How to Pay USCIS Filing Fees

Check both the fee and payment method before you submit an immigration application. USCIS can reject a filing with an incorrect fee or an invalid payment, which can delay your case or affect a filing deadline.

I learned this the hard way years ago when I filed my first application. Back then, I wrote out a personal check and triple-checked everything before dropping it in the mail. That nervous wait was brutal.

USCIS generally requires electronic payment, including for applications sent by mail. A paper-payment exemption is available through Form G-1651 for people who qualify. For background, see our guide to USCIS's move away from paper checks.

Electronic payment is the default

For most mailed benefit requests, pay by ACH bank withdrawal or a U.S.-issued credit, debit, or prepaid card. USCIS can accept a paper payment if you qualify for an exemption and submit a signed Form G-1651 with your request and payment.

For mailed applications, you have two electronic payment options:

ACH bank transfer (Form G-1650): authorize USCIS to withdraw the fee from your U.S. bank account. Check the balance, daily debit limit, and any ACH debit block before filing.

Credit, debit, or prepaid card (Form G-1450): authorize USCIS to charge your U.S.-issued card. Make sure the available balance or credit covers the full payment and ask your bank about fraud restrictions.

If you file online through your USCIS online account, you pay during the submission process. No paper forms needed.

Step 1: Figure out the correct fee

Before anything else, look up the exact fee for your form. Fees change, and using an outdated amount from a forum post or a friend's advice will get your application rejected.

Two ways to check:

Go to the USCIS fee calculator. Enter your form type and filing category. It tells you exactly what to pay.

Or check Form G-1055, the USCIS fee schedule. Look up your filing category and any additional fees, exemptions, or reduced rates.

These examples were checked against the October 16, 2026 edition of Form G-1055. They show general filing fees unless a category is specified. Special rates and exemptions can apply, so confirm the amount for your circumstances before filing.

Form I-485 can now be filed online by certain applicants. Standalone online filing is available for eligible employment-based, family-based, and VAWA applicants whose underlying petition has already been filed. Concurrent filing has additional restrictions. The USCIS online filing list explains those rules and which related forms can be uploaded with I-485.

The I-131 row covers advance parole based on a pending I-485, not every travel document. For standalone online filing in this category, the I-485 receipt number must begin with IOE. USCIS also allows eligible applicants to upload I-131 with an online I-485 package. Other I-131 categories have different fees and filing options; check the current form instructions before paying.

A $50 online discount applies to these examples where online filing is available for your category. It does not apply to every USCIS form or every filing category.

Some forms also have fees created by H.R.-1 (Public Law 119-21). Those statutory fees cannot be waived or reduced when they apply. Check the current G-1055 fee schedule and USCIS filing-fee alerts, including any court-ordered exceptions or pauses. Follow the payment instructions for each required fee.

Many USCIS filing fees include biometrics, but some requests still require a separate biometric services fee. For example, the fee schedule lists a $30 biometrics fee for TPS. Check whether your category requires a biometrics fee before adding one. Our Biometrics 101 guide explains the appointment itself.

When filing multiple benefit requests together, use a separate payment authorization for each request. Do not combine their fees into one payment. Follow any form-specific instructions for additional fees.

Step 2: Choose your payment method

Option A: ACH bank transfer (Form G-1650)

On Form G-1650, enter the account holder information, account type, routing number, account number, and authorized amount. USCIS uses this form to collect the fee by ACH.

What you need:

• A U.S. bank account (foreign accounts won't work)
• Your 9-digit routing number
• Your account number
• Enough money in the account when USCIS processes it

If your bank account has an ACH debit block, give your bank the USCIS Agency Location Codes (ALC+2) from the G-1650 instructions and ask it to unblock those transactions before you file. A general request to allow government payments may not be enough.

If an ACH payment is returned for insufficient funds, USCIS resubmits it once. A second failure can lead to rejection or denial. USCIS does not retry ACH payments returned for other reasons, such as a debit block or incorrect account details.

Option B: Credit or debit card (Form G-1450)

Fill out Form G-1450 with your card details. USCIS charges the card when they process your packet.

What you need:

• A credit, debit, or prepaid card issued by a U.S. bank
• Enough available credit or balance
• The card's billing address matching what's on the form

Foreign cards don't work. Neither do gift cards. Prepaid cards from U.S. banks are fine.

A bank can decline a card payment because of fraud controls, insufficient credit, or incorrect details. USCIS does not retry a declined card payment. Check with your issuer before mailing the packet.

Before mailing your application, tell your bank the expected USCIS charge amount and ask about any fraud controls or transaction limits. Keep enough available credit or balance until USCIS processes the payment.

What if you file online?

When you file through your USCIS online account, you pay through Pay.gov during submission. You do not submit G-1450 or G-1650 for that online payment. USCIS offers both guided online forms and PDF upload, depending on the form and category. Check eligibility first. Having an online account does not make every application eligible for online filing.

Step 3: Put your packet together

When mailing your application, the payment form goes on top. USCIS specifically tells you to place Form G-1650 or G-1450 as the very first thing in your packet.

Quick checklist:

• Payment form (G-1650 or G-1450) on top
• Signed with an actual signature, not typed
• Amount matches the current fee exactly
• All your forms and supporting documents underneath
• Copy of everything for your records

If you're filing multiple forms with separate fees, include a separate payment form for each one. Don't try to put multiple fees on one G-1450.

Pro tip: Immiva's guided platform walks you through each question in plain English and runs automated checks on every answer. It generates your completed forms ready to mail. You still handle the payment form yourself, but the rest of your packet comes out clean and accurate.

