The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed increasing the fees for individuals applying for American citizenship.
These changes would raise the financial barrier for legal permanent residents seeking to naturalize. The cost increase targets both traditional paper applications and the digital filing system.
According to the proposal, the fee for a citizenship application submitted on paper would increase from $760 to $1,330 [1]. For those who choose to apply online, the cost would rise from $710 to $1,280 [2].
Department officials said the price hikes are necessary to fund expanded security screenings. The agency also said the additional revenue is required to cover the general operating costs of the U.S. immigration system [1].
The proposal focuses on the application process for new citizens. Other fee changes, such as a reduction in the cost to renounce citizenship, are separate from this initiative [3].
The DHS said that the current funding levels are insufficient to maintain the integrity of the vetting process. By shifting more of the operational cost to the applicants, the agency aims to sustain its administrative infrastructure without relying solely on congressional appropriations [1].
“The fee for a citizenship application submitted on paper would increase from $760 to $1,330.”
This proposal reflects a broader trend of the U.S. government shifting the financial burden of immigration processing onto the applicants. By nearly doubling the cost of naturalization, the DHS may create a steeper financial hurdle for low-income residents, while simultaneously attempting to modernize security infrastructure through increased fee-based revenue.
