Green Card 2025 Updates: Changes to payments, interviews, and more.

paola vanessa romero rondon
Nov 14
4 min read

Obtaining permanent residency (known as a Green Card) is the dream of thousands of immigrants. This status allows you to live and work legally in the United States without fear of deportation.

The agency responsible for these procedures is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). So far in 2025, USCIS has announced several important changes and new guidelines that you should be aware of if you are about to begin your application. Here we explain these changes in simple terms.

What is Adjustment of Status?

Most of the changes apply to "Adjustment of Status." This is the official name of the process you use to apply for permanent residence from within the United States.

The main form for this process is Form I-485. If you are approved, you will receive your Green Card without having to leave the country for an interview at a consulate.

Change #1:

Very Important! New way to pay for your application.

This is one of the most important changes because it affects how you pay the fee for your Form I-485. If you pay incorrectly, your application could be rejected.

What's disappearing: Goodbye to checks and money orders.

Effective October 28, 2025, USCIS will no longer accept payments made with:

Personal checks.

Cashier's checks.

Money orders.

The New Payment Method (Mandatory)

From that date on, you will only be able to pay your adjustment of status fees using one of these two electronic methods:

Credit or Debit Card: You must complete and attach Form G-1450 (Credit Card Transaction Authorization).

Bank Transfer (ACH): You must complete and attach Form G-1650 (Authorization for ACH Transactions).

Important Warning! Be sure to use the correct payment method. If you submit your application with a check or money order after October 28, 2025, USCIS will reject your package and you will have to resend it, wasting valuable time.

Change #2:

New guidelines for family petitions and asylum seekers.

USCIS also updated its Policy Manual to clarify the rules in two very common types of cases.

Petitions for Family and Marriage

Immigration wants to ensure that all family relationships are genuine and not just a fraud to obtain papers.

What does this mean? The new guidelines better explain the requirements for family petitions. This will help officers investigate marriages and other relationships more thoroughly to confirm that they are genuine. There will be more clarity about interviews and how decisions are made.

Asylum seekers and refugees applying for residency

If you have already been granted asylum or refugee status and are now applying for residency (using Form I-485), the rule has also changed.

What does this mean? The new guidelines clarify the criteria for determining who will need to attend an interview and who will not.

Change #3:

New protection for children turning 21 (CSPA)

Sometimes, the residency process takes so long that a "child" turns 21 while waiting and risks "aging out" and losing their place in line. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) exists to help "freeze" a child's age in certain cases.

What is the change? Starting August 15, 2025, USCIS will use a different and more favorable method to calculate a child's age under CSPA. They will now use the "Final Action Dates" table in the Visa Bulletin.

What does this mean? It's good news. This change will help protect more young people from losing their eligibility for a Green Card just because they turn 21 due to long waits.

SOURCE: La Nacion

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the new immigration fees:

1. What is Form I-485?

This is the main application for "adjustment of status," which is the process of applying for permanent residence (Green Card) without having to leave the United States.

2. What happens if I mistakenly pay my I-485 with a check after October 28, 2025?

USCIS will reject your entire application. They will not process your case and will return your entire package to you. You will have to resubmit everything, paying electronically this time (by card or bank transfer).

3. Does the new rule on marriages mean that my case will be more difficult?

Not necessarily more difficult, but more thoroughly investigated. USCIS wants to make sure that your marriage is real. If your relationship is genuine, you just need to make sure you have all the evidence of your life together (photos, bank accounts, rental agreement, etc.).

4. Do these changes affect my application that I have already submitted?

Generally, procedural changes (such as payment) apply to applications received after the date of change. Policy updates (such as CSPA and family petitions) may apply to cases that are already pending.

Do you need a lawyer to help you obtain your papers in the United States?

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