USCIS Check Instructions

USCIS offers a guidance when paying filing, biometrics, or other fees to USCIS.

Bank drafts, cashier's checks, certified checks, personal checks (See Check Instructions below), and money orders must be drawn on U.S. financial institutions and payable in U.S. funds.

• Make the check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (not "USDHS" or "DHS"), unless:

1. You live in Guam and are filing your application there. In this case, make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
2. You live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing your petition or application there. In this case, make your payment to Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
3. You live outside the United States, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and are filing your application or petition where you live. In this case, contact the nearest Embassy or consulate of the U.S. Department of State for instructions on the method of payment.

USCIS Check Instructions

Customers that require payment for the services they are requesting are advised to follow the instructions below to ensure that their application will be filed correctly.

 Please Note
Personal checks must be pre-printed with the name of the bank and the account holder. Also, the account holder’s address and phone number must be pre-printed, typed or written in ink on the check. All checks must be typed or written in ink.

1. Write the date you are filling out the check including:  day, month and year.
2. On the "Pay to the Order of" line write:  "U.S. Department of Homeland Security."
3. Write in numbers the exact dollar amount of the fee for the service you are requesting.  In the example, the amount is "$595.00."
4. Spell out the exact dollar amount of the fee for the service you are requesting.  The "cents" portion of the amount should be written as a fraction over 100.  In this example, the amount is "Five hundred ninety-five and 00/100."
5. Write a brief description of the purpose of your payment.  In this example, it is "N-400 application fee."
6. Sign the check using your legal signature.