Kris&Ilektra

Thanks for everyone's input... We discovered that our bank here in Belgium can issue international checks through a partner bank in the U.S. So for all intents and purposes, it looks like we are sending a check through an American account...

So we're good to go!

The embassy people are clueless and respond to me as if I don't know the difference between the I-129 and the I-130... They simply can't understand that we live abroad now, but will be married in the U.S. later.

So they've been bumping us around from office to office and no one seems to know anything. I can't imagine that this problem is so rare that they have no idea.

If anyone else has or had this problem, I would appreciate any information about your experience!

Ok, I'm officially a moron. I didn't read further on that if you live outside the U.S., you need to "contact the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy for instructions on the method of payment."

Sorry - my mistake!

Ok - no luck. Western Union only sends money transfers from branch to branch; and they won't give me a hard copy to mail with my petition. Looks like I'm back to square one. Why won't USCIS accept checks from banks that have offices in the U.S. What a pain in the ####...

I guess I'll have to get my parents or a friend to help out.

Really? Western Union does ordinary money orders? I guess I'll look in to it... Thanks a lot!

We are just about to send the I-129F, but apparently the $455 fee must be paid with a check or money order "drawn on a bank or other financial institution located in the United States and must be payable in U.S. currency".

The only problem is this - I don't have an American bank account. So a money order it is... but where can I get an American money order abroad? The U.S. embassy? Do they provide such a service?

Thanks for any advice!