How to Pay USCIS Filing Fees with New ACH Option

Why USCIS Is Ditching Paper Checks & Money Orders

Big news from USCIS: starting October 28, 2025, you’ll no longer be able to pay filing fees with paper checks or money orders. Instead, everything is moving online.

From that date forward, applicants will have two options:

• ACH transfer (electronic bank transfer) using Form G-1650
• Credit or prepaid card using Form G-1450

This change is part of a government-wide effort (Executive Order 14247) to modernize how payments are handled. The idea is to make the process faster, safer, and less stressful—no more worrying about checks getting lost in the mail or waiting weeks for a payment to clear.

If you’re planning to file with USCIS after October 28, make sure you’re ready to pay electronically. And remember, both your bank account and credit card need to be U.S.-based—international cards or accounts won’t work.

How You Can Pay USCIS Filing Fees in 2025

USCIS is updating the way it accepts payments, and here are the options available:

1. ACH Transfer (Form G-1650)

You can now pay filing fees directly from your US bank account with an ACH debit. To do this, complete and sign Form G-1650 and place it on top of your application package.

Things to know:

• Make sure your account has enough money. If the payment fails, USCIS will reject your filing.

• Once the payment is processed, USCIS destroys the form to protect your account information.

• The account must be based in the United States. Foreign accounts are not accepted.

• Some banks automatically block ACH debits, so you may need to ask your bank to allow payments to USCIS.

2. Credit Card or Prepaid Card (Form G-1450)

You can also pay by card using Form G-1450. This option will remain available even after checks and money orders are discontinued in October 2025.

Important reminders:

• The card must be issued in the United States.

• Foreign credit and debit cards are not accepted.

• US issued prepaid cards are allowed.

3. Paper Checks & Money Orders—Use Only Until October 28, 2025

Checks and money orders are still accepted for now, but only until October 28 2025. After that date, USCIS will normally reject filings that include them.

There are limited exceptions. If you cannot make electronic payments or doing so would cause serious hardship, you can request approval by filing Form G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment.

What You Need to Do—Next Steps for USCIS Filers

• Use ACH (Form G-1650) whenever possible. It’s secure, fast, and future-ready.
• Need a U.S. bank or card? Now’s the time to set that up—or ask someone like your sponsor or attorney to pay on your behalf.
• Still writing checks?Get everything submitted before October 28, 2025, or switch to ACH or a U.S. card.
• Follow instructions carefully: submit one form per filing, ensure correct formatting, and provide sufficient funds.
• If you’re filing online, note that ACH (Form G-1650) applies only to mail submissions. Online filings typically allow you to pay via credit card or e-check directly.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering how to pay USCIS filing fees going forward, you’ve got options. Starting now, you can use an ACH transfer with Form G-1650, or pay with a U.S. credit or prepaid card using Form G-1450. Checks and money orders? They’re heading out the door on October 28, 2025 unless you qualify for an exception. Stay ahead of the curve—set up your U.S. bank account or card now, file the correct form, and avoid payment delays. It’s cleaner, faster, and may even make your case move a bit more smoothly.

• Effective immediately, you can pay USCIS filing fees by ACH debit from your U.S. bank account.
• To use it, fill out and sign Form G-1650 and place it on top of your filing package.
• Make sure your account has enough funds—USCIS will reject a submission if the payment fails.
• USCIS will instantly debit your account and then destroy the form to protect your bank details.
• Important: The account must be U.S.-based. Foreign bank accounts aren’t accepted.
• If your bank has an ACH block, you may need to request they allow debits from USCIS (Agency Location Codes, detailed in instructions).