The journey to becoming a US citizen could soon become significantly more expensive for thousands of immigrants. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a sharp increase in the filing fee for Form N-400, the application used to obtain US citizenship through naturalisation.
If approved, the filing fee would rise from the current $760 to $1,330 for paper applications. Those applying online would have to pay $1,280. The proposal also seeks to eliminate reduced-fee options and fee waivers that are currently available to many lower-income applicants.
Proposed fee increase explained
According to the proposal released by the DHS on Monday, applicants filing Form N-400 on paper would pay $1,330, while online applications would cost $1,280 under the revised structure.
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Compared to the current USCIS fee introduced in 2024, this marks a 75% increase for paper filings and an 80% increase for online applications. The filing fee stood at $595 in 2016 before being revised in later years.
For paper applications alone, the proposed change would increase the cost by $570 per applicant.
Fee waivers may also end
The proposal goes beyond raising application charges. It also plans to remove the reduced filing fee available to applicants from qualifying low-income households.
In addition, the filing fee for Form N-336, which is used to request a hearing on a decision in naturalisation proceedings, is proposed to increase from $830 to $1,475.
The move follows a broader rise in immigration-related costs. Earlier this year, premium processing for Form I-140 increased from $2,805 to $2,965. USCIS has also implemented inflation-linked fee revisions for several immigration services under provisions related to H.R.1.
The immigration advocacy group CLINIC has previously warned that higher fees and restrictions on fee waivers could disproportionately affect lower-income immigrants and discourage eligible applicants from pursuing US citizenship.
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What it means for Indian nationals
Indian nationals make up one of the largest groups waiting for employment-based green cards in the United States. Many spend years, and sometimes decades, navigating the immigration system through H-1B visas, employer sponsorship and permanent residency.
For many, citizenship is the final milestone after a long and expensive immigration process. If the proposal takes effect, applicants may have to shoulder even higher costs in addition to visa application fees, legal expenses, adjustment-of-status charges, travel document fees and applications for dependent family members.
