Hundreds of thousands of green card holders could find the path to U.S. citizenship significantly more expensive — and for many, financially out of reach — under a new regulatory proposal from federal immigration officials that would gut existing affordability programs while sharply raising application costs.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has put forward a rule that would eliminate fee waivers for most applicants and scrap a reduced-rate option currently available to households earning up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The only applicants shielded from the higher costs would be military service members, whose statutory exemptions remain intact.
The proposed increases are substantial. Filing a paper Form N-400 — the standard naturalization application — would cost $1,330, up from the current $760, while the online version would jump from $710 to $1,280. Both methods would see fees rise by roughly 75 percent. Applicants contesting a denial through a Form N-336 hearing request would face equally steep hikes, with paper submissions climbing from $830 to $1,475 and online filings rising from $780 to $1,425.
The Department of Homeland Security framed the overhaul in terms of fiscal self-sufficiency, stating in the rule that "the proposed fees for Form N-400 and Form N-336 would recover the full costs associated with adjudicating these forms." Officials pointed to the agency's dependence on the Immigration Examinations Fee Account and cited expanded vetting and screening requirements stemming from recent executive orders as factors driving up adjudication expenses.
The proposal is open for public comment for 60 days following its publication in the Federal Register. The changes would affect hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents each year, potentially delaying naturalization for lower-income immigrants. Newsweek reported that it has reached out to DHS and USCIS for comment.
Informational content only, not legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney.