Two small forms can make a big difference when mailing an application to USCIS. Form G-1450 authorizes USCIS to charge a credit or debit card for filing fees. Form G-1145 is designed to request a text or email confirming the package has been received.
Since October 2025, USCIS has required electronic payment for paper-filed applications, which makes G-1450 or the newer Form G-1650 increasingly important.
Below, we explain how G-1145 and G-1450 work, when each form is needed, and where G-1650 fits under the newer payment rules. You will also learn how to avoid declined payments and other mistakes that can send an entire filing package back.
Form G-1145 is a free, one-page form used to request an electronic notification after USCIS accepts a mailed application or petition.
The G 1145 form triggers an automated alert with your receipt number and a link to check case status. USCIS deliberately leaves out your name or any other personal detail, since text and email aren't secure channels.
Some applicants report a notification within 24 hours of USCIS receiving the package. Others, particularly during busy filing periods, wait up to a week. A missing alert after a few days just means the notification is late.
Place the completed G-1145 form pdf on top of the primary application or petition, so it is one of the first documents USCIS sees when the package is opened. Download a fresh copy directly from USCIS before filing to make sure you are using the current edition
When multiple applications are mailed together, include a separate form G 1145 for each eligible filing.
Form G1145 is used for paper filings sent to a USCIS Lockbox facility. It is not used for filings sent directly to USCIS service centers or field offices. Always check the filing instructions for the primary form to confirm the correct mailing location before adding G-1145 to the package.
Form G-1450 authorizes USCIS to charge your filing fee directly to a card. This is an alternative to paper checks that are no longer accepted.
Form G 1450 accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, along with debit and prepaid cards. A prepaid card is an option for applicants without a U.S. bank account or credit history. USCIS doesn't require the card to be tied to a U.S. address the way some other verification systems do.
A separate Form G-1450 should be completed for each application, petition, or request being filed. For example, if three forms with separate filing fees are submitted in the same package, include three G 1450 authorizations, with each one showing the exact amount USCIS should charge for the corresponding form.
After USCIS processes the payment, the G-1450 is destroyed to protect the cardholder’s payment information. Keep a copy for your own records before mailing the package, as the original authorization will not be returned after processing.
Both forms are short, but a small mistake on either one can cause rejections. Here is a table on what to get right on each:
Sign and date the form because an unsigned G-1450 is treated the same as a missing one.
Every G-1450 rejection starts the same way. The submitted fee does not match what USCIS actually requires. USCIS updates its fees from time to time. A fee that was correct last year may be wrong today.
The USCIS Fee Calculator solves this problem. It pulls directly from the current G-1055 fee schedule. You select your form, your filing method, and your applicant type. The tool returns the exact fee you owe. This includes add-ons like the Asylum Program Fee for self-petitioned EB-1A and EB-2 NIW cases. Run the calculator right before you assemble your filing package. Do not rely on a number from weeks or months ago.
You can use the official USCIS Fee Calculator directly. Or see our complete guide to USCIS filing fees for a full breakdown by visa category.
USCIS rejects the entire application or petition package for an incomplete payment. It mails the whole package back to you. No partial processing happens in the meantime.
The common trigger is the card issuer's own fraud filter. An unfamiliar government charge can get flagged and blocked automatically, even on a card with plenty of available credit. Expired cards, or one nearing its limit, cause the same result.
USCIS does not attempt the charge a second time if it fails. If you're using a card prone to fraud alerts, call your card issuer beforehand to flag an expected charge from USCIS.
Entering an incorrect fee is the second major cause. USCIS requires the exact amount for the form the G-1450 is attached to. You cannot input a rounded figure or a fee you remember from a previous filing.
G-1450 and G-1650 are not required when an eligible USCIS form is filed online. Instead, the filing fee is paid electronically through your USCIS online account. You submit the payment and the form together. No separate payment authorization form is needed.
This applies to a growing list of petition types, including;
Pay.gov works differently. It handles certain USCIS fees outside the standard Lockbox payment process. However, not every filing qualifies. Availability depends on the specific application, petition, or request being filed.
Before preparing a paper application, check the filing instructions for that specific USCIS form. If online filing is available, you can submit both the application and the payment electronically.
Three USCIS forms are now relevant when making payment for a paper filing: G-1650, G-1450, and G-1651. Each serves a different purpose.
Finally, a successful ACH withdrawal does not mean the case has been accepted. Payment may be collected before a USCIS receipt number is issued. The bank transaction confirms payment, while the receipt notice confirms that the filing has been accepted for processing.
G-1145 and G-1450 handle two practical parts of a USCIS submission: notification and payment. But for an O-1, L-1, EB-1A, or EB-2 NIW case, they are only supporting pieces of a much larger petition.
Beyond Border focuses exclusively on these employment-based immigration pathways. Our network of specialist attorneys has handled 4,000+ cases with a 98% approval rate. We help founders, technologists, executives, researchers, and creatives turn their experience and achievements into USCIS-ready petitions.
So, if you are researching G-1145 or G-1450 because an immigration filing is being prepared, support does not have to stop at understanding the paperwork.
Book a free profile evaluation with our attorneys to identify the right visa pathway and build your petition.
No, it's completely optional and free. The G-1145 form itself doesn't change your case outcome in any way. It only provides a faster e-notification once your package is accepted, and skipping it has no downside beyond waiting slightly longer for that first heads-up. Bookmark the official g1145 uscis page to save a repeat search the next time you need the form.
No. USCIS requires a separate Form G-1450 for each application or petition, even if you're mailing several together in one envelope. Each form specifies the exact fee for its specific attached application.
USCIS rejects the entire application or petition for incomplete payment and returns it, with no automatic retry. You'll need to resubmit with a corrected G-1450 or switch to Form G-1650 for a bank debit instead.
This can vary, as many applicants get it within 24 hours of USCIS accepting the package. But delays of up to a week are common during busy filing periods.
Yes, Form G-1450 accepts debit cards alongside Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards. It also accepts prepaid cards for applicants without a traditional card or U.S. bank account.
Address: 4 W 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States
Email: info@beyondborderglobal.com
