In a significant policy change, USCIS has announced that from October 28, 2025, all filing fees for petitions and applications must be paid electronically. This move affects thousands of H-1B, green card, and work authorization applicants, as the agency transitions away from paper-based payments to streamline processes and enhance payment security.
Only U.S. Bank Accounts And Cards Allowed
Under the new rule, payments can only be made using U.S. bank accounts or credit/debit cards. All payments from non-U.S. accounts will be automatically rejected.
Applicants filing on paper must use:
- Form G-1650 for ACH debit transactions (directly from a U.S. bank account), or
- Form G-1450 for credit/debit card transactions.
Those without U.S. bank accounts may use prepaid credit cards through Form G-1450.
Rejections For Failed Or Invalid Payments
According to Dmitry Litvinov, CEO of Dreem, “Paper checks will no longer be accepted, and filings will be rejected if payment fails.” He emphasized that only a few categories remain fee-exempt, while Form G-1651 may be used to request hardship exemptions for applicants unable to pay electronically.
Applicants, employers, and educational institutions filing immigration forms such as Form I-129 (H-1B petitions), Form I-539 (dependent/student extensions), Form I-765 (work authorization), and Form I-485 (green card applications) must ensure they have sufficient funds to avoid payment failure.
Broad Impact Across Employers And Individuals
The new payment rule impacts:
- Employers sponsoring foreign workers (H-1B, H-2B, etc.)
- Foreign nationals applying for extensions, work permits, or status changes
- Universities and immigration counsel managing international student filings
This shift marks another step toward USCIS’s digital modernization, reducing paperwork, minimizing fraud risks, and improving efficiency in immigration processing.
