USCIS.lovePaying USCIS fees: checks, cards, and common mistakes
How to correctly pay USCIS filing fees by check or card and avoid a rejection due to payment issues.
Author: Alina Kanametova- updated 14 min read
Key answer
- Does USCIS accept checks and money orders in 2026?
- No. As of October 28, 2025, USCIS stopped accepting checks and money orders for paper filings. Two options remain: a US bank card using form G-1450 and withdrawal from a US bank account using form G-1650.
- Can you pay for multiple forms with a single payment?
- No. Each form requires a separate payment and a separate authorization form: I-140 separately, Asylum Program Fee separately, premium processing I-907 separately. Combining amounts on one authorization is a common reason for your package to be returned.
Paying USCIS fees is the step where petitions are lost more often than on any eligibility requirement: an incorrect payment means the entire package is returned as if it was never filed. The most important thing to know about paying USCIS fees in 2026: starting October 28, 2025, checks and money orders are no longer accepted at all, and the old instructions on how to properly write a check are now risky-they describe a process that no longer exists.
Why paying USCIS fees by check no longer works
Starting October 28, 2025, USCIS has entirely stopped accepting checks and money orders for payment of immigration fees for paper filings. A package sent with a money order after this date will be returned without review-as if you never filed it.
The cost of a mistake isn't just the reprinting fee:
- you lose your priority date;
- you may miss deadlines for responses and status periods;
- in some cases, you lose your basis for being in the US;
- you have to start the process over.
The reasons USCIS gave for discontinuing paper payments show the extent of the problem: about 90 percent of payments arrived by check or money order, processing took 2-4 weeks, about 15 percent of rejections were due to payment errors, and paper checks were lost and forged about 16 times more often than electronic ones.
Before this date, the community had recommended checks for years-they seemed more reliable than cards. But there was a cost:
For almost a year I was paying and recommending everyone use checks, until this happened. A person filled out a form incorrectly and USCIS sent back part of the case. Among the returned materials were no forms, no checks, and half the case was missing. The only way to get money back from checks that no longer existed was to go to USPS, where they were bought, and with receipts request the issue of new ones. That's what I did. They take 30 days for this and charge $30 for each check. In the end, I was able to recover only half of the $3,820. This is a specific situation, but it clearly shows why you shouldn't risk prepaying with checks.
The community noticed the shift to electronic payments even before the final date:
Right now there's a transition period as money orders are being phased out, so it's better to just fill out the G-1450 right away. Ideally, figure out what went wrong-was the problem actually the presence of a money order, or were there mistakes in the I-140 and I-907?
You can read old check instructions, but don't use them
Any guides that explain what to write in the 'Pay to the Order of' field, how to date in American format, or how to write out cents, only apply to the period before October 28, 2025. This is historical information. Attempting to use these instructions now will result in your package being returned.
Which fees must be paid
Available after sign-in
Screenshot: I-140 fee calculation on the USCIS website (2024). This is a real community member document with personal data - the original opens for signed-in users. Sign in to request access.
Available after sign-in
Screenshot: I-140 fee calculation on the USCIS website (August 2024). This is a real community member document with personal data - the original opens for signed-in users. Sign in to request access.
A single petition requires more than one payment. For the I-140 immigrant petition (EB-1A, EB-2 NIW), there can be up to three separate payments: the form filing fee, the Asylum Program Fee, and an optional premium processing fee using Form I-907. Premium processing is a separate form, not an option within the I-140, so its fee is paid separately.
You need to check the current fees in two places, right before submission:
- Fee Schedule (G-1055) - the official fee table;
- Fee Calculator and the USCIS fee page - for your exact case.
Typical I-140 fees from community examples and 2026 reviews:
| Fee | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-140 | $715 | Review of the petition itself |
| Asylum Program Fee | $0 / $300 / $600 | Depends on the petitioner type |
| Premium processing (I-907) | $2,965 | Expedited processing, separate form |
Premium fee changed
Until March 1, 2026, premium processing was $2,805. That is the figure you see in 2024 community posts and earlier versions of this page. On March 1, 2026, USCIS announced an increase of about 5.7 percent, taking it to $2,965. We list both numbers so you can understand the discrepancy, but check the calculator before you file. The risk here is having your entire package returned.
