What you’ll learn at this webinar
Understand the USCIS electronic payment mandate and how it will reshape fee processing starting October 28, 2025.
Protect sensitive financial information when submitting credit card and ACH details directly on government forms.
Maintain trust accounting compliance despite the loss of case-specific checks and clear 1:1 tracking.
Streamline reconciliation processes when all charges appear as “USCIS,” with no built-in case identifiers.
Adopt technology-driven solutions such as virtual cards and automated expense tracking to reduce risk and improve efficiency.
USCIS ends paper checks: What immigration firms need to know
Beginning October 28, 2025, USCIS will no longer accept paper checks for filing fees. Immigration firms will instead be required to pay electronically—via credit card or ACH—directly on USCIS forms. While this move modernizes payment systems, it creates new risks and administrative burdens for law firms tasked with managing client funds and ensuring compliance.
For many practices, paper checks have long been a trusted method for ensuring accurate, auditable, and client-specific payment records. By removing that option, USCIS has forced firms to rethink how they manage filing fees, reconciliation, and trust accounts.
The security risks of electronic-only payments
A major challenge is the exposure of sensitive firm financial details. Immigration lawyers will need to list credit card or ACH information directly on paper forms submitted by mail, creating vulnerability to theft or misuse. Unlike a check tied to a single case, these accounts can be compromised, leading to broader financial risk.
The reconciliation challenge
Another obstacle comes in the form of payment tracking. When all transactions are processed under the label “USCIS,” firms lose the ability to match payments to individual client matters. This forces staff into time-consuming manual reconciliation and increases the likelihood of errors in record-keeping—a serious concern for firms already managing heavy caseloads.
Trust accounting compliance under pressure
Trust accounting is at the heart of immigration law practice. Firms must clearly document every dollar paid on behalf of a client. Without the 1:1 clarity provided by checks, firms risk compliance gaps, incomplete records, and exposure in audits. The change is more than an inconvenience; it threatens a core fiduciary responsibility.
Preparing for the Future of Immigration Payments
This webinar will guide immigration lawyers through the upcoming USCIS rule change and its direct impact on firm operations. Attendees will learn:
How to anticipate the operational and compliance challenges of electronic-only payments.
Why old processes like paper-based reconciliation are no longer sufficient.
What practical solutions can help safeguard accounts, ensure compliance, and streamline payment workflows.
Most importantly, the session will outline how firms can adapt proactively, using secure technology like case-specific virtual payment cards, automated reconciliation, and real-time expense tracking. By preparing now, immigration firms can not only reduce risk but also turn disruption into an opportunity for greater efficiency and client confidence. Spots are limited; reserve yours today.
Presenters
Curtis VanderGriendt, 8am, Product Director, Embedded Finance
Helen Coyne, 8am, Senior Manager, Product Marketing, Legal