The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed increasing the cost of obtaining American citizenship. Depending on the type of application and method of filing, the fee may increase by 75-83%. At the same time, the department is considering the possibility of eliminating benefits for low-income applicants – the right to exemption as an exception will remain only for current and former US military personnel.
The draft, prepared by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. It proposes to increase the filing fees for Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) and Form N-336 (Request for Hearing on Decision to Deny Naturalization).
Under the proposal, the fee for filing a naturalization application on paper would increase from $760 to $1,330 (+75%) and from $710 to $1,280 (+80%) for online applications. The fee for appealing a refusal will also increase: from $830 to $1,475 (+78%) if submitted in writing and from $780 to $1,425 (+83%) if submitted electronically.
The document explains that current fees do not cover the full cost of processing Forms N-400 and Form N-336, which includes enhanced background checks, interviews, and review of the applicant's immigration history. Additional funds are also required for administrative expenses – for example, for the maintenance and operation of premises, staffing, accounting, etc.
The fees are expected to fully cover the costs of their review, in accordance with the beneficiary-pays principle.
“The primary goal of the project is to bring the cost of filing Forms N-400 and N-336 into line with the actual costs of processing them while simultaneously complying with legal requirements and ensuring the financial sustainability of USCIS,” the document says.
Currently, applicants can receive a full fee waiver based on low income, receipt of government benefits or financial hardship. In addition, applicants with income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible for a reduced fee of $380.
However, DHS is proposing to eliminate both the feed-in tariffs and the full fee waiver option. The only exception will be for current and former military personnel applying for US citizenship, who will retain the right to free processing of the appropriate documents.
The agency indicates that even after the cost increase, the demand for naturalization will remain relatively stable and will not decrease significantly.
The proposed changes have not yet entered into force. The document was published as a draft normative act (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking), which provides for a public comment period. Within 60 days of publication, interested parties will be able to submit their comments and suggestions. After reviewing the feedback, DHS will approve the new rules, subject to possible revisions.
