Effective October 29, 2025, USCIS will transition to accepting primarily electronic payments. This means that after October 28, 2025, the agency will generally no longer accept paper-based payments, such as personal checks, bank drafts, certified checks, or money orders, for applications, petitions, or requests.

This shift is a significant administrative change.

Understanding the New Payment Requirements

USCIS is moving away from the paper-based payments that currently account for roughly 90% of their receipts to improve efficiency and security.

Beginning October 29, 2025 the two accepted payment methods for filings submitted to a lockbox, service center, or local field office will be:

• Credit Card/Debit Card/Prepaid Card: The existing option using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.
• New ACH Debit Transaction: A new option allowing payment directly from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions.

Important Note for International Clients: All accepted payments, including ACH and card payments, must be made from a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars. USCIS will not accept any payments from a foreign bank.

What You Need to Know

The administrative details of these electronic payments are critical, as errors can lead to the rejection of your entire filing. To ensure your case is filed successfully and on time, please be aware of the following mandatory requirements and best practices:

• Single Payment Method Per Filing: You can only use one payment method (ACH or credit card) to pay for a single application, petition, or request. You cannot submit both a Form G-1650 and a Form G-1450 for the same filing.

• Separate Forms for Concurrent Filings: If you are filing multiple applications concurrently (e.g., an I-140 and an I-485), each application must have its own separate payment authorization form (either G-1650 or G-1450), even if they use the same bank account.

• Premium Processing is Separate: Fees for Premium Processing (Form I-907) must be paid with a separate Form G-1650 (or G-1450) and cannot be combined on the same form as the underlying petition’s fee.

• Fund Sufficiency is Critical: For ACH payments (Form G-1650), you must ensure your bank account has sufficient funds. If the payment is declined, USCIS may reject the entire filing. If a payment is unfunded even after an approval, the approval may be revoked.

Next Steps

We understand that this is a major procedural shift. Our team is already adjusting our intake and filing protocols to seamlessly integrate the use of Form G-1650 and Form G-1450.

If you have any questions about this transition or how it impacts your pending or future case, please contact your attorney at Cohen, Tucker + Ades immediately.