USCIS to Stop Accepting Checks and Money Orders, Effective 29.Oct.2025

In a significant policy shift, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its plan to eliminate the ability to pay filing fees using personal checks, money orders, or other forms of paper payments, with few exceptions. For decades, these paper-based payments have been a standard method for applicants and petitioners. Soon, however, applicants and petitioners typically will be required to use electronic payment methods.

Hard Deadline for Paper Payments

The USCIS will continue to accept paper checks and money orders through October 28, 2025. After this date, applications and petitions submitted with checks or money orders for the filing fees generally will be rejected.

New Payment Process

To pay via an electronic funds transfer, an applicant or petitioner will be required to submit a completed and signed authorization for ACH Transactions (form G-1650) or authorization for credit card transactions (form G-1450). The USCIS asserts this new process is intended to increase efficiency and reduce the risks associated with paper payments, such as fraud or lost mail.

Options for Those Without U.S. Bank Accounts

Foreign nationals who do not have U.S. bank accounts may still be able to pay the fees using a prepaid credit card.

The USCIS also will allow for applicants and petitioners to still pay with bank drafts, cashier’s checks, certified checks, personal checks, or money orders, but only if an exception applies. A request for an exemption to use a paper fee payment method (form G-1651) may be made if at least one of the following applies:

• The individual is without access to a banking service or electronic payment system.
• Electronic disbursement would cause undue hardship, as contemplated in 31 CFR Part 208.
• National security or law enforcement related activities in the case necessitate non-EFT transactions or make them desirable.
• Other circumstances as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, as reflected in regulations or other guidance.

Conclusion

This shift to electronic payments is a significant operational change for the USCIS – one that may prove to be a major inconvenience for stakeholders. The Murthy Law Firm will continue to monitor this shift and provide updates, as they become available.

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