Need to send money to the US to pay visa fees

[luskie]

I'm filing for a green card for my spouse and I need to pay a $420 fee. I have to send a cashier's check, money order, or international bank draft, in U.S. dollars issued by any bank with a U.S. affiliation or drawn on a US bank.

I don't have a bank account in the US where I can write a check from, so what's the best way to send this money from Japan?

Will a international money order from the post office work?

[KansaiBen]

Will a international money order from the post office work?

do you have a Citibank near you? No other US banks in Japan that I'm aware of.

[Agitator]

KB as useful as ever.

OP: The International Money Order will probably work, but I suggest getting an international bank draft from your bank (doesn't have to be Japanese). If you are in a major metropolitan area, any of the major Japanese banks' big-boy branches should be able to do this for you, as they have their own bank affiliates in the US that the funds draw upon. I'm not sure if your average little branch can do it, though.

Pro tip: You should really look into getting a U.S. bank account. Try setting one up online. This will come into play later for a host of reasons, not least of which is the concept of U.S. domicile as it relates to the I-864 affidavit of support. (Teh Google is your friend if that doesn't mean anything to you.)

[luskie]

Thanks. I'll try to get an international bank draft from my bank.

I do have a US bank account but I can't use it to send a check because I left my checkbook in the US.

[xHime]

do you have a Citibank near you? No other US banks in Japan that I'm aware of.

how would Citibank help? Citibank Japan and Citibank US are not connected in any way whatsoever- just because you have a Citibank Japan account doesn't mean you have a Citibank US account. Only thing you can do is use the US debit card in Japan, and vice versa. I don't see how this would help the OP.

OP, the easiest way would just be to do a bank transfer- is the fee what is making you look at other options, or is there another reason? Draft is by far the easiest.

You can't open a bank account online anymore as far as I know. I remember trying to do it from Japan a few years ago and not being able to.

[Agitator]

Thanks. I'll try to get an international bank draft from my bank.

I do have a US bank account but I can't use it to send a check because I left my checkbook in the US.

Ah, well that's good. If all else fails with the international bank draft, then you might just need to get somebody to mail you the checkbook.

[Agitator]

OP, the easiest way would just be to do a bank transfer- is the fee what is making you look at other options, or is there another reason? Draft is by far the easiest.

The payment goes to USCIS in the US and they aren't exactly flexible on this, unfortunately.

Up until August 15, the I-130 petition could be submitted at the US Embassy in Tokyo, but no longer. In those days you could just pay at the embassy in cash (yen or dollars) or by credit card.

OP - Any other issues come up with the process, feel free to raise questions in the Visas forum.

[Plats]

Thanks. I'll try to get an international bank draft from my bank.

I do have a US bank account but I can't use it to send a check because I left my checkbook in the US.

I think you can make and print your own checks using Word or whatever. I just Googled and found a 14-day free trial software which will probably print nicer ones. Besides that, any bank that does international transfers will sell you a cashiers check payable from a USA center bank.

[luskie]

I think you can make and print your own checks using Word or whatever. I just Googled and found a 14-day free trial software which will probably print nicer ones. Besides that, any bank that does international transfers will sell you a cashiers check payable from a USA center bank.

Thank you. Do you happen to know what a cashiers check drawn on a us bank would be in Japanese? I have a feeling even if I go in there with a native speaker, they'll have no idea what I'm talking about unless I know specifically what I need to be asking for.

[Plats]

Thank you. Do you happen to know what a cashiers check drawn on a us bank would be in Japanese? I have a feeling even if I go in there with a native speaker, they'll have no idea what I'm talking about unless I know specifically what I need to be asking for.

I haven't done a paper transfer in 20 years but it is basically the same as a telegraphic transfer. The form is the same with a check box at the top to choose mail or telegraph. This postal check methed is similar and maybe easier:

http://www.akitajet.com/wiki/Post_Office_Remittance

[Bella Bowtruckle]

I haven't done a paper transfer in 20 years but it is basically the same as a telegraphic transfer. The form is the same with a check box at the top to choose mail or telegraph. This postal check methed is similar and maybe easier:

http://www.akitajet.com/wiki/Post_Office_Remittance

An international postal order used to be by far the most convenient/least complicated way to transfer money and the instructions in the link you provided are very clear and easy to follow. I wonder when it was written though ? I went to send a money order last month to an address in the UK and they told me that since last year they've changed the rules so that now they can only send money directly into bank accounts to certain countries and not to addresses anymore. I don't know if US immigration would count as an 'address', hopefully it'll be OK, but this method may no longer be open to you which is a pity.

