Paying the I-130 fee from Canada - help!

[zelia913 0]

Hello everyone.

My husband and I have prepared our paperwork and we are ready to send it off to the Chicago Lockbox. When double checking the financial information we discovered that we cannot pay the fees from a Canadian bank. Not really sure why, if we send a money order, but anyway. It is what it is.

I have made an appointment at RBC to open an RBC USA checking account, but by the time that happens and my personal cheques arrive, we'll be a couple more weeks down the road and we're anxious to get the stuff sent off. I can have his sister send the money on our behalf, but how to we ensure that the fee is associated with our file? Anyone done this before? We would LOVE some advice on this. We're feeling a little frustrated - and this is only the beginning! Fun!

Thanks in advance!

[Ryan H 3,813]

Two things you can do:

• His sister can write the check for the appropriate amount and you can use that check to pay the fee. USCIS will not care where the check came from or who wrote it; they only care that the fee is correct and that the check will clear.
• You can open the USA checking account with RBC and you don't have to wait for personal checks to arrive. You can obtain a cashier's check from the bank that is drawn on your US account for the correct fee amount.

[NikLR 13,227]

You can also get a money order in US funds from about any bank.

[mtlguy 59]

don't over complicate it with opening any bank accounts. just head out to your RBC branch and ask for a money order drawn on a US bank (they have that, and they will know what you're talking about).

include that money order in your package and mail it.

it's that simple.

[zelia913 0]

Is it that simple? That's contradictory to what I've understood is allowed. I thought it had to be drawn from as US bank. I know that RBC certified cheques in US funds are drawn from Chase in the US. It that enough? Have either of you actually submitted your fee this way and it's been accepted? I would LOVE it if it was that simple, but I don't want the process to be delayed. Anyone actually submitted with a certified cheque or money order from a Canadian bank?

[mtlguy 59]

Yes it is that simple.

and yes, I did that when we filed for our I-130.

I walked in to my Canadian bank in Montreal, and came out with a money order in US funds drawn from a corresponding US bank.

I took the money order, put in the the big envelope with the rest of the forms, documents, etc...crossed the street, went into the UPS store, and mailed the whole thing.

2 days later, we got a confirmation that the whole thing has been accepted.

good luck