Overview
- The Department of Homeland Security published a notice of proposed rulemaking on June 23 that would raise Form N-400 to $1,330 for paper filings and $1,280 for online filings and raise Form N-336 to $1,475 paper and $1,425 online.
- The rule would eliminate the current $380 reduced-fee option and end fee waiver eligibility for N-400 and N-336 while preserving statutory fee exemptions for qualifying current and former U.S. military service members and keeping the $50 online discount.
- DHS frames the change under a 'beneficiary-pays' approach, saying current naturalization fees do not cover adjudication costs and citing an estimated annual cost/revenue gap of more than $636 million for Form N-400.
- The NPRM is open for a 60-day public comment period and could be revised or dropped before any final rule, with employers, immigrant-rights groups and conservative policy groups expected to submit feedback and potential legal challenges.
- Coverage differs by outlet: neutral legal summaries highlight the fiscal and procedural case for cost recovery, while opinion pieces argue the hikes could price out low-income applicants and reduce access to citizenship.