The Cost of U.S. Citizenship is Set to Rise: What You Need to Know
As the cost of applying for U.S. citizenship and obtaining a green card increases, millions of eligible legal permanent residents face a higher financial burden. Here’s what you need to know about the fee increases and their potential impact.
More than 9 million legal permanent residents in the United States are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship but haven’t done so, according to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics. On April 1, the cost of the application to naturalize is climbing as much as 19%. The price of getting a “green card” – the first step to citizenship – will jump, too. The changes are a fraction of the fee increases sought by the Trump administration before a federal judge scrapped them. Still, immigration attorneys say, immigration costs almost always trend higher, so those who want to naturalize for less should consider submitting an application before April 1.
How much does U.S. citizenship cost?
The costs vary. The naturalization application form, called an N-400, now costs $640 when filing a paper application or $725 including the fingerprint fee, called “biometrics.” On April 1, the cost of both jumps to $760. A fee table published in the Federal Register shows the new price of immigration benefits. The price increase is far less than what the Trump administration tried to impose. In 2020, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services bumped the fee for naturalization more than 80% to $1,170 and ended the fee waiver for vulnerable people, including asylum-seekers.
Will wait times and customer service improve?
The agency is adjusting fees to a variety of applications, including raising some and lowering others, “to fully recover costs and maintain adequate service,” according to the announcement in the Federal Register. Fees haven’t gone up since 2016. The American Immigration Lawyers Association urged that the fee increases be used to help improve the agency’s lengthy processing times and opaque customer service.
How long does it take to become a U.S. citizen?
The immigration services agency said it delivered a citizenship oath of allegiance to more than 878,500 people in fiscal 2023 and reduced the average wait time for naturalization from 10½ months to six months. But first, it can take months or years to obtain the necessary prerequisite: legal permanent residency, sometimes called a green card. Legal permanent residents become eligible to apply for citizenship after three to five years, depending on who is applying. Wait times for naturalization applications also vary across the country according to the citizenship agency’s online case processing tool.
If I apply for U.S. citizenship, how soon can I vote?
For applicants lucky enough to see their cases adjudicated in fewer than six months, there may still be time to register to vote in the 2024 presidential election, according to immigration experts. Voter registration rules vary state by state, with some allowing same-day voter registration.
The financial burden and the importance of citizenship
The cost increase may be less than the citizenship and immigration agency’s attempt to boost fees, but it can still be a burden for families when more than one family member wants to naturalize and each has to pay a separate application fee. Additionally, applying for U.S. citizenship doesn’t guarantee approval, and fees are nonrefundable. Immigration attorneys and advocates stress the importance of becoming a citizen, especially in a climate of heightened anti-immigrant rhetoric. They recommend individuals secure their legal status by pursuing citizenship and taking advantage of the current fee structure before the April 1 increase.
Conclusion: As the cost of applying for U.S. citizenship and obtaining a green card rises, millions of eligible legal permanent residents face increased financial burdens. While the fee increases are not as significant as initially proposed, they still pose challenges for families and individuals seeking to naturalize. The potential impact on wait times and customer service remains uncertain. However, experts emphasize the importance of pursuing citizenship to secure legal status and protect against potential changes in immigration policies. As the April 1 deadline approaches, those eligible for naturalization should carefully consider their options and act before the fee increase takes effect.