[Plats]

An international postal order used to be by far the most convenient/least complicated way to transfer money and the instructions in the link you provided are very clear and easy to follow. I wonder when it was written though ? I went to send a money order last month to an address in the UK and they told me that since last year they've changed the rules so that now they can only send money directly into bank accounts to certain countries and not to addresses anymore. I don't know if US immigration would count as an 'address', hopefully it'll be OK, but this method may no longer be open to you which is a pity.

The site says that it was last modified on 28 October 2011, but who knows how up-to-date the information actually is. Another idea is to have someone in the US mail the check to them. Or ask a fellow countryman in Japan with a checkbook.

[Wonky]

Thanks. I'll try to get an international bank draft from my bank.

I do have a US bank account but I can't use it to send a check because I left my checkbook in the US.

Why not just have someone send it to you?

[Bella Bowtruckle]

The site says that it was last modified on 28 October 2011, but who knows how up-to-date the information actually is. Another idea is to have someone in the US mail the check to them. Or ask a fellow countryman in Japan with a checkbook.

I think the mailing the checkbook thing is as good an idea as any. I have my checkbook here and my card and it's come in very useful at times. JPost is trustworthy enough and I doubt anyone would know what to to with a checkbook here at any rate. Get someone to send the checkbook and card separately if there's no hurry. Hopefully the PO money order will work for the OP but as I said, it got more complicated recently.

[luskie]

I haven't done a paper transfer in 20 years but it is basically the same as a telegraphic transfer. The form is the same with a check box at the top to choose mail or telegraph. This postal check methed is similar and maybe easier:

http://www.akitajet.com/wiki/Post_Office_Remittance

Thank you for that link, it's very helpful. I'd love to end a Post Office Remittance, but I don't know if it's an acceptable form of payment to the USCIS, or if it's drawn on a US bank somehow.

[Wonky]

Thank you for that link, it's very helpful. I'd love to end a Post Office Remittance, but I don't know if it's an acceptable form of payment to the USCIS, or if it's drawn on a US bank somehow.

Dude, I just went through the whole process myself. It's really designed for sponsors living in the US unfortunately. I'd just send what they ask for or else they will reject it and the process will take even longer... No one is going to steal your checkbook if your mom mails it to you.

[Plats]

Thank you for that link, it's very helpful. I'd love to end a Post Office Remittance, but I don't know if it's an acceptable form of payment to the USCIS, or if it's drawn on a US bank somehow.

It is drawn on a US bank. It wouldn't be called an overseas remiitance, international transfer, etc., if the money was still in Japan. Whether or not the post office still sends to individuals is the question.

@Wonky: I suspect the OP doesn't have a checking account, as he said in his first post.

[Glenski]

I'm filing for a green card for my spouse and I need to pay a $420 fee. I have to send a cashier's check, money order, or international bank draft, in U.S. dollars issued by any bank with a U.S. affiliation or drawn on a US bank.

I don't have a bank account in the US where I can write a check from,

I do have a US bank account but I can't use it to send a check because I left my checkbook in the US.

Well, which is it? You have or you don't have that U.S. bank account? Geez!

If you do but you simply don't have the checkbook with you, doesn't someone else back home? They could easily enough drop a blank check in the mail to you for you to use (or if you have given them power over your account, they could write it themselves).

[xHime]

If you have enough time you could order a new checkbook. Otherwise send an international money order.

[Wonky]

It is drawn on a US bank. It wouldn't be called an overseas remiitance, international transfer, etc., if the money was still in Japan. Whether or not the post office still sends to individuals is the question.

@Wonky: I suspect the OP doesn't have a checking account, as he said in his first post.

He does, he just doesn't have any checks on him.

The I-130 process now takes about 5 months so I don't see how waiting an extra week or so for a checkbook to arrive is really going to affect anything.