How do I fill out a money order to pay a USCIS filing fee?

One detail trips people up more than any other: a money order (or check) for a USCIS fee should be made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security — not to "USCIS" directly. This is because the payment is processed under DHS, and using the wrong payee name is a real, common cause of rejected filings.

A few other things worth getting right:

• Write your Alien Registration Number (A-Number) or receipt number in the memo line if you have one, so USCIS can match the payment to your file
• Don't abbreviate "Department of Homeland Security"
• Never send cash by mail
• Keep your money order receipt until your case is fully resolved, in case you ever need to prove payment
• Double-check the exact fee amount before purchasing the money order — paying the wrong amount (even by a small margin) can result in the entire package being rejected outright under current USCIS rules

Many people find it simpler to pay online (by credit card or bank transfer) when that option is available for their specific form, since it removes the payee-name and exact-amount risks entirely.