US Proposes Major Hike in Citizenship Application Fees

The United States government has proposed a significant increase in citizenship application fees, a move that could make the naturalization process substantially more expensive for immigrants. Under the proposal published in the Federal Register, the current citizenship application fee of $760 would rise to $1,330, while the fee for filing an appeal would increase from $830 to $1,475.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the revised fees are intended to recover the full cost of processing applications and covering enhanced security screening measures. However, immigration advocates and policy experts have expressed concerns that the higher costs could discourage lawful permanent residents, particularly those with lower incomes, from pursuing US citizenship. The proposal is currently open for public comment for 60 days before a final decision is made.