According to the announcement released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on August 29, starting from October 28, the immigration agency will only accept electronic payments for paper applications for green cards and citizenship.
The USCIS will no longer accept checks or money orders. Failure to comply with the new payment guidelines may result in rejection of the application.
Applicants can make payments through two methods:
– By using Form G-1450, “Authorization for Credit Card Transactions,” to pay with a credit card or debit card;
– By using Form G-1650, “Authorization for ACH Transactions,” to conduct ACH electronic debit transactions through a U.S. bank account.
The new electronic payment methods not only exempt applicants and third-party payers from physically visiting USCIS field offices to make payments but also comply with the government’s comprehensive electronic payment transformation requirements outlined in Executive Order 14247, “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account.”
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser stated, “Modernizing federal financial transactions is a top priority for the Trump administration. Currently, over 90% of payments come from checks and money orders, leading to processing delays and increased risks of fraud and payment loss.”
The latest changes will impact payment methods for those applying for permanent residency or U.S. citizenship, reducing fraud or payment loss, expediting processing times, lowering administrative costs, and enhancing payment tracking efficiency and transparency.
The USCIS will continue to accept electronic payments for online form submissions and encourage green card applicants and their authorized representatives to utilize USCIS accounts for payment processing, utilizing either the “Guided Process” or “Electronic PDF Intake Process” for fee payment if the form type allows. Online submitters will receive form filling guidance and tips and can make payments securely through the pay.gov online platform.
Furthermore, in limited circumstances, green card applicants and third-party payers may be exempted from submitting electronic payments with their application, petition, or request. For details on exemptions, refer to Form G-1651, “Exemption for Paper Fee Payment.”
When applying for an exemption, the applicant must demonstrate meeting at least one of the following conditions:
– Lack of a U.S. bank account or authorization to use an electronic payment system;
– Electronic payment would pose an “undue hardship”;
– Necessity of paper payments due to national security or law enforcement requirements;
– Special circumstances established by the Secretary of the Treasury in other regulations or guidelines.