The path to US citizenship may soon entail a significantly higher cost for several immigrants striving for the American dream.US DHS proposes raising citizenship application fee from $760 to $1,330, a 75% hike. (Bloomberg)On Monday, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suggested increasing the filing fee for Form N-400, the application for obtaining US citizenship through naturalization, from the existing $760 to $1,330 — representing an increase of nearly 75%. Additionally, the proposal aims to remove the reduced-fee options and fee waivers that are presently accessible to numerous lower-income applicants.Should these changes be enacted, they would represent one of the most substantial hikes in citizenship application fees in recent years, potentially having a considerable impact on immigrants, including the thousands of Indians who qualify for US citizenship annually after securing permanent residency.Also Read: Green Card holders rights under threat: New immigration ruling could raise risks for permanent residentsDHS new proposal on naturalizationOn Monday, the DHS unveiled a new proposal regarding naturalization, which signifies a significant increase in citizenship fees.In case this proposal gets implemented, applicants would be required to pay $1,330 for paper submissions and $1,280 for online applications, as per the new rule from DHS’s US Citizenship and Immigration Services.This would represent fee hikes of 75% and 80%, respectively. The previous USCIS regulation from 2024 set the fee at $760 for paper naturalization applications and $710 for online submissions. In 2016, the cost for applicants to apply for naturalization was $595.To provide context, the filing fee for the N-400 naturalization application would rise from $760 to $1,330, resulting in an increase of $570 for each applicant.The proposal would also abolish the reduced filing fee that is presently offered to specific applicants whose household incomes fall below designated thresholds.Abolish fee waivers for Form N-400Raise the fee for Form N-336 (Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings) from $830 to $1,475.The overall trend indicates a rise in immigration costs.The DHS has already raised premium-processing fees for various immigration categories in 2026. For instance, the fee for Form I-140 premium processing increased from $2,805 to $2,965.Additionally, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has enacted inflation-adjusted increases to several immigration-related fees in accordance with provisions related to H.R.1, as reported by Berry Appleman & Leiden.The immigration advocacy organization CLINIC has previously cautioned that these fee hikes and limitations on fee waivers could disproportionately impact lower-income immigrants, potentially deterring eligible individuals from seeking citizenship.Impact on Indian nationalsIndian citizens constitute one of the most substantial groups awaiting employment-based green cards in the United States.Numerous Indian immigrants invest years, and at times even decades, maneuvering through the immigration system via H-1B visas, employment-based sponsorship, and the processes for permanent residency.For these individuals, attaining citizenship frequently signifies the ultimate achievement following a lengthy and costly immigration journey.Increased application fees may exacerbate an already considerable financial strain that encompasses:Visa application costs included legal fees, adjustment-of-status expenses, travel documentation fees and applications for dependents.