Trump Administration Proposes Sharp Fee Hike For U.S. Citizenship Applications
On Monday, June 22, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security proposed sharply raising fees for U.S. citizenship applications.[1]
Under the proposal the paper N-400 filing fee would jump from $760 to $1,330 and the online filing fee would rise from $710 to $1,280.[1] The rule would eliminate most fee waivers and reduced-fee options for low-income naturalization applicants while preserving waivers for military service members.[1] DHS said the increases are needed to fully fund stricter naturalization processing.[1]
In July 2025, Congress passed and President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R. 1. The law imposed new statutory fees on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services applications, raised existing fees, and limited fee waivers for many immigration benefits. That move built on a November 2019 Trump administration proposal that sought a large N-400 fee increase and the elimination of most fee waivers. USCIS depends heavily on user fees; in fiscal year 2024 it naturalized 818,500 people, and 14.3 percent of approved naturalization applicants that year received fee waivers. USCIS derived roughly 94 percent of its spending authority from fees deposited into its immigration fee account in that period.
The proposal will enter a 60-day public comment period before any final rule, giving opponents a formal window to object.[1] Advocates and critics quickly decried the change on social media as punitive, warning that the hikes could put U.S. citizenship out of reach for many lower-income immigrants.
The mainstream summary does not mention the significant implications of the fee hikes on low-income applicants, who will be disproportionately affected by the elimination of most fee waivers. Critics, including immigration advocates on social media, argue that this move represents a shift away from encouraging naturalization, framing the increases as punitive and potentially stifling the American dream for many. @ReichlinMelnick emphasizes that the Trump administration's approach reflects a broader trend of restricting access to citizenship rather than facilitating it, contrasting sharply with previous policies that aimed to subsidize naturalization efforts.
Additionally, the summary overlooks the structural factors behind USCIS's fee-dependent funding model, which requires full cost recovery for operations. This model, established by Congress in 1988, enables administrations to adjust fees and eliminate subsidies, a shift that critics argue prioritizes budgetary concerns over the accessibility of citizenship. The proposed changes not only reflect a significant cost increase but also a philosophical shift in how the government views citizenship and naturalization processes, moving away from affordability towards a more restrictive framework.[2][3]
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📊 Relevant Data
In fiscal year 2024, USCIS naturalized 818,500 people, of whom 14.3% had an approved fee waiver for their naturalization application.
Naturalization Statistics — USCIS
USCIS derives approximately 94% of its total spending authority from fees deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account.
Budget, Planning and Performance — USCIS
📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, June 22, 2026, DHS proposed raising citizenship fees from $760 to $1,330 for paper applications and from $710 to $1,280 online.
- The regulation would eliminate fee waivers and reduced-fee options for low-income naturalization applicants, except for military service members.
- A 60-day public comment window will precede any final rule, and DHS framed the hike as needed to fully fund stricter naturalization processing.
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