How-To Guides / Filing Fees
How to Pay USCIS Filing Fees in 2026: Complete Guide
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By: mydreamvisa
Updated: September 16, 2026
At a Glance
Submitting your green card application involves more than the right forms and documents; you also need the correct USCIS filing fee and payment method. Since October 28, 2025, most USCIS filings mailed from inside the United States must be paid electronically, usually by credit card with Form G-1450 or by ACH from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650. Paper checks and money orders are limited to applicants who qualify for a Form G-1651 exemption. Paying the correct amount with the right payment form helps avoid a rejection before USCIS even begins reviewing your case. If you are filing for adjustment of status, our Form I-485 guide explains where the filing fee fits into the larger green card application.
Last verified: September 16, 2026. We checked this guide against USCIS electronic-payment guidance, the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055), and the USCIS Fee Calculator. Always recheck the official USCIS fee for your exact filing immediately before submission because fees and payment rules can change.
IMPORTANT CHANGES
USCIS changed how applicants can pay filing fees for immigration forms. Since October 28, 2025, USCIS generally no longer accepts paper checks, money orders, or other paper payments for filings inside the United States unless a paper-payment exemption applies.
Below is the current step-by-step guide to paying USCIS application fees, whether you are filing inside or outside the U.S.
USCIS Payment Methods in 2026: Online, Credit Card, ACH & Check Exceptions
USCIS changed its fee-payment rules in 2025. Since October 28, 2025, most applicants filing from inside the United States must use an electronic payment method. Paper checks and money orders are now limited to applicants who qualify for a Form G-1651 exemption.
> If You Live Outside the United States
If you live outside the U.S. or its territories and are filing a USCIS form abroad:
Check the official USCIS Forms page to confirm where the form can be filed.
Follow the payment instructions for the U.S. embassy, consulate, or USCIS international office handling the filing. Payment methods can vary by location.
> If You Live Inside the United States
Your options depend on whether the form can be filed online or must be mailed.
💻 Pay USCIS Fees Online
If your form allows online filing, USCIS will guide you through the available electronic payment options in your online account.
✉️ Pay USCIS Fees by Mail (Paper Filings)
If you are mailing your application, the two main electronic payment forms are:
Form G-1450 – Authorization for Credit Card Transactions
Use this form to pay by credit card. USCIS requires the card to be issued by a U.S. bank.
Complete and sign one Form G-1450 for the benefit request you are paying for, authorize the exact amount, and place it on top of the filing package.
If the card is declined, USCIS says it will reject the filing for lack of payment and will not try the card a second time.
Form G-1650 – Authorization for ACH Transactions
Use this form to authorize a payment directly from a U.S. checking or savings account.
The account holder must complete and sign the form, choose personal or business and checking or savings, and enter the correct routing number, account number, and payment amount.
If your bank uses an ACH debit block, contact the bank before filing so the Department of Homeland Security can debit the account.
If an ACH payment is returned for insufficient funds, USCIS will resubmit it once. If the payment is returned as unpayable a second time, USCIS may reject the filing. USCIS does not resubmit ACH payments returned as unpayable for reasons other than insufficient funds.
⚠️ Do not split one fee between Form G-1450 and Form G-1650. Use one payment method for the fee and make sure the authorized amount matches the current USCIS fee.
Paper Fee Payment Exceptions (Limited Cases)
For most applicants, paper checks and money orders are no longer a payment option. USCIS allows paper payment only when an exemption applies.
For a typical marriage green card applicant, the most relevant exemptions are:
You do not have access to a U.S. bank account or another electronic payment method; or
Electronic payment would cause qualifying undue hardship.
USCIS also lists a few limited government, national-security, law-enforcement, and Treasury-authorized exceptions that will not apply to most applicants.
If an exemption applies, you request it by completing and signing Form G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment and mailing it with your application and the correct paper payment. You do not submit Form G-1651 separately for advance approval.
Common Reasons USCIS Rejects Payments
Your filing may be rejected before USCIS reviews the case if the payment is not valid. Common problems include:
Using the wrong fee amount. Check the official USCIS Fee Calculator and USCIS Fee Schedule right before filing.
Submitting Form G-1450 and Form G-1650 to split the same fee.
Forgetting to sign the payment authorization form.
Leaving required account-type or authorization information blank on Form G-1650.
Entering an incorrect routing number, account number, or authorized payment amount.
Having an ACH debit block or another bank restriction that prevents the payment from going through.
