What the new fee hike proposal means for you — and what you can do about it
If you or someone in your family has been working toward U.S. citizenship, pay attention to what happened today. The federal government published a proposal in the Federal Register that would dramatically raise the cost of applying for naturalization — and eliminate the fee reductions that many lower-income applicants currently rely on.
Here is what you need to know.
What Is Being Proposed?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed raising the fee for the N-400, the application for naturalization, from $760 to $1,330 for paper filers — an increase of $570, or about 75 percent. If you file online, the fee would rise from $710 to $1,280. The $50 discount for online filing would remain.
The proposal also raises the fee for the N-336, which is the form used to appeal a denial of a naturalization application. That fee would jump from $830 to $1,475 on paper, and from $780 to $1,425 online.
But the fee increases are only part of the story. The proposal would also eliminate the fee waiver program and the reduced-fee option that currently help lower-income applicants afford the process.
Right now, if your household income is at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, you may qualify for a reduced fee. And if you face extreme financial hardship, or receive certain means-tested government benefits, you may qualify to have the fee waived entirely. Under this proposal, both options would disappear. The only people who would remain exempt from paying fees are qualifying current and former members of the armed forces, as required by law.
DHS’s justification is straightforward: USCIS is a fee-funded agency, and the current fees do not cover the full cost of processing naturalization applications. According to the proposal, USCIS is projecting a shortfall for N-400 processing under the current fee structure. The agency argues that applicants who benefit from citizenship should pay the full cost of obtaining it — what it calls the “beneficiary-pays” principle.
What Does It Mean That This Was Published in the Federal Register?
The Federal Register is the official daily publication of the U.S. government, where federal agencies are required to announce proposed rules, regulations, and policy changes. Think of it as the government’s official public notice board.
Crucially, what was published today is a proposed rule — not a final one. Publishing in the Federal Register formally kicks off what is known as the notice-and-comment process. This process exists specifically to give the public — including you — the opportunity to weigh in before a rule becomes law.
The agency is required to consider the comments it receives before issuing any final rule. This does not mean USCIS has to do what commenters say, but meaningful public opposition can and does influence outcomes. Courts have also struck down rules where agencies failed to genuinely engage with significant comments.
What Happens Next?
The comment period is open now and closes on August 24, 2026. During that time, anyone — individuals, organizations, attorneys, or advocacy groups — can submit written comments to USCIS.
After the comment period closes, USCIS will review all submissions and then issue a final rule. If a final rule is published, it typically includes a response to the public comments received and a date when the new fees take effect. There is no fixed deadline for this — it could take several months to over a year. Until a final rule is in place, the current fee structure remains in effect.
What Can You Do?
If you want to make your voice heard, there are two straightforward options.
First, you can submit a public comment before the August 24th deadline through regulations.gov, using docket number USCIS-2026-0265. Comments that explain a personal impact — how the fee increase or loss of a waiver would affect your specific situation — carry more weight than general objections. Note that emails sent directly to USCIS do not count; it must go through the portal.
Second, call your U.S. senators and representative. Members of Congress have real oversight over federal agencies, and constituent calls get noticed — especially when they come in volume. You can find your representatives and their contact information at congress.gov/members. Tell them who you are, that you are affected by this proposal, and that you want them to oppose it. A phone call takes five minutes and matters more than most people think.
A Final Word
If you have been waiting to apply for naturalization, this proposal is a reason to think carefully about your timing. Under current law and fees, the N-400 costs $760 (or $710 if filed online.) That fee remains in place today and will stay in place unless and until a final rule is published. Applying before any final rule takes effect means being locked into the current fee structure.
This office will continue to monitor developments and will update you as the process moves forward. If you are thinking about applying for naturalization and want to discuss your case, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help!
