The Trump administration unveiled a plan Monday that would charge legal immigrants seeking US citizenship $570 more in application fees while eliminating waivers and fee reductions for low-income applicants.
The proposal, published by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday in the Federal Register as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, would shift the cost of naturalisation more directly onto applicants by adopting what DHS describes as a “full-cost, beneficiary-pays” model.
If implemented, the changes would affect hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents who apply for US citizenship each year.
What Changes Are Being Proposed?
Under the proposal, applicants would be required to cover the full cost of processing citizenship applications, including expanded screening and vetting procedures introduced under recent executive orders.
The proposed fee increases include:
Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
- Paper filing: $760 to $1,330 (+75%)
- Online filing: $710 to $1,280 (+80%)
Form N-336 (Request for Hearing on a Naturalization Denial)
- Paper filing: $830 to $1,475 (+78%)
- Online filing: $780 to $1,425 (+83%)
DHS says the higher fees reflect the costs associated with background checks, interviews, testing and reviews of an applicant’s immigration history and character.
What are Forms N-400 and N-336?
Form N-400 is the primary application used by lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, to apply for US citizenship.
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Form N-336 is used by applicants seeking a hearing after their naturalisation application has been denied.
According to the proposal, “the vast majority of aliens apply for naturalization by filing Form N-400”, while those whose applications are denied may file Form N-336 “to seek a hearing on the denial of the naturalization application”.
What Happens to Fee Waivers?
The proposal would largely eliminate existing fee waivers and reduced-fee programmes. Currently, some applicants can qualify for fee waivers based on income levels, receipt of public benefits or financial hardship. Others may qualify for a reduced filing fee.
Under the proposed rule, DHS says USCIS would “eliminate eligibility for fee waivers for aliens filing Form N-400 or Form N-336” and also remove “the reduced fee for Form N-400”.
The department argues that removing low-cost filing options would improve efficiency and reduce applications from individuals who may not be eligible.
According to the proposal, “free filing or inexpensive fees may encourage aliens who know or suspect that they are ineligible… to apply anyway”.
One exception would remain. Current and former members of the US military would continue to be exempt from filing fees, as required by law.
Concerns Raised
The proposal has drawn concern from some immigration policy experts, who argue that higher fees could create additional barriers for lower-income immigrants seeking citizenship.
Adam Klein, a former DHS official and co-founder of Globali.ai, told Newsweek: “The proposal represents a significant shift in the cost of becoming a US citizen.” “While USCIS is largely a fee-funded agency and must recover its operational costs, substantially increasing naturalization fees risks turning citizenship into a benefit that is less accessible to those of modest means.”
He added that naturalisation has traditionally been encouraged because citizens often experience “greater economic mobility, civic participation, and long-term integration”. “Higher fees could undermine those goals,” he said.
Klein also questioned whether applicants would see tangible benefits from the additional costs. “USCIS does explain where much of the additional revenue would go—primarily toward enhanced screening, vetting, investigations, and related staffing and infrastructure costs,” he said. “What is less clear is what additional services applicants themselves will receive in return. For many applicants, the perception may be that they are paying significantly more while receiving less in the way of accessibility and customer service.”
He added: “Ultimately, the question is not whether USCIS should recover its costs—it is whether the nation wants to place additional financial barriers in front of lawful permanent residents seeking to become Americans. Citizenship has traditionally been viewed as something to encourage, not discourage.”
What Will be the Impact of Move?
DHS acknowledged that higher costs could delay citizenship applications for some legal permanent residents. However, the department argued that demand for citizenship is relatively stable and that naturalisation remains an “inelastic” benefit that applicants continue to pursue despite increasing costs.
The proposal has not yet taken effect. As a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, it must first go through a public consultation process.
Members of the public will have 60 days from publication in the Federal Register to submit comments. DHS will then review the feedback and may revise the proposal before issuing a final rule.