Here's what this looked like for applicants in 2024, when premium was still $2,805:
Right, $715 for I-140, $300 asylum fee, $2,805 premium processing. Separate G-1450 for each fee.
O-1 Filing Fees: Form I-129
For the nonimmigrant O-1 petition, you file Form I-129, and it has its own fee schedule. The amount depends on who the petitioner is, and this is why articles differ so much: some list $530, others $1,055, and both are correct for different petitioners.
| Fee | Petitioner with more than 25 employees | 25 employees or fewer | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form I-129 | $1,055 | $530 | $530 |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600 | $300 | $0 |
| Total without premium | $1,655 | $830 | $530 |
| Form I-907 (premium) | $2,965 | $2,965 | $2,965 |
The source for this table is a community analysis referencing the USCIS calculator as of January 2026. The premium listed is the rate in effect since March 1, 2026 ($2,965); before that it was $2,805.
Where do the numbers $830 and $1,655 come from
These two amounts are sometimes referred to as the "fee for I-129." This is incorrect: $830 and $1,655 are the total filing amounts, meaning the form plus the Asylum Program Fee ($530 + $300 and $1,055 + $600). If you pay either amount as a single payment, you will break the rule of "one payment per form." There is no separate $830 or $1,655 fee.
What is the Asylum Program Fee and why do you have to pay it
Since April 2024, a separate Asylum Program Fee has been added to employment-based and immigrant petitions. USCIS is almost entirely funded by applicant fees, while asylum processing is legally free for applicants. Previously this burden slowed down all other categories, including EB-1A and O-1. The new fee is a way to shift the funding directly onto employment-based petitions.
The fee amount is determined by your answers to questions 5 and 6 in Part 1 of the I-140 form:
| Petitioner Type | Asylum Program Fee | Total with I-140 |
|---|---|---|
| Nonprofit organization | $0 | $715 |
| Employer with 25 employees or fewer | $300 | $1,015 |
| Self-petition | $300 | $1,015 |
| Other petitioners | $600 | $1,315 |
This is one of the most common reasons for refiling. The scale of the issue is often discussed openly in community chats:
So many people in this chat have had to resend their petitions after forgetting to include a $300 check for the asylum fee. There are definitely dozens at least. And don't forget to check the right boxes (seems to be questions 4 and 5).
Asylum Program Fee must be paid separately
Even if you fall under the $1,015 category, that is not a single payment but two: $715 for the I-140 and $300 for the Asylum Program Fee, each with its own authorization form. You cannot combine them into one check.
How to pay USCIS fees by card: Form G-1450
G-1450 is an authorization for charging a credit or debit card. You print it, fill it out by hand, sign it, and place it on top of your paper application packet.
Make sure your card is eligible
US-issued credit, debit, and prepaid cards are accepted. Foreign cards are officially not accepted - this is stated clearly in the PDF version of the form. Gift cards cannot be used.
Fill out a separate form for each amount
Full cardholder name, billing address, card number, expiration date, security code, and signature. Each fee requires its own form: one for the I-140, one for the Asylum Program Fee, one for the I-907.
Note the daily limit
Under payment system rules, a single credit card can only be charged up to $24,999.99 per day. For online registrations and H-1B petitions there's a separate exception up to $99,999.99, but this does not apply to paper-filed G-1450 forms.
Place the forms on top of the packet
All G-1450 forms go on top, before any other documents. After successfully charging the card, USCIS destroys the form so that card data is not stored in your case file.
A third party can pay: what matters is not the relationship to the applicant, but that the card was issued by a US bank.
You can enter your friend's or relative's card, or your attorney's, on the G-1450 form. It does not have to be yours.
of course you can, in our family everything was paid for with my husband's card :) The main thing with the G-1450 is to enter the right information in the right places: what belongs to the petition, what to the card, and the signature.
The card gets no second chance
If the bank declines the charge for any reason - anti-fraud, insufficient funds, error in card details - they return the packet. USCIS does not try again, and by the time you remove the bank block five minutes later, it is too late. Practical advice: a day or two before you file, notify the bank about the upcoming charge for USCIS and specify the approximate amount. This is not a guarantee, but it reduces the risk.
How to pay from a US bank account: G-1650 form
G-1650 is an authorization for direct debit from a US bank account (ACH). You need the routing number, account number, to indicate the account type (checking or savings), a signature, and date. The form also goes on top of the packet, and there must be a separate one for each fee.
