Want U.S. citizenship? Homeland Security’s new proposal could significantly raise fees; Indians among the worst affected
the cost of being a U.S. citizen The cost of naturalization could rise significantly under a new proposal from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that proposes increasing the cost of naturalization and eliminating fee waivers and cost-reduction options.
Under the proposal, the fee for Form N-400 would be green card Paper applications for holders to apply for U.S. citizenship will rise from $760 to $1,330, and online applications will rise from $710 to $1,280.
The increase is close to 75% to 80%. The Department of Homeland Security is also proposing to increase fees for Form N-336, which is used to appeal a denied citizenship application.
Indians constitute one of the largest groups of applicants
Data from the United States Department of Homeland Security Showing that Indians remain one of the largest groups to obtain U.S. citizenship through naturalization.
In 2024, Indians will account for approximately 6% of all new U.S. citizens, making them the second largest group after Mexico (13%). Over the past five years, nearly 370,000 Indians have obtained U.S. citizenship through this process.
Given these numbers, any increase in fees is expected to disproportionately impact Indian applicants seeking U.S. citizenship.
Concerns about affordability and access
Immigration experts worry that higher costs could make U.S. citizenship harder to obtain, especially for low-income immigrants.
“This proposal represents a significant shift in the cost of becoming a U.S. citizen,” said Adam Klein, a former Department of Homeland Security official and co-founder of Globali.ai.
He added that while U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a fee-based agency, “significant increases in naturalization fees could turn citizenship into a benefit that is inaccessible to those who do not earn as much.”
Klein also noted that citizenship has historically been associated with greater economic mobility and civic engagement, warning that “higher fees could undermine these goals.”
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Homeland Security Defense Proposal
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the proposed changes, saying current fees do not fully cover the cost of processing applications. Officials said the revision was part of a routine fee adjustment exercise.
A department official also said that naturalization is “the most important benefit that can be given to legal immigrants,” underscoring the rationale for the proposed increase.
