Overview
- The Department of Homeland Security published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on June 22–23 that would raise the N-400 naturalization fee to $1,330 for paper filings and $1,280 for online filings and would sharply raise the N-336 reconsideration fee.
- The proposal would eliminate most fee waivers and the reduced‑fee option for low‑income applicants while preserving statutory fee exemptions for current and former U.S. military members.
- DHS frames the change as a shift to “total cost” recovery so application fees pay for added background checks, hiring and infrastructure that the agency says it has put in place under the current administration.
- The rule is only a proposal and is open for a 60‑day public comment period, so DHS may revise the plan and the final policy could still face legal or political challenges before taking effect.
- Former USCIS and DHS officials and immigrant advocates say the increases could make citizenship less accessible for lower‑income lawful residents and could reduce naturalization rates while shifting more operational funding onto applicants.