Becoming a US citizen could soon become significantly more expensive for lawful permanent residents. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a sharp increase in naturalisation application fees, a move that could affect thousands of Indian green card holders seeking American citizenship.
Under the proposal, the filing fee for Form N-400, the application used for naturalisation, would rise considerably. Paper applications would increase from $760 to $1,330, while online applications would go up from $710 to $1,280, per a report by The Times of India.
The proposed changes are currently under review and have not yet come into effect.
Who can apply for US citizenship?
Applicants seeking US citizenship generally need to be at least 18 years old and hold lawful permanent resident status. They must have lived continuously in the United States for at least five years and spent at least 30 months physically present in the country during that period.
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Applicants are also required to demonstrate good moral character, knowledge of English and a basic understanding of US history and government. They must remain residents of the country until citizenship is granted, TOI reported.
Fee waivers may end
The proposal also seeks to eliminate reduced-fee applications and most fee waiver programmes currently available to lower-income applicants.
If implemented, the change could affect students, retirees and other applicants who rely on financial assistance to complete the citizenship process.
Appeals against citizenship denials may also become more expensive. The filing fee for Form N-336, which allows applicants to challenge a denial decision, could rise from $830 to $1,475 for paper applications and from $780 to $1,425 for online filings, TOI reported.
Impact on Indian applicants
Indians continue to form one of the largest groups of new American citizens. According to DHS data, 49,700 Indians became US citizens during fiscal year 2024, making India the second-largest country of birth among newly naturalised Americans after Mexico.
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However, the number has declined in recent years. The figures fell from 65,960 in FY 2022 to 59,050 in FY 2023 and further to 49,700 in FY 2024.
The department has opened a 60-day public comment period before finalising the rule.
“The electronic Federal Docket Management System will accept comments prior to midnight ET at the end of that day,” the DHS statement reads.
FAQs:
How much could US citizenship fees increase?
The proposed changes could raise application fees by up to 80%.
Have the new citizenship fees come into effect?
No, the proposal is currently under a public comment period and has not been finalised.
