USCIS to Eliminate Paper-Based Payments: What Applicants Need to Know (Effective October 28, 2025)

Starting October 28, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will transition to electronic-only payments for immigration filing fees. This means applicants will no longer be able to pay with checks, money orders, or other paper-based methods, except in very limited circumstances.

1. Why Is USCIS Making This Change?This shift comes after Executive Order 14247: Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account, which requires federal agencies to move away from paper checks and money orders. The government noted that paper-based payments create:

• Higher risk of fraud and theft
• More delays and lost payments
• Greater administrative costs

2. How Can You Pay USCIS Fees After October 28, 2025?Applicants will have to pay filing fees through one of the following methods:

• Credit Card, Debit Card, or Prepaid Card: Use Form G-1450 (Authorization for Credit Card Transactions) for mail filings. Online filers can pay directly through Pay.gov.
• Bank Account (ACH Transaction): Use the new Form G-1650 (Authorization for ACH Transactions) to pay directly from a U.S. checking or savings account.
• Online Filing with Pay.gov: For eligible forms filed online, the system will guide applicants to Pay.gov for payment processing.

3. What About Paper-Based Payments?Paper-based payments (checks, money orders, cashier’s checks) will no longer be accepted unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption.
Exemptions are available through Form G-1651 (Exemption for Paper Fee Payment) and may apply if:

• The applicant does not have access to banking or electronic payment systems.
• Paying electronically would cause undue hardship.
• A national security or law enforcement reason requires non-electronic payment.
• Other rare exceptions authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury.

4. Key Details Applicants Must Know

• No Cash: USCIS will not accept cash payments under any circumstances.
• Rejected Payments: If a credit card or ACH payment is declined, USCIS will not reprocess the payment. The application may be rejected.
• Unfunded Payments: If an ACH payment bounces or is uncollectable, USCIS may revoke an approval unless the deficiency is cured.
• Refunds Are Rare: Fees are generally non-refundable, except if USCIS made an error (e.g., charging for a waiver that wasn’t required).

5. What This Means for Applicants

• Plan Ahead: Make sure you have a valid U.S. credit card, debit card, or bank account ready for payments.
• Know the Forms: Use Form G-1450 for card payments and Form G-1650 for ACH transactions.
• Watch for Errors: Incorrectly filled payment forms will cause USCIS to reject the application.
• Check Fee Schedules: Use USCIS’s Fee Calculator and the official Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) to ensure correct payment amounts.

ConclusionThe transition to electronic payments is designed to make USCIS fee collection faster and safer, but it may create challenges for applicants without easy access to U.S. banking. Understanding the new rules—and preparing the right payment method before filing—will be essential to avoid delays or rejections.
If you or your family are preparing to file an immigration application, now is the time to review your payment options and ensure you are ready for the October 28, 2025, deadline.
About ImmigraTrust LawAt ImmigraTrust Law, we guide families, professionals, and investors through the complex U.S. immigration system. Led by Najmeh Mahmoudjafari, Esq., our firm provides personalized strategies and multilingual support to help clients worldwide.
We assist with:

• Family-Based Petitions (marriage green cards, fiancé visas, parent/child cases)
• Employment & Investor Visas (E-2, O-1, NIW, EB-1A, EB-5)
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​Najmeh Mahmoudjafari, Esq.
Najmeh is the Founder and Lead Immigration Attorney at ImmigraTrust Law, an immigration law practice in Orange County, California, representing individual and corporate clients in all 50 U.S. States and internationally. Najmeh can be reached at [email protected].

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DISCLAIMER: This article is for general information purposes only. It is not intended and does not constitute legal advice. This article does not create an attorney/client relationship and does not provide an attorney/client privilege. For legal advice about your specific case, please contact an attorney.