Effective October 28, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will no longer accept checks or money orders for most immigration applications and petitions. Moving forward, all paper-filed forms must include electronic payment through either credit/debit card or ACH (bank account) transactions.
This modernization aims to reduce payment delays, prevent fraud, and streamline processing for benefit requestors and accredited representatives.
Accepted Payment Methods
Applicants and representatives can make electronic payments using:
- Credit or Debit Card – Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
- ACH Debit from a U.S. Bank Account – Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions
In rare circumstances, applicants may qualify for an exemption. For details, review Form G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment.
Online Filings Remain Unchanged
USCIS will continue to accept payments for online filings through the secure pay.gov platform. Benefit requestors and accredited representatives are encouraged to use their USCIS online accounts to complete filings, make payments, and access helpful tools and instructions.
USCIS Statement
“Modernizing financial transactions to and from the federal government is a priority,” said USCIS Spokesman Matthew Tregasser.
“Over 90% of our payments come from checks and money orders, causing processing delays and increasing the risk of fraud and lost payments. This is a no-brainer move.”
Additional Resources
- USCIS Official Announcement
- Executive Order 14247, Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account
NPZ Law Group – Immigration and Nationality Lawyers
If you have questions about how this update may affect your immigration filings, our attorneys are here to help.Call: 201-670-0006 | Email: info@visaserve.com
Visit: www.visaserve.com