The cost of becoming a U.S. citizen may soon rise sharply under a proposal being considered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Recent reports indicate that the agency is considering a $570 increase to the naturalization application fee, which would push the total cost of applying for citizenship to about $1,330.
The proposed hike would primarily affect applicants filing Form N-400, the standard application used by lawful permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship. It could also end fee waivers. USCIS maintains that higher fees are needed to fund agency operations, which depend heavily on application revenue rather than direct congressional funding.
Supporters of the proposal argue that the additional income could help improve processing times, expand staffing, and strengthen efforts to detect and prevent fraud. Critics say the higher costs could place citizenship further out of reach for many eligible immigrants, particularly lower-income applicants who already face financial barriers.
The proposal comes at a time of broader shifts in U.S. immigration policy and heightened scrutiny of naturalization cases. If approved, the increase would mark one of the most significant jumps in citizenship application costs in recent years.
