USCIS is starting a new process for most applicants, petitioners, and requestors, and their attorneys and accredited representatives to pay for certain benefit request forms by mail or remotely instead of in person at a field office.

Under the new process, applicants may mail either a check or Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, to the field office with their benefit request. One may pay their filing fee and biometric services fee, if applicable, with a credit card issued by a U.S. bank, for filing an application, petition, or request with a USCIS lockbox (except Form I-956, Application for Regional Center Designation, and Form I-956F, Application for Approval of an Investment in a Commercial Enterprise).

Applicants, petitioners, and requestors, and their attorneys and accredited representatives should carefully read the filing instructions to ensure that their benefit request form can be submitted by mail or remotely and that they are filing at the correct location.

USCIS will return any incorrect filings to the applicant, who must then resubmit their filing to the correct office. This new process should save time and money for anyone who must pay these fees by eliminating the need for an office appointment.

In addition, attorneys and accredited representatives can now process payments for EOIR-29, Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals from a Decision of a DHS Officer, through a link in the email they receive or via text from the USCIS Contact Center.

Once such payment has been processed, attorneys and accredited representatives must mail their client’s EOIR-29; their EOIR-2; their EOIR-27, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative Before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and their Pay.gov receipt to the field office.

An exception to the new process is emergency advance parole (EAP) requests. Applicants submitting Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with an EAP request must still make an appointment with the USCIS Contact Center, apply in person with their package (completed form and supporting documentation), and pay the application fee (if applicable) by credit card with Form G-1450 or check at the field office.

If you live outside the United States and you want to file your application, petition, or request where you live, you need to determine if you can file your form at an international office.

If you are inside the United States, depending on the form you are submitting, you may pay your fees online using a card or bank withdrawal or by mail with a card, check, bank draft, or money order.

If you mail your form to a USCIS Lockbox facility, you may pay your fees with a debit, credit, or prepaid card. To do so, follow these steps:

  • Complete and sign Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.
  • Place the form on top of your application, petition, or request.
  • Mail the entire package to the appropriate USCIS Lockbox.

If USCIS accepts your filing, USCIS will:

  • Charge your card for the proper amount; and
  • Destroy your Form G-1450 to protect your credit information ( USCIS will destroy it even if we reject your filing and do not process your payment).
  • You will see a charge from USCIS on your card statement.