If the cost of a record is not known, advise the claimant that their first letter
must state the pertinent facts and ask for all charges.
If the cost of the document is shown in foreign currency and the U.S. currency equivalent
is not shown, ascertain the current exchange rate and compute the cost. Exchange rates
for most foreign currencies may be obtained from:
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The foreign department of local banks, or
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Internet currency conversion sites; or
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Other sources which use data from a Treasury Department or Federal Reserve publication
on official exchange rates as a basis for their data.
When the correct fee is known, pay this amount using the instrument required in the
section for that country. If the method of payment is not specified, use:
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An international postal money order (available in all first-class post offices and
some other post offices);
EXCEPTIONS: International postal money orders are not acceptable in Bulgaria, Jordan, Portugal
and Spain.
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A commercial money order if the registrar is located in a town that is accessible
to an office of the company that issued the order.
Advise the claimant to avoid underpayment. To ensure the payment is adequate, the
claimant should raise the fee amount to the next higher dollar amount (e.g., $4.32
would be raised to $5.00). This will normally be enough to pay for increased fees,
further currency fluctuations, additional charges, postage, etc.