The main difference between the two methods is what happens if the charge fails.
| Parameter | G-1450 (card) | G-1650 (ACH) |
|---|---|---|
| Retry on failure | None | One, but only if there are not enough funds |
| US bank account required | No, a US card is enough | Yes |
| Daily limit | $24,999.99 | No limit from the payment system side |
| Risk of blocking | Higher: card anti-fraud filters | Lower, but check for ACH blocks in your bank |
If the ACH payment is returned for any other reason - wrong account details, a bank block on debits - there is also no second attempt.
One method per packet and a separate payment for each form
You have to choose one payment method for the entire packet: you cannot mix card and account debit in a single filing, and you cannot split one form's fee between two methods. At the same time, each payment within the chosen method remains separate: if you file three forms, there must be three separate authorizations and three separate charges, not one combined total.
lawyers advise filling out the G-1650 form, entering your account information there. It lowers the risk of the payment failing due to debit or credit blocks. A separate paper is needed for each form. Did you do it this way?
How people filing from outside the US pay
Ending checks hit hardest for those applying from abroad: you used to be able to ask someone to buy a money order at a US post office. The process was as follows:
- They find acquaintances or friends who can print and mail for them, after buying a money order at the post office. 2) You can mail it yourself from Russia using the postal services that are still working, but you need to include payment data for a credit card that works in the US. The USCIS website says that only US bank cards are allowed, but as we know from recent posts, sometimes other (non-US) cards are accepted. 3) You print it yourself in Russia, send it to someone in the US, and they buy a money order and attach it to your package. In this case, you don't have to worry about having a US bank card, but you do face the challenge of sending your petition to someone in the US.
Of these three options, after October 2025, only one remains: a US card or US bank account, yours or someone else's. The first and third scenarios depended on money orders and no longer work.
Can you pay at a USCIS international office
There is one more route that is rarely brought up: in some countries, there are USCIS international offices where you can pay the fee right there. There are two caveats. First, not all payment options are available; the options depend on the individual office. Second, the network of such offices is small and changing over time, so before you go, check both the office's own webpage and the US embassy or consulate website in your country.
Keep in mind that paying the USCIS petition fee and paying the visa fee at the consular stage are different systems with different rules. There is a separate article about the second stage: visa fee payment and the Incorrect details error.
Online filing: when no authorization forms are needed
Since February 2024, form I-140 (including EB-1A and EB-2 NIW) can be filed online via your USCIS account. Payment is handled within the system, and neither G-1450 nor G-1650 is needed.
The clear advantage is that the receipt notice arrives in 1 to 3 days instead of 2 to 4 weeks with paper filing, your priority date is set faster, and the package cannot get lost in the mail. The downside is that online filing is not available for all forms and categories and changes how the officer views your documents. More details are in the article filing online or by paper.
Official channels only
Electronic payments go through pay.gov or your USCIS account. You cannot use any other websites to pay fees. Any changes to the USCIS payment system are published on the separate payment system news page - it's convenient for checking if the rules have changed since you last read the instructions.
What USCIS Fee Payment Errors Cause a Package to Be Returned
The same errors happen every year, and almost all are procedural, not financial.
- Money order or check dated after October 28, 2025. The entire package is returned.
- One authorization form for multiple fees. You cannot combine $715 and $300 into one G-1450 form, even if you use the same card.
- Mixing payment methods within one form. You cannot pay part by card, part from a checking account.
- Different payment methods for different forms in one package. If there are three forms, they must all be paid by the same method, but as three separate transactions.
- Forgotten Asylum Program Fee. The most common reason for refiling.
- Incorrect answers to questions 5 and 6 in Part 1 of the I-140 form. These determine the fee amount, and checking the wrong box leads to an incorrect payment.
- Outdated fee amount. Fees change; paying last year's rates is not a valid payment.
- ACH debit block at the bank. Remove debit restrictions from your account in advance.
0 of 8 checked- saved in this browser only
Returns are not always due to the payment itself. More often the problem is with the forms. You must check both at the same time:
I maintain that a returned case usually means the form was filled out incorrectly or there was an issue with the payment card. (Why take the risk? Buy a money order.) And, of course, have someone who recently filed successfully (without returns) check your forms.
