If you have been thinking about applying for U.S. citizenship and putting it off for any reason, this is the news that should make you act. Proposed fee increases for the N-400 Application for Naturalization are on the table, and if they go through, the cost of applying for citizenship could double in most cases. The window to file at the current fee is likely measured in months, not years. Here is what is happening, why it is happening, and exactly what you should do before these changes take effect.
What is being proposed and how significant is it?
The proposed changes would substantially increase the filing fee for Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, which is the form used to apply for U.S. citizenship. In most cases, the increase being discussed would roughly double the current cost. Appeals of denied cases are also expected to see significant fee increases under the same proposal.
These are not finalized changes yet. As of now, there is a window of approximately two to three months during which the proposed increases will be confirmed or adjusted. But the direction is clear, the proposals are on the table, and the agencies involved have indicated that higher fees are coming. Waiting to see what happens and then scrambling to file after the increases take effect is not a strategy. Acting now, while the current fees are still in place, is.
Why are the fees going up?
The proposed increases are not arbitrary. They are tied to specific changes in how naturalization applications are being processed and reviewed. The immigration agency has indicated that the additional revenue from higher fees will be used to fund expanded accommodations for investigations, more thorough background checks on applicants, additional questions during the review process, and longer and more detailed interviews.
In practical terms, this means the naturalization process is becoming more intensive. The government is investing more resources into vetting citizenship applicants, and those applicants are being asked to fund that expanded scrutiny through higher fees. Whether or not you agree with that approach, the result is the same. The cost of applying for citizenship is going up, and the process of obtaining it is likely to become more demanding, not less.
What does this mean for people who are already eligible but have not filed yet?
If you are already eligible to apply for citizenship and you have not filed yet, this news should be the catalyst that moves you from thinking about it to actually doing it. Every month you wait is a month closer to paying significantly more for the same application you could file right now at the current fee.
Beyond the cost, there is a second reason not to delay. As the naturalization process becomes more intensive with additional background checks, longer interviews, and more questions, cases that are filed sooner will be processed under current standards. Cases filed after the changes are fully implemented will be subject to the new, more demanding process. Getting your application into the system now means getting ahead of both the fee increase and the procedural changes that are coming alongside it.
Who is most affected by these proposed increases?
The fee increases affect anyone who plans to file Form N-400 in the coming months or years. But the impact is particularly significant for certain groups.
Long-term green card holders who have been eligible for citizenship for years but have not yet filed are the most directly affected. If you have been renewing your green card instead of naturalizing, the proposed increases are a concrete financial reason to stop waiting. The money you would spend on a green card renewal is comparable to the current N-400 filing fee. After the proposed increases, a citizenship application will cost significantly more than that.
Applicants whose cases were previously denied and who need to file an appeal are also significantly affected, as appeal fees are expected to increase alongside the primary application fees. If you have a pending denial situation, addressing it sooner rather than later could save you meaningful money.
What about the appeals process?
The proposed increases to appeal fees are particularly notable because they affect applicants who are already navigating a difficult situation. A denied citizenship application is stressful enough. The prospect of facing a significantly higher fee to appeal that denial adds financial pressure to an already challenging process.
If you have had a naturalization application denied and have been considering an appeal, the proposed fee increases are an additional reason to move forward on that decision promptly rather than continuing to delay.
What should you do right now?
The answer is straightforward. If you are eligible to apply for citizenship, start the process now. Do not wait for the fee increases to be finalized. Do not wait for the new interview process to be implemented. File at the current fee, under the current process, before the window closes.
The first step is understanding whether you actually qualify and what your specific naturalization timeline looks like. For most green card holders married to a U.S. citizen, that is three years of permanent residence. For most other green card holders, it is five years. If you are at or near that threshold, you may be able to file right now.
To help you understand the full naturalization process and prepare your application correctly, download the free Ultimate Naturalization Guide for Citizenship at JQKLaw.com/citizenship. It walks through the entire process in detail so you know exactly what to expect and exactly what to prepare.
Do not let the fee increase catch you off guard. The window is open right now. Use it.
Download our free Ultimate Marriage Green Card Guide at MarriageImmigrationLaw.com, join Attorney John Khosravi, Esq. live every Tuesday at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for a free Q&A, or book a one-on-one consultation to talk through your specific situation. Schedule a consultation at JQKLaw.com/contact
