US proposes up to 75 percent increase in naturalisation fees

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday proposed increasing citizenship application fees by approximately 75 percent, from $760 to $1,330, according to a notice published in the Federal Register. The DHS is proposing to adjust fees charged by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Form N-400 and Form N-336, to end the reduced-fee option for Form N-400, and the availability of fee waivers for both forms, the document stated. Applicants for Form N-400, used by green card holders, would be required to pay $1,330 for paper filing and $1,280 if they file online. The fee for Form N-336, for applicants whose naturalisation was previously denied, would be set at $1,475 for paper filing and $1,425 for online filing, according to the notice. The proposed changes would affect hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents each year, potentially delaying naturalisation for low-income immigrants, Newsweek reported on Monday. A former DHS official told Newsweek the proposal represents a significant shift in the cost of becoming a US citizen, and the substantial increase risks turning citizenship into a less affordable benefit for those with low incomes. Earlier this month, the US State Department said it would offer expedited interview appointments for tourist and business visa applicants who pay an additional $750 fee. In May, the US adopted a new approach to granting in-country parole, which USCIS said would now be granted only in extraordinary circumstances.