Becoming an American citizen could soon become substantially more expensive if a new proposal from the Trump administration comes into effect. The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed increasing citizenship application fees by nearly 75 per cent while also removing fee waivers and financial concessions currently available to low-income applicants. The proposal, which has been opened for public feedback, could particularly affect immigrant communities that have already been grappling with rising immigration costs over the past year.
How much could the costs increase?
Under the proposal, the fee for paper-based N-400 citizenship applications would increase from $760 to $1,330, adding an extra burden of $570 on applicants. Online applications would also become significantly costlier, increasing from $710 to $1,280.
The administration has proposed similar hikes for appeals related to citizenship denials. Paper-based N-336 appeals would rise from $830 to $1,475, while online submissions would increase from $780 to $1,425.
The proposal is not immediately enforceable. It will remain open for public comments over the next 60 days before a final decision is made.
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Why the Trump administration wants higher fees
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the increased charges are necessary to recover the full cost of processing and adjudicating citizenship applications.
According to Livemint, officials have argued that naturalisation procedures now involve more extensive screening and security vetting requirements, particularly following executive orders aimed at tightening immigration policies.
The proposed changes also signal a broader shift in immigration policy by placing more of the financial responsibility on applicants rather than subsidising portions of the process through government resources.
However, critics argue that the move could create significant barriers for legal immigrants who have already spent years navigating expensive and complicated immigration pathways.
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What it could mean for Indian immigrants
India remains one of the largest contributors to the US immigrant population. According to Indian government estimates, more than six million Indians currently live in the United States.
Livemint noted that the data from the US Office of Homeland Security Statistics showed that approximately 66,800 Indians obtained lawful permanent resident status in 2024. Although substantial, this figure has steadily declined from over 127,000 in 2022.
For many Indians already dealing with expensive visa processes, additional costs may further complicate their path to citizenship. The concern is amplified by recent immigration-related fee proposals, including Trump's earlier attempt to sharply raise H-1B visa costs, a move that was eventually struck down by a federal court.
Immigration experts believe the elimination of fee waivers could disproportionately impact lower-income immigrants who may postpone or abandon their plans for naturalisation altogether.
