The Trump Administration is seeking to raise the price tag for immigrants applying to become naturalized U.S. citizens by hundreds of dollars.
A proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed on Monday would significantly increase the cost of filing a form immigrants must submit to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to apply for citizenship. Under the rule, the price of filing Form N-400 by paper would rise by 75%, from $760 to $1,330, and the cost of submitting the form online would increase by 80%, from $710 to $1,280.
In addition, the proposal would end the reduced fee option for Form N-400, which is currently available to immigrants whose household income is at or under 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. DHS is also proposing ending fee waivers for the form. Current and former military service members who are applying to become naturalized citizens, though, are still eligible for fee exemptions.
It’s not yet clear when or if the increases would go into effect; the proposed rule would still have to go through a process—including a period during which the public is permitted to submit their opinions on the proposal—before it could be enacted.
