USCIS Floats 80 % Naturalization Fee Hike and Scraps All Fee Waivers

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on June 24, 2026 quietly posted a draft fee rule that would raise the standard N-400 naturalization filing fee from $760 to $1,330 (paper) and from $710 to $1,280 (online)—an increase of roughly 80 %. Even more consequential for low-income applicants: the proposal would eliminate the decades-old ability to request a fee waiver or reduced fee based on poverty guidelines. USCIS says the changes are necessary to close a projected $2.1 billion budget gap after Congress rejected the agency’s supplemental funding request. Officials argue that naturalization fees have been cross-subsidizing other application types for years and that shifting costs to the primary beneficiaries—future citizens—is fiscally prudent. Stakeholders have 60 days to comment once the rule appears in the Federal Register. For employers that sponsor green-card employees who later naturalize, the hike could delay eligibility for federal contracting set-asides that require U.S. citizenship or dampen workforce morale among long-term foreign talent. Community-based testing centers anticipate lower turnout for citizenship-preparation classes if affordability becomes a barrier. If implemented, the new fees could take effect as early as late 2026 after a short transition window. Mobility leaders should advise permanent residents approaching the five-year mark (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen) to file soon, and consider covering filing costs in corporate policies where citizenship is business-critical.



At this stage, many applicants and HR teams also lean on VisaHQ’s end-to-end immigration support; the firm’s portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) provides up-to-date fee calculators, document checklists, and concierge filing assistance, making it easier to assemble a complete N-400 package ahead of any price hike.

They should also monitor litigation; prior fee hikes have been enjoined when courts found procedural flaws. The proposal marks the most aggressive naturalization cost increase in agency history and signals a broader shift toward full cost recovery across all benefit types—setting the stage for higher expenses in future mobility budgets.