Changes are coming to the Naturalization Process for Foreign Nationals. In a Proposed Rule set to be published on June 23, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security wants to adjust the fees for the Form-N-400 and Form N-336, using the Executive Orders signed on January 20, 2025, as justification for this fee hike. The DHS proposes to raise the fee to $1330 for paper filing of the N-400, and $1280 for the online filing. In addition, they wish to raise the N-336 fee to $1475 for paper filing and $1425 for online filings. Military fee exemptions are to stay in place.
These fee hikes are at least 75% higher than they are currently. See the following table:
Table II.1 Current Fees and Proposed Fees for Form N-400 and Form N-336
| Immigration Benefit Request | Current Fee | Proposed Fee | Percent
Change |
| Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings Under Section 336 (paper filing) |
$830 |
$1,475 |
78% |
| Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings Under Section 336 (online filing) |
$780 |
$1,425 |
83% |
| Form N-400 Application for Naturalization (paper filing) | $760 | $1,330 | 75% |
| Form N-400 Application for Naturalization (online filing) | $710 | $1,280 | 80% |
The DHS also proposes to eliminate the reduced fee and fee waiver for the N-400 and N-336. They are claiming that there is a revenue gap and that is why they should get rid of the fee waivers and the reduced fees. “The fees proposed for Form N-400 and Form N-336 in this rule would further ensure full cost recovery as authorized by law and may limit increases to other USCIS forms in future, comprehensive, fee rules.”
The language is concerning, specifically for those who may be disabled or cannot get employment authorization. The DHS argues on page 47 of the 111-page rule change that “Having continuously resided in the United States with employment authorization before applying for naturalization, these naturalization applicants should have more financial stability, on average, than other categories of aliens, most of whom have not lived in the United States or possessed unrestricted employment authorization for as long. Naturalization applicants should generally possess as much or greater ability to pay than the applicants and petitioners who submit other benefit requests, and therefore, lower naturalization fees represent a departure from the ability-to-pay principle (i.e. those who are more capable of bearing the burden of fees should pay more for the service than those with less ability to pay).”
Here, the DHS is proposing that the hike is good because if you have continuously resided in the United States, the applicant should have more financial security. But this does not take into account the wait times and gaps with employment authorization, which can lead to applicants losing their jobs. They also do not take into account the disabled immigrants who are there as parents, children, or other relatives.
If you have been considering filing for citizenship, this may be the last push needed before the fee hike.