diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index 60ff619c84..5a14f5f38e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def create_order(request):
     if not verified_mode:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest(_("This course doesn't support verified certificates"))
 
-    if contribution < verified_mode.min_price:
+    if int(contribution) < verified_mode.min_price:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest(_("No selected price or selected price is below minimum."))
 
     # I know, we should check this is valid. All kinds of stuff missing here
diff --git a/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html b/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html
index 0bfc2a3a49..ea8d85b74f 100644
--- a/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html
+++ b/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html
@@ -19,10 +19,21 @@
   }
 
   var submitToPaymentProcessing = function() {
+    var contribution_input = $("input[name='contribution']:checked")
+    var contribution = 0;
+    if(contribution_input.attr('id') == 'contribution-other')
+    {
+        contribution = $("input[name='contribution-other-amt']").val();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        contribution = contribution_input.val();
+    }
     var xhr = $.post(
       "create_order",
       {
-        "course_id" : "${course_id}"
+        "course_id" : "${course_id}",
+        "contribution": contribution
       },
       function(data) {
         for (prop in data) {