Citizenship Fee Hike Proposed
USCIS Unveils Rule to Dramatically Raise Naturalization Fees, Eliminating Most Fee Waivers
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Key Points
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The proposed rule would raise the Form N-336 hearing fee to $1,475 for paper filings and $1,425 for online submissions, up from $830 and $780 respectively.
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The plan would increase the Form N-400 reconsideration-denial processing fee by about $645.
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The rule is listed in the Federal Register docket under the regulatory identifier RIN 1615-AD08, linking it to USCIS’s full-cost recovery funding approach.
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Context around the proposal highlights a broader emphasis on combating citizenship fraud and related denaturalization actions under President Trump.
The Trump administration wants to make becoming a U.S. citizen a lot more expensive. The Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule on June 22 that would raise the main citizenship application fee by 75%, from $760 to $1,330 for paper filers, according to CBS News.
The plan would also eliminate reduced fees for low-income applicants. A person currently paying the discounted rate of $380 would instead owe $1,330 — a 250% jump. Only military service members would keep their fee waiver, Fragomen reports.
Every Fee Is Going Up, Not Just One
The proposed rule, filed under federal docket number RIN 1615-AD08, raises costs across the board. Online N-400 applications would climb from $710 to $1,280 — an 80% increase. The N-336 hearing fee, used when an applicant appeals a denial, would jump from $830 to $1,475 for paper and from $780 to $1,425 online, according to Erickson Immigration Group.
For a low-income family of four, the total citizenship cost could rise from roughly $1,520 to more than $5,300, Fragomen estimates. DHS says the current pricing leaves USCIS with a $600 million annual funding gap. The agency argues it needs full-cost recovery to keep the system running.
DHS Says Citizenship's Value Justifies the Price
DHS frames the hike as a matter of fiscal responsibility. The agency argues that "the great value of citizenship" means applicants should pay the true cost of their vetting, according to Times of India. Officials also claim cheap fees encourage people who know they are ineligible to apply anyway because it costs them little to try.
The revenue would flow into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account. DHS says it will use the money to expand screening and fund investigators focused on citizenship fraud and denaturalization cases — a top priority under President Trump, Newsweek reported.
Critics Call It a Wall Built From Money
Former USCIS official Doug Rand said the plan is designed to "create barriers" to citizenship. Former DHS official Adam Klein warned it risks "turning citizenship into a benefit that is less accessible to those of modest means," Newsweek reported. Both argue the move punishes working-class legal residents who have followed every rule.
The New Republic described the proposal as "wealth-based discrimination," noting that the administration is replacing one kind of barrier with another — financial exhaustion instead of legal obstacles. DHS itself acknowledges the hike could "delay naturalization for hundreds of thousands" of lawful permanent residents already living in the U.S.
The Rule Is Not Final — A 60-Day Window Remains
The proposed rule was set for formal publication in the Federal Register on June 23, 2026. That kicks off a 60-day public comment period, with the deadline falling on August 22, 2026, according to Erickson Immigration Group. The fee increases will not take effect until the rulemaking process is complete.
Immigration lawyers say applicants who want to avoid the higher fees should consider filing now. Fragomen notes that the current fees of $710 online and $760 on paper remain in effect while the rule works through the process. Anyone can submit public comments opposing or supporting the change once it is formally published.
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