USCIS to Implement Electronic Payments Universally for all Applications

In a newsroom announcement, the USCIS has stated that from 28th October, 2025 onwards, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will only accept electronic payments for paper-filed forms. The payments could be made either via credit card or debit card through the G-1450 form. This payment structure applies to all the petitions and applications, including H-1B visa, green card, and other work authorization filings. The move is designed to modernise the entire payment system and improve the overall processing efficiency.

The end of paper checks or money orders

Under the new policy, USCIS will stop accepting paper checks or money orders for any form that would require a filing fee. The applicants need to pay fees electronically using either a U.S. bank account or a credit/debit card. However, by virtue of the new policy, payments made from non-U.S. bank accounts will not be admissible per se.

With the introduction of universal electronic payment, USCIS has eliminated the entire need for beneficiaries and third-party payors to bring funds into field offices. This change is going to impact a range of individuals and organizations, along with foreign workers, students, employers, and immigration attorneys who handle the filings on behalf of the applicants.

What is the right way to make payments?

USCIS has made two main electronic payment options operational:

• ACH debit transactions using the G-1650 Form. (For a U.S. bank account)
• Credit or debit card payments using the Form G-1450

However, applicants without a U.S. bank account can not use the ACH debit options. However, they may still need to pay through a U.S.-issued or a prepaid credit card using the Form G-1450. The second option ensures that the foreign nationals, including students and H-1B applicants, can still complete payments without having a bank account.

Which applications are likely to be affected by this announcement?

The rule is going to apply universally to all USCIS petitions and applications that require filing fees. These applications include, but are not limited to, the following:

• H-1B visa applications (Form I-129)
• Dependent or student extensions (Form I-539)
• Work authorization requests (Form I-765)
• Green card applications (Form I-485)

If the payment is issued from a non-U.S. account, the application is going to be rejected. The same will happen if the payment fails. There are only a few exemptions from the fee. However, there are hardship exemptions (via the Form G-1651) which are available for individuals under exceptional circumstances, and who can’t pay electronically.

What could be the best practices for the applicants?

In the face of the sudden implementation, applicants need to ensure that their bank accounts or cards have adequate funds. You should always use your U.S. account to make these payments whenever possible. Employers, universities, and sponsors also need to update their overall infrastructure to comply with the electronic payment system.

One of the main propelling forces behind this fee imposition is security. The administration wants to be able to seamlessly track each payment. The agency aims to make each transaction swift and lightning. The news is also a trumpet bell so that the applicants, the sponsor, and the employers adapt quickly to this new mode of payment.

At GCEB1, we are covering all the latest news and updates from the USCIS by the minute. For dedicated one-to-one EB-1A mentorship, our care and guidance are unparalleled. Reach out to us if you have any queries or are faltering anywhere in your immigration journey.