How to pay the Fee for Form I-129F when living in Canada

[mkimimi 0]

Hi all! I have been reading this forum as a resource while filling out our I-129F. I am stumped as to how to pay the $535 fee while residing in Canada? The form points to the Consulate website, whos number I have called and cannot reach a live person. Thank you for your help!

[geowrian 22,335]

Check, money order, or credit card: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/paying-uscis-fees

 

If you live together in Canada, you may want to look at a spouse visa instead of the K-1.

[TM92 527]

Unsolicited info:

Below is an analysis by @missileman:

Quote

This is my analysis of a K-1 vs a CR-1:

K-1

• More expensive than CR-1
• Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)
• Spouse can not leave the US until she receives approved Advance Parole (approx 3-4 months)
• Spouse can not work until she receives EAD (approx 3-4 months)
• Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period.
• Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

CR-1

• Less expensive than K-1
• No AOS required.
• Spouse can immediately travel outside the US
• Spouse can start work if desired
• Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card withing 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US
• Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.

All-in-all, the CR-1 is superior to the K-1 imo.

Also, with the CR-1 you can marry anywhere (US, Canada, or somewhere else). Check out thread below:

(In your case, no visa required to marry in the US and then wait in Canada for the CR-1 to process.)

[Amadia 711]

Hi OP,

 

Here is the pdf document regarding I-129F: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-129finstr.pdf

Page 12 gives instructions on paying the fee.

[TNJ17 1,329]

The payment isn’t separate from the package. Send a US check or money order. No foreign payments. 

[acidrain 325]

I submitted an i-130 but I went to a Canadian bank and got a US money order drafted up and it was okay. I submitted the fee with the package.

[mkimimi 0]

50 minutes ago, acidrain said:

I submitted an i-130 but I went to a Canadian bank and got a US money order drafted up and it was okay. I submitted the fee with the package.

Thank you! I think this is what I will do.

[TM92 527]

47 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

Send a US check or money order.

44 minutes ago, acidrain said:

I went to a Canadian bank and got a US money order drafted up and it was okay.

@mkimimi: @geowrian already mentioned credit cards as an option. Since February 2018, USCIS accepts credit cards for 41 fee-based forms: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-expands-credit-card-payment-option-fees. If you want to avoid a foreign transaction fee there are options; for example: https://www.greedyrates.ca/blog/travel-tip-avoid-foreign-transaction-fees-canadian-credit-card/

[mkimimi 0]

1 hour ago, TM92 said:

Unsolicited info:

Below is an analysis by @missileman:

Also, with the CR-1 you can marry anywhere (US, Canada, or somewhere else). Check out thread below:

(In your case, no visa required to marry in the US and then wait in Canada for the CR-1 to process.)

Thank you for the advice. I appreciate you bringing some of the cons to my attention.

 

My fiance is American/Canadian dual citizen living in Canada, and being sent to the US to open up a new office for work. 

 

If we were to do the CR-1 the processing time may be 12-15 months (from my research) and we would like to make the move within a shorter time period which the K-1 visa which seems to allow for in 6-7 months. 

 

Edited August 14, 2018 by mkimimi

[mkimimi 0]

8 minutes ago, TM92 said:

@mkimimi: @geowrian already mentioned credit cards as an option. Since February 2018, USCIS accepts credit cards for 41 fee-based forms: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-expands-credit-card-payment-option-fees. If you want to avoid a foreign transaction fee there are options; for example: https://www.greedyrates.ca/blog/travel-tip-avoid-foreign-transaction-fees-canadian-credit-card/

Thank you for clarification, I wasn't sure if this option was available in canada. Seems to be the easiest for me.

2 hours ago, geowrian said:

Check, money order, or credit card: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/paying-uscis-fees

 

If you live together in Canada, you may want to look at a spouse visa instead of the K-1.

Thank you!

[geowrian 22,335]

7 minutes ago, mkimimi said:

If we were to do the CR-1 the processing time may be 12-15 months (from my research) and we would like to make the move within a shorter time period which the K-1 visa which seems to allow for in 6-7 months. 

K-1 is closer to 8-12 months currently. So the difference is only a few months, but the spousal visa is far superior.

[TNJ17 1,329]

16 minutes ago, mkimimi said:

Thank you for the advice. I appreciate you bringing some of the cons to my attention.

 

My fiance is American/Canadian dual citizen living in Canada, and being sent to the US to open up a new office for work. 

 

If we were to do the CR-1 the processing time may be 12-15 months (from my research) and we would like to make the move within a shorter time period which the K-1 visa which seems to allow for in 6-7 months. 

 

K1s haven’t taken 6-7 months in years. It’s more like 10-12 months now.

[mkimimi 0]

13 minutes ago, geowrian said:

K-1 is closer to 8-12 months currently. So the difference is only a few months, but the spousal visa is far superior.

Ouch that is quite a difference. Thank you I will reconsider the options.

[NikLR 13,220]

Plus k1 need to AOS so factor that cost into your equation.  And the loss of any potential earnings for 6 months after filing the AOS since it takes 4-6 months for a work permit.