United States | USCIS launches new electronic bank payment option for immigration fees

Effective Aug. 29, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) now accepts electronic bank payments for immigration filing fees via Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions.

Key Points:

• USCIS has updated its Policy Manual to include ACH debit from a U.S. bank account via Form G-1650 as an approved payment method, in addition to the current option of paying by credit card using Form G-1450.
• This new payment method allows applicants to authorize direct debit from a U.S. bank account when submitting applications, petitions or requests by mail.
• The change is part of USCIS’s modernization efforts under Executive Order 14247, aimed at reducing fraud, lost payments and processing delays associated with paper checks and money orders.
• ACH debit is now accepted for mailed filings.
• Paper checks and money orders will be accepted until Oct. 28, 2025. After that date, only ACH debit (Form G-1650) and credit card payments will be accepted.
• Applications may be rejected if the ACH transaction fails due to insufficient funds or incorrect account details.

Additional Information: Individuals without a U.S. bank account may use Form G-1450 with a prepaid credit card. For information on USCIS’s recent fee enforcement policy, see BAL’s recent alert USCIS to reject forms with incorrect fees after Aug. 21.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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