It is specified at HLS and Chcago that application fee can be paid via travelers checks.

In my envelope I am ready to include 2 travelers checks nominated 50 and 20 US dollars signed once at the top of each check.
I had never purchased traveler's checks before and at the bank I was advised that travelers checks could not be paid in the absence of the individual who signed the checks.
If it is right I am worried if those Universities will not accept my payment.

I ask for an advice on the above mentioned payment procedure.
How checks must be signed?

Thanks to everyone!

I have also never used the traveler's checks before. But as far I am familiar with this payment method, it is considered to be the "safest money" in the world because the checks requires two signatures: One when you buy the check; and the other when you pay with it.
So if your check is stolen, and you have the proof of purchase, you can get another one from the issuing institution - if your cash is stolen, it will never be reimbursed :-)

If the check does not have two signatures on it, its recipient cannot change it into cash at his bank and it thus represents no value for him. I would thus recommend you to put two signatures on it, otherwise you risk that the law school will not accept your payment. On the other hand, it is exactly the same as if you sent cash in the envelope, and that's something you should never do... Therefore I paid my fee with a check issued by the bank to the law school I applied to.

Thanks for your answer.

But as far as I know the second signature must be of the immediate recipient, the person who will then recieve cash.
How do I know the signature of the HLS official who will present my check to the bank?

I did something definitely wrong. I sent two letters to Chicago and HLS on this issue and still have no reply. I cant understand how I had to sign checks to execute payment.

DID ANYONE HERE PAYED VIA CHECKS?
HOW DID YOU SIGN THEM?

The deadline is close and the question is urgent.

Easy man! Help is coming, Chicago & HLS will get your money!))

I experienced it today at local Raiffeisen bank in Moscow.
A girl at pay desk (a nice one) dialed American Express and they explained the following: you should put two signatures on the check at the top and at the bottom and indicate in the middle (I don't remember correct field name) the recipient's name, eg. Harvard Law School.

As simple as that.
Good luck.
-V

I actually completed the application process today. WOW! (I don't hear applause) ... and calculated my expenses: I applied to 4 law schools and it costed in total (not including my time) around $1,200. Costly excercise!

...or, you can just look it up...

http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,22387,00.asp

I cant find the necessary information it the faq's (.

Something is really strange with this checks.
I've inquired the matter deeply enough to confuse myself totally.
here is the information I obtained:
HLS instructions (telephone): Sign at the top, bottom, identify the person, company to the order of whom you want the check to be paid, put the date.
American Express Russia customer serv. instr: same as at the HLS,
Refunding department American Express Russia instr: checks can be accepted even with 1 signature in case the validity is proved!!!
Chicago LS: Please fill in your name at the top and sign each check before you send them to us!
WHAT NAME? IN WHAT FIELD?

Thus, inconsistencies have place. I prefer to follow HLS instructions but still permit that by sending additional checks I pay my application fee twice.

Sorry to interrupt, just curious: rfcisfun4me, why is RFC fun for you?

RFC may refer to:

in business and information technology:

* Request for Comments, formalized memoranda addressing Internet standards
* Request for Change, a call to change IT infrastructure
* Returned for Collection, a billing term indicating insufficient funds for an account
* Remote function call, from within SAP R/3

in sports:

* Randers FC, a Danish professional football (soccer) club
* Rangers F.C., a Scottish professional football (soccer) club
* Reading F.C., an English professional football (soccer) club
* An abbreviation of Rugby Football Club, in the names of rugby union clubs

(Note that rugby league clubs use the abbreviation RLFC)

in history:

* Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Hoover's attempt to stem the Great Depression
* Royal Flying Corps, a branch of the British military during World War I


RFC may also be:

* Replication factor C, a protein complex
* Ragefire Chasm, in the computer game World of Warcraft
* Rosenberg Fund for Children, the charity

ahhhh, it's just my initials. : )

and it rhymes.

Okidok ;-o

hey, i have asked for a waiver at chicago though im from india. i have been told they'd let me know but no word from them yet. do you know if they grant waivers to students from india, pak, etc?

I paid for Harvard using American Express Traveller's cheques. Its easier if you go into a branch office if you can. I went in and told them what I wanted to do - they told me where to sign - basically you have to endorse over to Harvard. Just go into a branch - its makes life easier.