No More Mailing Checks! USCIS Will No Longer Accept Paper Check Payments

On August 29, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a major update: starting October 28, 2025, USCIS will no longer accept checks, money orders, or other paper-based forms of payment.

Instead, all filing fees must be paid electronically—by credit card, debit card, prepaid card, or Automated Clearing House (ACH) bank transfer.

Here’s what applicants and employers need to know:

Why the Change?

This update comes from Executive Order 14247, “Modernizing Payments to and From America’s Bank Account.” The goal is to reduce fraud, theft, and delays. 

An added benefit is that petitioners can save time and money by eliminating the additional step of overnighting filing fee checks to their attorney.  Currently, attorneys include checks in the paper applications they file with USCIS on behalf of their clients.

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, paper-based payments, such as checks, 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, or altered compared to electronic transfers.

By going “electronic”, USCIS hopes to speed up processing and cut down on unnecessary risks.

What This Means for You

• No more checks or money orders. Any request mailed with a paper payment will be rejected, unless a limited exemption applies.

• New forms for payment include:

  • Form G-1450 – for credit/debit card or prepaid card payments.

  • Form G-1650 – for ACH (bank account) payments.

• ACH users with debit blocks must coordinate with their bank ahead of time to avoid rejection.

  
  

Are There Any Exceptions?

Yes, but they’re rare. Paper-based payments (via Form G-1651) may still be allowed in limited cases, such as:

• When an individual does not have access to electronic banking.

• When electronic payment would cause undue hardship.

• For national security or law enforcement reasons.

• Other circumstances as determined by the U.S. Treasury

  
  

What Employers and Applicants Should Do to Prepare

• Prepare for electronic-only payments. Update your internal HR processes if you sponsor immigration benefits to make this transition seamless.

• Educate employees in HR and accounting.  The person preparing filing fees should know which payment form to use.

• Avoid delays for failure to convert to electronic payments. Submitting a paper check after October 28, 2025, could mean rejection of the entire application.

• Ensure that account details are correct.  As USCIS will only run the account information once, triple check the account numbers provided on the payment form to ensure they are correct!

• Make sure the account is funded.  As with paper checks, ensure the account has sufficient funds so that the account is not overdrawn at the time the check is cashed.

• Coordinate with your bank/credit card about anti-fraud measures. Add the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to your list of authorized vendors so that the charge is not automatically denied as fraudulent.

  
  

The Bottom Line

This change is another step toward the digitization of U.S. immigration processes. For applicants and employers, it means adjusting to a fully electronic payment system—and planning ahead to avoid costly mistakes. 

Expect growing pains and technical difficulties as USCIS transitions to this system.  Therefore, ensure you apply far enough in advance of any deadlines to account for the case being rejected and returned.  This way, you will be able to apply again in time.

If you have questions about the payment transition or want to ensure your filings go smoothly, call us at (949) 940-6725 or book a consultation online with one of our experienced immigration attorneys.