The advice about money orders in this 2024 quote is now outdated, but the second part - having someone who recently filed without returns check your completed forms - remains the best free check available.
What Happens If the Payment Fails
USCIS will not try to charge your account again if your card is declined. Two things can happen next: the whole package is returned, or you receive a separate notice stating that the fee was not received. Sometimes it is worse: the form gets approved, but the failed payment is discovered later - approval can then be canceled and you may receive a Notice of Intent to Revoke. In any case, you will receive a notice with the reason.
This leads to a domino effect. If one payment covers several applications and one gets rejected, the others paid by the same payment are automatically rejected as well. This is why USCIS requires separate payments: with proper filing, a problem with one form will not cause the whole package to be rejected.
How to Pay When Refiling
If your package is returned, the payment rules remain the same, with two additional steps. If you resend a corrected petition and pay again by card, include a new G-1450 form: the previous one was either destroyed after the attempted charge or remained in your returned package and cannot be reused. And always double-check the fee amount with the calculator, as the fee might have changed between mailings. Paying the old rate will get you another return for the same reason.
Summary
- Starting October 28, 2025, checks and money orders are no longer accepted. Only G-1450 (US credit/debit card) and G-1650 (US bank account) are now allowed.
- Each form requires a separate payment and a separate authorization slip. Premium processing for I-907 is separate from I-140. If one payment covers several applications and one is rejected, all are affected.
- For ACH via G-1650, there is one retry if there are not enough funds. For card payments via G-1450, there are no retries at all.
- The Asylum Program Fee is $0, $300, or $600 depending on the petitioner, and it is paid separately from the form itself.
- The amounts $830 and $1,655 for O-1 are totals for "form plus Asylum Fee," not a separate I-129 filing fee.
- The premium processing fee changed from $2,805 to $2,965 as of March 1, 2026. Double-check the fee in the calculator before every submission.
- For resubmission after a return, you need a new G-1450 slip and the recalculated fee.
- An incorrect payment returns the entire packet and with it your priority date, which is more costly than any fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Materials
What is a petition
Printing and sending the petition
Preparation budget
Which USCIS forms you need
O-1 costs and timelines
Visa fee payment and Incorrect details error
Filing online or on paper
O-1 checklist
The card-payment form and the "one G-1450 per fee" rule are covered on the Form G-1450 page; premium processing on the Form I-907 page.
This is not legal advice
This material is for general informational purposes and helps you organize your own preparation. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. US immigration rules can change. Check current USCIS requirements and consult a qualified professional before filing.
Related materials - Prepare and file
- What Makes Up an O-1, EB-1, and EB-2 NIW Petition
- Examples of O-1, EB-1, EB-2 NIW Petitions from Open Sources
- Self-check for an O-1 or EB-1A petition: the RFE checklist
- O-1 Petitioners and Employers: Who Can File?
- O-1 Agent Petition: What It Is and Who Needs It
- Letters of Intent and Documents for the O-1 Agent Model
- Filing an O-1/EB-1/EB-2 petition inside the U.S. or abroad
- Attorney for US O-1/EB-1/EB-2 NIW talent visa: needed?
- Services and contractors for O-1, EB-1 and NIW petitions
- Talent Visa Services Marketplace
- How to Check an Attorney's License Through the State Bar
- US O1/EB1/EB2 talent visa: attorney agreement
- Printing and mailing an O-1/EB-1/EB-2 NIW petition
- Signatures on USCIS forms from 10 July 2026: what is valid
- What goes into the evidence packet
- What the whole path costs
From community discussions
«The NOID I got was reasonable in my view, I added everything they asked for (except one patent), including percentiles, comparisons with others, national scales. In the denial they ignored it all. TSC, anonymous officer.»
Aleksey · from public community chats
«Petition structure: table of contents; an autobiography with references to the attachments (mine is 90 pages); a table of which criteria I'm satisfying (all except my own exhibition and box office receipts); and then all the attachments in order with translations.»
community member · from public community chats
«I used this criterion to cover the requirement in a noid, though for me it's not scientific conferences but film markets and festivals. And I found a lot of AAO precedents where this criterion is counted for petitioners in different fields. At the very least it can be put under Comparable.»
Olga · from public community chats
Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.
Did this answer help?
Open database - you can improve it
Found something off, or know what to add? Select text and hit "Suggest an edit", or propose an article/topic below.