mohassan

No, you can file from abroad and still they require local money orders. They dont want to pay international fees for taking your money. This is the main reason they want local issued ones. 99% there will be no issue with it. As you send it from abroad, make sure you send it to the correct address, as it is different in some cases, to the address if sending from within USA. USCIS has this information on their website and easy to google.

Yes, if it is issued from USPS in the USA it will be fine. We paid this way for one other petition we filed before (re-entry permit) and it worked perfectly.
Make sure the amount is correct and you give reference to your petition, e.g. Sponsor: Your name, Beneficiary: Name For: I-I130.
This seems especially important if someone else issues the money order in his name, so that they know this money is for your petition. Mistakes in the amount can be a refusal reason so take care.

Hi,
I had the exact same problem a week ago but from Europe. After many consultations, you can only use a check drafted from a US bank.
This means, you have following options:
1. You send the money to someone in the USA and they issue a check for you. It does not need to be in your name, it could be any name as long as you provide your petition details in the reference part of the check.
2. You go to a US bank in the UAE, or a bank that will issue a US bank check for you. The issue is, that the banks usually want the address of the beneficiary for making a check, and USCIS does not provide that , even after calling them many time. Thus, if you find a US bank that will issue you a US draft check in US currency, without the address of the beneficiary, you may have a chance. In any case it is easier to simply send money to someone in the USA who issues the check and sends the check to you, or adds it to your documents before they go to USCIS. I did this to solve the problem.
3. A USPS money order, drafted in the USA will also work without problem. It should be a local money order.

On what basis are you applying for your children?
no timeline
Are you living in the UAE or US?
The forms should be filled out by USC or Legal permanent resident / that is why they expect US money orders
if you can apply look for international money order