N400 Fee USCIS Update Citizenship Cost — A person holds a U.S. citizenship application form as new fee hike proposals raise concern among thousands of green card holders across America.

N-400 Fee Increase 2026: USCIS Proposes 75% Cost Hike

N-400 Fee Increase 2026 Could Make U.S. Citizenship Too Costly for Many

By News Desk On Jun 23, 2026

U.S – (Web Desk) – The U.S. government is planning a major N-400 fee increase 2026 that could make applying for citizenship much harder for low-income immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed raising the cost of filing Form N-400 from $760 to $1,330 for paper applications. Online filers would also see a steep jump, from $710 to $1,280.

This marks a roughly 75 percent rise in fees for what many consider basic paperwork in the path to citizenship.

The cost to appeal a citizenship denial is also going up. The fee for Form N-336 would increase from $830 to $1,475, which is nearly a 78 percent hike. This puts even more financial pressure on applicants who are already struggling.

One of the biggest changes in this proposal is the end of fee waivers. Right now, low-income applicants can apply for a full waiver or pay a reduced fee of $380. Under the new plan, both options would be removed for most people.

Immigrants earning below 400 percent of the federal poverty level would no longer qualify for a waiver. The only group kept safe from these fees is active and former military service members, who remain exempt by law.

DHS says the fee hikes are needed to cover the full cost of processing applications. The agency also says more thorough background checks and security vetting, required under recent executive orders, are adding to the workload and cost.

Unlike most federal agencies, USCIS does not receive government funding. It runs almost entirely on fees paid by applicants, which is why the agency says these increases are necessary.

For now, this is still a proposal. The public has a 60-day window to submit comments before any final decision is made. If you are a green card holder thinking about applying for citizenship, filing at the current lower fee before any rule takes effect may be worth considering.