Indian green card holders advised to budget for rising US citizenship application fees: Experts also warn applicants
Indian green card Scheme application holder U.S. citizenship Immigration experts say that as naturalization fees continue to add to the overall cost of the immigration journey, they may need to start budgeting for the process before they are eligible.
According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (immigration office), the government currently charges a fee of $710 for naturalization applications filed online via Form N-400 and $760 for paper-filed naturalization applications. In addition to these filing fees, applicants may be responsible for costs associated with legal assistance, documentation and other professional services, depending on their individual circumstances.
For a family of four applying together, government application fees can exceed $2,800 for online applications alone and more than $3,000 for paper applications.
Why experts recommend planning ahead
Sandeep Wadhwa, Chairman of Fay Investment Group said business standards Families should view naturalization as part of their long-term financial planning rather than a last-minute administrative step. “Indian families should start looking at citizenship as part of their long-term financial planning rather than as an administrative formality,” Wadhwa said.
While many Indian immigrants put off applying for citizenship because a green card already grants the right to live and work in the United States, citizenship comes with additional benefits.
These include the right to vote, eligibility for a wider range of federal jobs, stronger protections during extended stays outside the United States, the ability to obtain a U.S. passport and the ability to sponsor a broader category of family members.
According to USCIS eligibility guidelines, most lawful permanent residents can apply for U.S. citizenship after five years of permanent residence, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen, as long as they meet continuous residency and physical presence requirements.
Postponing citizenship may mean paying more fees later
Wadhwa points out that many Indian immigrants have invested significant resources in obtaining permanent residence through employer sponsorship, family immigration or investment schemes, such as EB-5. However, the cost of citizenship often comes at a time when families are also managing mortgages, children’s education, health care costs and retirement savings.
He recommends that eligible applicants start setting aside funds years before they become eligible to naturalize so that application fees do not interfere with other financial priorities.
Also read: Why Indians Will Benefit Most from US Supreme Court Order on Birthright Citizenship explain
Applicants should also ensure that they meet USCIS requirements for continuous residence and physical presence before submitting their application. Frequent travel or incomplete documentation may result in delays, additional costs, and longer processing times.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, approximately 8.8 million legal permanent residents in the United States are currently eligible for naturalization.
Wadhwa also warned against deferring citizenship indefinitely, saying future fee increases could make the process more expensive. “Waiting indefinitely could mean paying more later without receiving any additional benefits,” he said.
He added that timely naturalization also benefits families with children under 18, who may automatically receive U.S. citizenship under certain conditions when parents naturalize, potentially streamlining future immigration procedures.
