Why USCIS will reject  your petition after October 29, 2025, if you use the wrong payment form

What Will You Learn from the Article?

What changes is USCIS implementing for immigration filing fees starting October 29, 2025? Starting October 29, 2025, USCIS will no longer accept paper checks or money orders for immigration filing fees and will only allow electronic payments to modernize government handling, reduce fraud risks, and speed up processing. Until October 28, 2025, paper checks, money orders, and credit or debit card payments remain acceptable.

What electronic payment methods will USCIS accept after October 29, 2025? After that date, USCIS will only accept ACH debit transactions using Form G-1650 or credit card payments using Form G-1450. This shift addresses processing delays since over 90% of payments currently come from checks and money orders, which increase fraud and loss risks.

How can you request an exception to the new electronic payment rules? File Form G-1651 if you lack access to banking or electronic systems, face undue hardship under 31 CFR Part 208, or your filing involves national security or law enforcement where electronic payments aren’t practical, and submit it by mail with your application and correct fee from Form G-1055. Form G-1651 is expected to be available starting October 28, 2025.

What steps ensure your USCIS filing is accepted? Use the correct electronic payment method, the right form edition, complete forms accurately with an ink signature, submit the proper fee and all required documents, and mail to the appropriate USCIS address or lockbox. Failing these requirements, including wrong payments after October 29, 2025, will lead to rejection.

How can KBIW Kurpiejewski & Associates, PLLC assist with your immigration filing? The firm helps avoid rejections from errors like outdated forms, incorrect fees, improper signatures, or wrong payment methods, especially under tight deadlines that could delay or derail your case. Contact them at (212) 220-3956 or office@kbiw.com to schedule a consultation and get support.

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As of October 29, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer accept paper checks or money orders for immigration filing fees, and only electronic payments will be accepted.

This significant shift comes due to a federal push to modernize how the government handles payments, reduce the risk of fraud, and speed up processing times. In line with this effort, USCIS is phasing out paper checks and money orders in favor of fully electronic payment methods.

According to the USCIS news release and spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser, “Over 90% of our payments come from checks and money orders, causing processing delays and increasing the risk of fraud and lost payments.”

While the move is intended to improve efficiency and security, it can also create new compliance risks for applicants and petitioners, whose requests will be rejected by USCIS if they do not use the acceptable method of payment starting October 29, 2025. USCIS will continue to accept paper checks and money orders, in addition to credit and debit payments, until October 28, 2025. However, beginning October 29, USCIS will only accept ACH debit transactions using Form G-1650 or credit card payments using Form G-1450.

How to Make Sure Your Filing Is Accepted

In addition to using the correct payment method, filers must comply with all standard USCIS filing requirements. This includes using the correct form edition, completing each form accurately, signing in ink, submitting the proper fee, submitting all required supporting documentation and mailing the application to the correct USCIS address or lockbox.

How to Request an Exception to the New Payment Rules

There is a limited exception available for individuals who cannot reasonably make electronic payments. This exception is requested by filing Form G-1651, which allows certain filers to continue using traditional payment methods. You may qualify for this exception if:

1. You don’t have access to banking services or electronic payment systems;
2. Making an electronic payment would cause undue hardship (as defined under 31 CFR Part 208);
3. Your filing is related to national security or law enforcement activities where electronic payments are not practical; or
4. Another exception applies as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury under applicable regulations or guidance.

To request this exemption, you must sign Form G-1651 and submit it by mail along with your immigration application and the correct fee amount (as listed in Form G-1055). However, Form G-1651 is not expected to become available until October 28, 2025.

How KBIW Kurpiejewski & Associates, PLLC Can Help

USCIS’s move to electronic-only payments may seem like a routine update, but in reality, it also introduces new risks, especially for filers facing tight deadlines. USCIS may reject applications for seemingly minor technical errors such as using an outdated form edition, submitting an incorrect filing fee, or providing a signature that doesn’t meet ink requirements. Starting October 29, 2025, USCIS will also reject petitions if the payment is not made using the required electronic methods. Neglecting or overlooking the correct payment method can delay or completely derail your case. At KBIW Kurpiejewski & Associates, PLLC, we treat every filing like it’s the most important one—because it is.

To schedule a consultation about your immigration situation, and learn how we can help you, please call us at (212) 220-3956 or email office@kbiw.com.

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