USCIS Proposes Raising the N-400 Citizenship Fee to $1,330 and Ending Fee Waivers

Status: Awaiting decision — Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments (N-400 fee to $1,330; fee waivers eliminated) (Federal Register Doc. 2026-12542; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2026-0265 (CIS No. 2834-25); RIN 1615-AD08)

Proposed rule (notice of proposed rulemaking). DHS/USCIS published the proposal on June 23, 2026, opening a 60-day public comment period that closes August 24, 2026. Nothing has changed yet: the current Form N-400 fees, fee waivers, and reduced-fee option remain in effect unless and until USCIS issues a final rule with an effective date.

Next step: The public comment period closes on August 24, 2026. After reviewing comments, USCIS may issue a final rule setting the new fees and an effective date. Until any final rule takes effect, the current fees, fee waivers, and reduced-fee option still apply.

Verified against the primary source as of 2026-07-25 — status can change with a single court ruling. Official source.

What’s happening

Proposed rule (notice of proposed rulemaking). DHS/USCIS published the proposal on June 23, 2026, opening a 60-day public comment period that closes August 24, 2026. Nothing has changed yet: the current Form N-400 fees, fee waivers, and reduced-fee option remain in effect unless and until USCIS issues a final rule with an effective date.

Who it affects

The proposal would raise the paper Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) fee from $760 to $1,330 and the online fee from $710 to $1,280 (about a 75–80% increase), and raise the Form N-336 (request for a hearing after an N-400 denial) fee from $830 to $1,475 for paper filing and from $780 to $1,425 online. It would also eliminate the $380 reduced-fee option for applicants at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and end fee waivers for both Form N-400 and Form N-336. Statutory fee exemptions for qualifying military service members naturalizing under INA sections 328 and 329 would remain. It affects lawful permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship, especially lower-income applicants who currently rely on a fee waiver or the reduced fee. This is general information, not legal advice.

How it got here

  1. Jun 23, 2026 DHS/USCIS published the proposed rule "Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments" in the Federal Register (Doc. 2026-12542; Docket USCIS-2026-0265; RIN 1615-AD08), proposing to raise the N-400 fee to $1,330 (paper) / $1,280 (online) and to eliminate fee waivers and the reduced-fee option.
  2. Aug 24, 2026 The 60-day public comment period closes; written comments are due on or before this date. No final rule has been issued, so current fees remain in effect.

What to watch next

The public comment period closes on August 24, 2026. After reviewing comments, USCIS may issue a final rule setting the new fees and an effective date. Until any final rule takes effect, the current fees, fee waivers, and reduced-fee option still apply.

Official sources

This page is general information about ongoing litigation, not legal advice. A case’s status can change with a single ruling, and outcomes can turn on facts specific to each person. For advice on a specific situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.