USCIS to Begin Accepting ACH Payments for Fees and Phase Out Paper Checks, Money Orders

On August 29, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would begin accepting ACH transactions to pay for USCIS fees. The change follows an executive order from March directing all federal departments to begin transitioning to an electronic payment system.

What the USCIS announced on August 29

There are several fees associated with the visa application process, including filing fees, biometrics services fees, and asylum fees, depending on the application or petition. These fees can be paid online or by filing the respective payment authorization form for the payment type. The USCIS’s announcement allows for ACH payments in addition to its other payment options.

The USCIS will also phase out paper checks and money order payments, an initiative the department said was meant to decrease processing times and reduce the risk of fraud and lost payments. 

After October 28, the only way to pay for fees will be through a debit card, credit card, or an ACH debit transaction, although the USCIS may allow exemptions for applicants who qualify to pay with paper checks.

USCIS ACH payments only available to those filing by mail 

If you’re submitting a visa petition or another USCIS form via the mail, you can now pay your filing fees via ACH.

However, it’s important to note that ACH is just one of several options you can use to pay your USCIS filing fees. The method you use to pay will depend on whether you’re submitting your application, petition, or request online or through the mail. 

• If filing by mail, you can make an ACH payment, a credit card payment, or until October 28, a payment by paper check or money order.
• If filing online, you can use a credit, debit, or prepaid card, or an electronic bank withdrawal (e-check). ACH is not available for online filings. 

How to pay USCIS fees by ACH

To pay USCIS fees using ACH, you, your attorney, or the person petitioning on your behalf will need to file Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, with the other forms you’re submitting. Newly created last month, this USCIS form contains sections to enter the information of the bank account holder as well as the bank account and routing numbers.

Here are some things to keep in mind before filling out the ACH transaction form:

• If your forms are being filed by mail, a separate transaction authorization form for each payment type needs to be included. Information on Form G-1650 must be written in black ink and all sections filled out. 
• The form must be placed on top of the rest of the documents in the package.
• Once your forms are received by USCIS, the bank account listed on Form G-1650 will be debited for the authorized payment amount.

Note: There’s no additional fee to file Form G-1650 or any other payment authorization forms.

Important: You’ll need access to a U.S.-based bank account for ACH payments

In order to use the ACH payment option, you’ll need a U.S. checking or savings account. 

Non-resident applicants who have a U.S. address are able to open up an account at major U.S. banks. But if that’s not possible for your situation, you have several options:

• Your sponsor or immigration attorney can pay the fees from their own bank account or by credit card.
• You can purchase a prepaid credit card and pay your fees that way.

What to do next if you have USCIS fees to pay

While the addition of ACH transactions provides more payment options for applicants, losing the option to pay with a paper check means applicants will need to plan ahead to pay their filing fees. If you want to pay by ACH, you’ll need to make sure you have a U.S. bank account, or, if you don’t, that your sponsor or immigration attorney will be paying the filing fees on your behalf.

If you were planning to pay USCIS fees by paper check or money order, you still have time to do so before the October 28, 2025, cutoff date. Even after that point, you may qualify for an exemption, but you or your petitioner will need to file Form G-1651, which hasn’t yet been released by the USCIS.