The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created a new interim final rule (IFR) that lets U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) require electronic filing (e-filing) for some immigration forms.
This rule says that USCIS can require any immigration form that has been available for e-filing for at least 180 days to be filed online. USCIS will post a notice on its website at least 60 days before making e-filing required for a specific form. People filing forms must have an online account to send their immigration form to USCIS. They can fill out the form online or upload a PDF of the completed form and any supporting documents.
This change will stop using the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s physical lockbox services and will speed up the move to paying fees electronically. This will save the government money and make things work better.
E-filing makes it easier to get, save, and access data than paper forms do. This helps catch fraud, manage identities better, and improve security checks by allowing faster data access and better analysis. It also lowers mistakes, missing info, and the time it takes to decide on applications. The process of reviewing and deciding on applications will become safer, clearer, and faster.
Many USCIS forms are already filed electronically. This is not a new way for people applying for benefits to file electronically. If someone cannot file electronically, they can ask for a waiver. USCIS gives waivers only if filing electronically causes serious difficulty.
This Interim Final Rule started on August 11, 2026. DHS will accept public comments until October 13, 2026. To learn more, see the interim final rule.