Submitting a paper check or money order without a qualifying Form G-1651 exemption.
How to Prepare Your Check to Pay USCIS Filing Fees
If a paper-payment exemption applies to you, submit Form G-1651 with your filing and paper payment. USCIS does not describe a separate advance-approval step for this exemption request.
If you are paying by check under an exemption, use the steps below to make sure the check is completed correctly. The most important part is to verify the current fee immediately before filing, because USCIS can reject a package that does not include valid payment of the correct amount.
Step 1
Know the Exact Fee
Before writing your check, verify the exact fee for every form you are filing. USCIS fees and filing categories can change, so check both the official USCIS Fee Calculator and USCIS Fee Schedule immediately before you mail the package. If you are filing Form I-485, you can also review our Form I-485 guide for the current general filing fee and adjustment-of-status steps. If you’re using mydreamvisa to complete your green card application, you’ll receive a detailed breakdown of the fees required and step-by-step instructions on how to submit them correctly.
Step 2
Write the Check Correctly
Date
Write the date using the U.S. format (month/day/year). For example, “05/15/2026” or “May 15, 2026”.
Payable To
Write the check payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” Avoid abbreviations such as “USDHS” or “DHS”.
Amount (Numbered)
Clearly write the exact fee amount in numbers. For example, the current general Form I-485 filing fee for most applicants is $1,440, but your fee may be different. Verify the amount with the USCIS Fee Calculator before writing the check.
Amount (Written)
Clearly write the same amount in words. For a $1,440 payment, write “One Thousand Four Hundred Forty and 00/100 dollars.”
Memo Line
Include a brief description of the payment purpose, such as “Form I-485 application.” Include the applicant’s name if it is not already pre-printed on the check.
Signature
Sign the check in ink using your legal name.
Step 3
Use Acceptable Check Types
If your Form G-1651 paper-payment exemption applies, USCIS may accept a personal check, cashier’s check, bank draft, or money order drawn on a U.S. financial institution and payable in U.S. funds.
Step 4
Multiple Forms or Payments
- If you are filing multiple forms, you must pay each fee separately. Use a separate check or payment method for each form and do not combine payments on a single check as USCIS may reject the entire package.
- Do not use a combination of payment methods. For example, you cannot pay for half the fee with a personal check and half the fee with credit card.
Step 5
Mailing Your Check
Include the check with your completed application, your signed Form G-1651 paper-payment exemption request, and the other required documents. Follow the filing address listed for the form you are submitting.
Step 6
Make Sure the Payment Can Clear
- Make sure enough funds are available before you mail the filing.
- USCIS can reject a filing that does not include valid payment of the correct fee, so check the payment amount and account details before sending the package.
Step 7
Double-Check Before Mailing
Before mailing, confirm the fee amount, payee, date, signature, and that your signed Form G-1651 exemption request is included. USCIS can reject a filing that does not include valid payment of the correct fee.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Not in most cases. Since October 28, 2025, USCIS generally requires electronic payment for applications, petitions, and requests filed by mail. Paper checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, and other paper payments are only accepted when you qualify for a paper payment exemption. If an exemption applies, submit Form G-1651 with your application and the correct payment.
A family member, friend, spouse, or anyone else with a U.S. credit card or bank account can pay your USCIS fees. They simply need to complete and sign Form G-1450 for a credit card payment or Form G-1650 for ACH, then give the completed form to you to include with your application. The cardholder or account holder’s name does not have to match the applicant’s name, but the payment form should identify the benefit request being paid for.
If an ACH payment is returned because of insufficient funds, USCIS will resubmit the payment to the financial institution one time. If the payment is returned as unpayable a second time, USCIS may reject your application, petition, or request. Other ACH payment problems, such as incorrect account information or a bank restriction, can cause USCIS to reject the filing for lack of payment. Double check the account information, make sure enough funds are available, and remove any ACH debit block before filing.
No. The USCIS Immigrant Fee is a separate fee paid online by most people who receive an immigrant visa abroad so USCIS can process the immigrant visa packet and produce the Green Card after admission to the United States. It is different from application filing fees such as the Form I-485 fee. If you received an immigrant visa through consular processing, use the official USCIS Immigrant Fee payment page and follow the instructions provided with your visa.
The information provided here is for general guidance. While we strive to offer comprehensive details, it is not a substitute for legal advice. The USCIS website and legal professionals can provide personalized guidance.