The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a significant change for individuals applying for permanent resident status or U.S. citizenship. This update, which began on October 28, 2025, directly affects how applicants are required to make their payments for filing applications.
As of the effective date, applicants mailing their immigration paperwork to USCIS can no longer pay using checks or money orders. Instead, electronic payment options are now mandatory. To pay with a credit, debit, or prepaid card, applicants must use Form G-1450, granting authorization for the transaction. For those preferring to pay via an ACH transfer—an electronic move of funds between bank accounts processed through the Automated Clearing House—Form G-1650 must be used to enable USCIS to collect fees straight from their U.S. bank account.
USCIS will not accept personal checks, business checks, money orders, bank drafts, or cashier’s checks for the specified applications moving forward. Nevertheless, there is an exception process for individuals unable to access electronic methods. Those needing this exemption must submit Form G-1651, signed and completed, to formally request permission for paper-based payment. Eligibility for this exemption hinges on several criteria, including lack of access to electronic payment systems, undue hardship resulting from electronic payment requirements, necessity for national security or law enforcement reasons, or other circumstances defined by additional Treasury guidelines.
Applicants are urged to carefully manage their account balances before initiating any payments since USCIS has made clear that applications may be rejected if the transaction fails due to insufficient funds. As this change is primarily designed to minimize fraud, lost payments, processing delays, and administrative expenses, the modernization of payment methods aligns with broader government efforts to improve financial transparency and efficiency.
For any future developments or specific fee amounts, applicants should review the latest resources available through the USCIS Filing Fees page.
