November 1, 2025

Big change alert in US immigration payments! The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said goodbye to cheques and money orders for all immigration fee payments. Starting this week, if you want to file any immigration papers, you must pay through electronic debit by filling Form G-1650. This form lets USCIS take money directly from your US bank account. USCIS spokesperson Matthew J. Tragesser told Business Standard, "America deserves better, and we intend to deliver." He explained this switch is all about safety and speed because over 90% of past payments came by cheque or money order, which caused delays and increased risks of fraud or missed charges. Good news for H-1B visa applicants and other workers: you can still pay by credit card using Form G-1450. This handy form also works for green cards, travel documents, and work permission requests. But remember, USCIS only starts working on your case after the payment clears. So, getting your bank or card details right is now more important than ever! Immigration lawyers say this change can help companies that file many H-1B petitions, making record-keeping neater and cutting down mistakes. However, it means finance and legal teams will need to work closely to make sure payments are properly authorized and on time. International students on F-1 visas and newcomers might struggle with this new rule. Many arrive before they open a US bank account, which is now essential to pay. H-1B workers and family members applying from outside the US also face this tricky situation. USCIS warns everyone: "Double-check your bank info before sending Form G-1650." Wrong account numbers or routing details could get your case rejected! Also, make sure your bank allows government payments and that you have enough funds. If you don’t have access to a US bank, prepaid or reloadable credit cards may help for now. But lawyers say these cards must meet USCIS’s payment rules too, so use them carefully. Experts say this is part of USCIS’s big push to modernize and go digital. But international applicants should hurry and prepare early — open a US bank account or confirm payment authorizations soon. This will keep your application safe from delays or rejections. USCIS is signalling a future where everything moves fast, with less space for mistakes or late fees. Get ready, get set, pay digitally!

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Tags: Uscis, Immigration Payments, Electronic Debit, H-1b visa, F-1 Visa, Payment Method Change,