Key Takeaways: The proposed N-400 fee increase may raise naturalization costs by $570 for eligible permanent residents. Applicants considering becoming a U.S. Citizen should review eligibility, travel history, taxes, and filing risks now before the current Form N-400 fee schedule changes.
If becoming a U.S. Citizen has been on your mind, the proposed filing fee jump is a good reason to look at your timing now. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a major change to Form N-400 filing fees. The change is not in effect yet, but eligible permanent residents should understand what may happen.
Under the proposal, the paper filing fee would rise from $760 to $1,330. The online filing fee would rise from $710 to $1,280. That is a $570 increase for either filing method, according to the Federal Register proposed rule.
My name is Taghrid G. Hassan, Esq., and I am the founder of Hassan Law P.A. I have practiced family and immigration law for nearly 20 years, helping families move from legal residency to citizenship and guiding clients through important immigration decisions.
From my office in Sunrise, I work with clients in Plantation, Weston, Davie, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, and other Broward County communities who want to understand their naturalization options before filing.
Why This Proposed Fee Change Matters
The proposed N-400 fee increase matters because naturalization already requires planning. Many applicants need time to gather records, review travel history, confirm tax compliance, and prepare for the interview.
The current USCIS fee schedule lists the general Form N-400 fee as $760 for paper filing and $710 for online filing. It also lists a $380 reduced fee for qualifying applicants and a $0 fee for eligible military applicants. The proposal would remove the reduced fee option and general fee waiver for Form N-400. The current fee schedule is available through the USCIS Form G-1055 Fee Schedule.
For one applicant, the proposed change would add $570. For two eligible spouses applying in the same household, the added cost could reach $1,140. For a family with several eligible adults, the added cost could be much higher.
Do not file because of the fee alone. File because you are eligible, your record is ready, and your application can be prepared accurately.
What DHS Has Proposed
DHS has proposed several changes to naturalization-related filing fees.
The main proposed changes include:
- Raising paper Form N-400 filing from $760 to $1,330
- Raising online Form N-400 filing from $710 to $1,280
- Removing the $380 reduced-fee option
- Removing general income-based fee waivers for Form N-400
- Raising Form N-336 hearing request fees for applicants challenging a naturalization denial
- Keeping fee exemptions for qualifying current and former U.S. armed forces service members
This is still a proposal. Current applicants do not pay the proposed fee today unless and until a final rule changes the fee schedule.
That point is important. I do not want anyone to panic. I do want eligible permanent residents to pay attention.
Who Should Pay Attention Now?
The proposed N-400 fee increase may affect permanent residents who have been eligible for citizenship but kept putting it off.
This includes:
- Longtime Green Card holders
- Spouses of U.S. citizens who may qualify under the three-year rule
- Older applicants on fixed incomes
- Families with more than one eligible applicant
- Permanent residents who planned to request a reduced fee
- Applicants who may need legal review before filing
The proposed change may also affect families in Sunrise and nearby cities where households often include multiple generations. I often speak with adult children helping parents apply, spouses applying around the same time, and families who want to sponsor relatives abroad after naturalization.
Why Filing Before a Fee Change May Help
If you are eligible and your application is ready, filing before a final fee change may save money. That is the practical reason to review your case now.
Still, a lower fee does not make an applicant eligible. USCIS can review your full immigration history during naturalization. If there are concerns, it is better to identify them before filing.
Common issues include:
- Long trips outside the United States
- Too many days outside the country
- Arrests, charges, or convictions
- Unpaid taxes or unfiled tax returns
- Failure to pay child support
- Prior immigration fraud or misrepresentation
- False claims to U.S. citizenship
- Errors or inconsistencies in older immigration filings
A citizenship application can raise questions about how you received your Green Card, where you have lived, how long you have traveled, and what you told immigration officers in the past.
If you are unsure how to answer a question on Form N-400, stop and get advice before filing. Guessing can create problems that are harder to fix later.
What This Blog Series Will Cover Next
This first article focuses on the proposed filing fee change. The later parts of this series will cover the main citizenship topics permanent residents ask me about most often.
In the next parts, I plan to discuss:
- The benefits of U.S. citizenship
- Eligibility requirements for naturalization
- Continuous residence and physical presence
- Good moral character
- English and civics testing
- Testing exceptions for older applicants
- Red flags that require legal review
- Documents needed to apply
The benefits of citizenship can be significant. Citizens can vote, apply for a U.S. passport, avoid Green Card renewal, petition for more family members, seek certain federal jobs, and receive U.S. consular protection while abroad.
Those benefits matter. The cost of applying matters too. That is why I believe this topic deserves its own first article.
Becoming Ready Is Different From Becoming Eligible
When becoming a U.S. Citizen is the goal, eligibility is only part of the picture. Readiness also matters.
A person may meet the five-year or three-year residence rule but still need to review travel dates. A person may have good moral character but still need certified court records from an old case. A person may be ready for the English and civics test but unsure about tax history or child support records.
This is why I prefer to review the full case before filing. I look at the facts that USCIS may review, not just the filing fee.
I also look at timing. Sometimes filing now makes sense. Sometimes waiting and correcting an issue first is safer. The right answer depends on the applicant’s history.
Bring your Green Card, travel history, tax information, and any court records to your consultation. The more complete your records are, the better your review will be.
Local Planning for Sunrise and Nearby Cities
Many of my naturalization clients live or work near Sawgrass Mills, Sawgrass International Corporate Park, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise Lakes, Welleby, Plantation, Weston, Davie, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, and Hollywood.
Local families often have practical concerns. Some travel often to visit relatives abroad. Some need help reviewing long absences. Some older applicants want to know if they qualify for language exceptions. Some families want to understand how citizenship may help them petition for parents, children, or siblings.
If you live in Sunrise or a nearby Broward County city, you do not need to wait for the fee proposal to become final before reviewing your options. You can look at your eligibility now, check for possible issues, and decide if filing under the current fee schedule makes sense.
Why Legal Review Matters Before Filing
Naturalization can be one of the most meaningful steps in a person’s life. It can also be more detailed than many applicants expect.
I have practiced family law and immigration law for nearly 20 years. I have helped families immigrate to the United States through family-based cases, business entrepreneurship, and asylum. I have also assisted many permanent residents with citizenship matters.
You can read more about my attorney background and our immigration services. You can also learn more about our firm and read client experiences.
At Hassan Law P.A., I help clients review the facts before filing. That may include eligibility, residence, physical presence, travel, taxes, prior immigration applications, criminal history, testing concerns, and document preparation.
My Advice Before the Fee Rules Change
The proposed N-400 fee increase is not final. Current applicants still file under the current fee schedule. That said, the proposal is too important for eligible permanent residents to ignore.
If becoming a U.S. Citizen is your next step, now is the time to review your eligibility and your filing risks. Do not wait until a fee change becomes final to start gathering records.
My work through Hassan Law P.A. focuses on helping families make informed decisions before they file. A careful review can help you avoid preventable mistakes and prepare a stronger application.
Contact Hassan Law P.A. to discuss your naturalization options and the timing of your Form N-400 filing.
Dedicated to Justice – Immigration, Family Law, and Mediation
To schedule a consultation, click here or call us today at (954) 881-8820 and start your journey toward starting (or uniting) your family in the US.
About the Author
Taghrid G. Hassan, Esq. has practiced family and immigration law for more than 20 years. Based in Sunrise, Florida, she helps individuals and families with citizenship, family-based immigration, business immigration, asylum, and other immigration matters. She is licensed in Florida, New York, and New Jersey.