The Trump administration announced a proposal to increase fees for legal immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship. The planned fee hike would raise costs by $570, significantly affecting applicants. Under the proposal from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), fees for paper applications will rise from $760 to $1,330. For online applications, the increase goes from $710 to $1,280. Additionally, if an applicant asks USCIS to reconsider a denied application, the fee will also increase by $645.
The proposal aims to eliminate fee waivers for low-income applicants seeking citizenship. Previously, immigrants whose household income was at or below 400% of the federal poverty line could qualify for a fee reduction. However, exemptions for service members will remain.
These changes are part of a proposed regulation that must undergo further steps before implementation. The public can comment on this proposal over a 60-day period.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which manages USCIS, argues that the fee increase is necessary to cover the costs of processing applications. The department justifies the hikes by highlighting the administration’s more rigorous scrutiny of applicants. Unlike most federal agencies, USCIS relies heavily on the fees it collects for funding.
In the past, citizenship application fees were kept lower to encourage naturalization and integration. However, the current administration believes that citizenship benefits should no longer have lower fees compared to other immigration services.
The U.S. government has a long-standing policy of encouraging legal immigrants to pursue naturalization. Typically, legal permanent residents can apply for citizenship after holding a green card for three or five years, depending on specific criteria.
Applicants must successfully pass an English and civics test, with additional requirements such as a clean criminal record. As part of its broader immigration policy, the administration has been tightening access to legal immigration benefits. The application process for citizenship now involves closer examination of an applicant’s ‘good moral character.’ Neighborhood checks have resumed to gather information from neighbors and coworkers about those applying for citizenship.
The administration has also intensified efforts to denaturalize foreign-born U.S. citizens accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud. This includes cases where applicants concealed criminal behavior on their applications.