you look at page 4 of your instructions it will state that checks and money orders are to be sent to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" and it also states that it is to spelled out and to not use initials. We followed these directions and our check was cashed in just a couple days from the time they received out petition.

Please look at the instructions for the actual form for any other mis-guided information you have found other places. A good place to go is guides then select K1 visa.

[Kacey and Roxanne 0]

I thought all petitions are filed at the Dallas Lockbox and from there they decide which state it is forwarded to? the Dallas Lockbox filing location is:

2501 South State Highway 121 Business

Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067

Correct? and I went to the USCIS site and did some more looking and found the check is written out to USCIS not United States Department of Homeland Security. Is this correct too? i write it out to USCIS?

One more thing, i figure to just continue with the K-1 Visa process, we are just about done with putting together our petition packet and getting all our chickens in order before we mail it in. The CR-1 process does seem cheaper by half the price from what I read, it also allows her to automatically be a Permanent Resident upon entering the United States...only takes two months longer as well. But once we get this petition sent in...(to where exactly? ) then the process will be started and then we will be waiting. To figure out what we have to do to do the CR-1 process seems like it will be a hassle all together.

Thank you for your reply hope to hear from you soon, some time tomorrow i'm sure.

Kacey~

Homeland Security is correct for the check being written out to them

[TnJ 131]

Homeland Security is correct for the check being written out to them

"US Department of Homeland Security" to be exact. This is what we have been telling you, and the instructions indicate this. Don't write "Homeland Security" only though. We aren't trying to trick you.

Edited August 9, 2012 by ToddnJessa

[Kacey and Roxanne 0]

In addition to the information on the recommended link above, the processing times vary - at present California Service Center is approving petitions at a faster rate than Vermont, but the Center your petition goes to is not a matter of choice, it depends where the USC lives. Also, the K3 visa referred to no longer exists.

To determine your Service center by state: If you live in:

Alaska, Arizona, California,Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon,South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.

California Service Center

If you live in:

Alabama, Arkansas,Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, SouthCarolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, WestVirginia and the District of Columbia.

Vermont Service Center

Read the Guides in the Guide link at the top of this page and decide what suits you best.

Also complete your profile when you get a minute - it makes it easier for VJers to help you with advice that may be specific to your location, embassy etc.

I don't send it to the Dallas Lockbox and they decide from there where is the best place? which will probably be the one in california since i am from Oregon. sorry for my profile being incomplete, i'm working on it right now. and the dallas lockbox (filing location) is: 2501 South State Highway 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067 correct?? which is where i send the petition and everything check included..

thank you so much for your reply. i'm working on replying to everyone else's replys right now.

Kacey~