Reciprocity fee for NIV processing
#1
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Joined: Sep 2020
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My husband's L1a was verbally approved last Friday at the US embassy, London and we were told that we'd be contacted in a few days about a reciprocity fee which needed paying.
An email today requested that the fee be paid by international money order or bankers draft in US dollars. The post office don't do these nor HSBC. We don't bank with anyone else.
Any ideas how we can get this? We've hit a wall.
An email today requested that the fee be paid by international money order or bankers draft in US dollars. The post office don't do these nor HSBC. We don't bank with anyone else.
Any ideas how we can get this? We've hit a wall.
Last edited by TamW20; Feb 23rd 2021 at 5:41 pm.
#3
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Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
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Either you make an in-person appointment at the Embassy as per postbox134 (email them at petitionslondon at state dot gov), or if you have a friend in the US, they can get a cashier's check issued ("Pay to the Order of" line) to the "U.S. Department of Homeland Security", and FedEx it to you. Then you can send it to the US Embassy in London.
#4
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Joined: Mar 2020
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 20


My husband's L1a was verbally approved last Friday at the US embassy, London and we were told that we'd be contacted in a few days about a reciprocity fee which needed paying.
An email today requested that the fee be paid by international money order or bankers draft in US dollars. The post office don't do these nor HSBC. We don't bank with anyone else.
Any ideas how we can get this? We've hit a wall.
An email today requested that the fee be paid by international money order or bankers draft in US dollars. The post office don't do these nor HSBC. We don't bank with anyone else.
Any ideas how we can get this? We've hit a wall.
#5
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Glad yours worked out.
#6
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Spoiler:
So just to tie up this thread, we managed to find out that Santander issue International bankers drafts in US dollars but since we don't have an account with them, turns out our neighbour does! The lovely man went into the branch this morning with some instructions from me on what was needed and came home with a lovely bankers draft in USD.
I've just dropped it off with the embassy's designated courier (DX) - 30 mins drive away (sigh) so I think that's now sorted.
That was the most stressful part of the process I think.
Thanks for you advice everyone!
#7
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Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 101









Spoiler:
So just to tie up this thread, we managed to find out that Santander issue International bankers drafts in US dollars but since we don't have an account with them, turns out our neighbour does! The lovely man went into the branch this morning with some instructions from me on what was needed and came home with a lovely bankers draft in USD.
I've just dropped it off with the embassy's designated courier (DX) - 30 mins drive away (sigh) so I think that's now sorted.
That was the most stressful part of the process I think.
Thanks for you advice everyone!
#8
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 15


It's on its way to the embassy now so I'm hoping so! I checked that the draft met all of the requirements so I can't see a problem but keep your fingers crossed.
I'll come back and confirm - hopefully tomorrow.
I'll come back and confirm - hopefully tomorrow.
#9
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP






Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,558












My husband's L1a was verbally approved last Friday at the US embassy, London and we were told that we'd be contacted in a few days about a reciprocity fee which needed paying.
An email today requested that the fee be paid by international money order or bankers draft in US dollars. The post office don't do these nor HSBC. We don't bank with anyone else.
Any ideas how we can get this? We've hit a wall.
An email today requested that the fee be paid by international money order or bankers draft in US dollars. The post office don't do these nor HSBC. We don't bank with anyone else.
Any ideas how we can get this? We've hit a wall.
Last edited by tht; Feb 24th 2021 at 7:35 pm.
#10
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was this the $105 for the L2? Or is the L1 from a 3rd country? I don’t recall this applying for my L1 as a UKC, but that was a long time ago... I seem to remember this is something to do with the fees other countries charge USC and the US then changes it back when citizens of those countries apply to the US. Did they already have you leave passports with the embassy for visa to be stuck in?
Yep, the officer kept our passports and i797b and said everything would be processed in a few days. NIE granted too.
#11

was this the $105 for the L2? Or is the L1 from a 3rd country? I don’t recall this applying for my L1 as a UKC, but that was a long time ago... I seem to remember this is something to do with the fees other countries charge USC and the US then charges back the same when citizens of those countries apply to the US. Did they already have you leave passports with the embassy for visa to be stuck in?
#12
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Happy to report back that the Santander International bankers draft which my lovely neighbour ordered from the branch was accepted by the US embassy today and our passports and document will be with us on Monday!
So if anyone needs to pay the embassy via a bankers draft in US dollars - find a friend or family member who has a Santander account and they can do it for you. This saved us loads of time as the next embassy appointment was 24th March....
So if anyone needs to pay the embassy via a bankers draft in US dollars - find a friend or family member who has a Santander account and they can do it for you. This saved us loads of time as the next embassy appointment was 24th March....
#13
Forum Regular



Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 101









Happy to report back that the Santander International bankers draft which my lovely neighbour ordered from the branch was accepted by the US embassy today and our passports and document will be with us on Monday!
So if anyone needs to pay the embassy via a bankers draft in US dollars - find a friend or family member who has a Santander account and they can do it for you. This saved us loads of time as the next embassy appointment was 24th March....
So if anyone needs to pay the embassy via a bankers draft in US dollars - find a friend or family member who has a Santander account and they can do it for you. This saved us loads of time as the next embassy appointment was 24th March....