What happens if your payment fails

The result depends on the payment method. USCIS does not retry a declined card. It retries an ACH payment once only when the reason is insufficient funds. If payment remains uncollectible, USCIS may reject the filing or deny it, depending on the circumstances. An online payment that is declined prevents submission until payment succeeds.

Common reasons payments fail:

Card declined for fraud - Your bank blocked it. This happens a lot with government payments.

Insufficient funds - The money wasn't there when USCIS tried to process the ACH.

Wrong card details - A typo in the card number or expiration date.

ACH debit block - Your bank doesn't allow automatic withdrawals without prior authorization.

Foreign bank or card - USCIS only accepts U.S. banks and U.S.-issued cards.

If USCIS rejects the filing, follow the rejection notice and correct the payment before resubmitting. Check the current fees, accepted form editions, signatures, and filing address. Rejection generally does not preserve the original filing date.

How to prevent payment rejections

These tips sound basic, but they'll save you from a lot of stress:

1. Call your bank before mailing. Seriously. Tell them the amount and that it's going to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Ask them to authorize it ahead of time.
2. Check your credit limit. Make sure you have enough room for the full fee.
3. Check your bank balance. If using ACH, make sure the funds are available. Don't assume. USCIS might not process your payment for a few days or even weeks after receiving your packet.
4. Remove any ACH debit block. Give your bank the USCIS ALC+2 codes listed in the G-1650 instructions and ask it to allow those debits before you file.
5. Double-check every number. One wrong digit in your routing number or card number, and the payment fails.
6. Use the latest form version. Download G-1450 or G-1650 directly from uscis.gov right before you file. Using an old version can cause problems.
7. Sign the form. An unsigned payment form gets rejected.

Can someone else pay for you?

Yes. A family member, friend, employer, or even your attorney can pay on your behalf. The person paying fills out and signs the G-1450 or G-1650 with their own card or bank account information.

This is especially useful if you're outside the U.S. and don't have a U.S. bank account or card. Someone in the U.S. can handle the payment for you.

What if you can't afford the fee?

USCIS has two programs that can help:

Fee waiver (Form I-912)

If USCIS approves your fee-waiver request, it waives the eligible DHS filing fee. You must still pay any applicable non-waivable statutory fee. You may qualify for a waiver on one of these grounds:

• Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
• You receive means-tested benefits like Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or TANF
• You're experiencing financial hardship due to medical expenses, job loss, or similar circumstances

Fee waivers are available only for eligible forms and categories. N-400 and I-90 are examples; I-485 eligibility is limited to specified categories, rather than all adjustment applicants. Check the I-912 eligibility list before requesting a waiver.

You can now submit some fee-waiver requests online through PDF upload, including eligible requests with I-90, I-751, and specified I-131 or I-765 categories. Check the USCIS online filing list for the current options. N-400 applicants requesting a fee waiver or reduced fee must still file on paper.

For more details on naturalization costs and fee waiver options, check out our guide on N-400 costs explained.

Reduced N-400 fee

If your documented household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you may qualify for the reduced N-400 fee of $380. Request it in Part 10 of the current Form N-400 and include supporting evidence with a paper filing. Do not use Form I-942 for the current N-400 reduced-fee request. Applicants who qualify for a full fee waiver can request that instead.

Important warning about new fees

H.R.-1 created additional statutory fees for certain immigration requests. USCIS cannot waive or reduce those fees when they apply, even if you qualify for a waiver of a separate DHS regulatory fee.

A fee waiver may cover only an eligible DHS regulatory fee. You must pay any applicable non-waivable statutory fee separately as instructed. Check the current fee schedule and USCIS alerts to confirm which fees apply to your case, including any court-ordered exceptions or collection pauses.

What if you can't pay electronically at all?

If you qualify for a paper-payment exemption, complete and sign Form G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment. Submit it with your benefit request and the correct paper payment. Do not send it separately before or after the application.

You might qualify if:

• You don't have access to banking services or electronic payment systems
• Electronic payment would cause you undue hardship
• There are national security or law enforcement reasons (rare)

You must certify that electronic payment is not possible and that you meet an exemption listed on G-1651. USCIS also recognizes other circumstances identified by the secretary of the treasury. If USCIS approves the exemption, it processes the paper payment submitted with your request.

For mailed filings, the G-1651 page lists personal or business checks, money orders, bank drafts, and cashier's checks as accepted paper methods with an approved exemption. Payments must be drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. funds. At a field office for emergency advance parole, only personal or business checks are accepted under the exemption.

Quick reference: Which form to use

How Immiva can help

Getting the payment right is just one piece of the puzzle. The forms themselves can be confusing, and a single mistake can delay your case by months.

Immiva helps you prepare your immigration forms the right way. Instead of staring at complicated USCIS instructions, you answer simple questions in plain English. Immiva fills in the actual forms for you, catches errors before you mail anything, and gives you a complete packet ready to send.

We support applications like N-400 for citizenship, I-539 for status changes, and work permits for H-4 and J-2 visa holders. You still handle the payment form yourself, but the hard part is done.

Final thoughts

Check your filing fee, eligibility category, and payment details before submitting. A rejected filing can cost time and may affect your ability to meet a deadline.

For online filing, pay during submission through Pay.gov. For a mailed filing, include the signed payment authorization, or G-1651 and the correct paper payment if you qualify for an exemption.

Keep a copy of your application and payment authorization, monitor your bank account, and save the USCIS receipt notice.