Citizenship Application Fees Set to Rise by 75% Under New Proposal

WHO:

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Trump administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Doug Rand (former senior USCIS official)

WHAT:

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Trump administration proposed a plan to increase citizenship application fees by $570.

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The proposed fee for paper applications would rise from $760 to $1,330, and for online filings from $710 to $1,280.

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - Fees for reconsideration of citizenship request denials would increase by $645.

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The plan would eliminate fee waivers and reductions for low-income applicants.

WHERE:

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - United States

WHEN:

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The proposed regulation will undergo a 60-day public comment period before any changes take effect.

WHY:

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - DHS stated that the fee hikes are necessary to fully subsidize the processing of citizenship applications, especially due to increased scrutiny of applicants under the Trump administration.

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Trump administration is adopting a strategy that differs from previous administrations, which kept citizenship application fees relatively low to promote citizenship and integration.

HOW:

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The Trump administration has moved to more aggressively probe the requirement for applicants to demonstrate "good moral character."

[12:15 PM EDT] - CBS News - The administration has resumed neighborhood checks to speak with neighbors and coworkers of those requesting citizenship.

(UPDATED June 23, 2026 01:43 UTC)

The Trump administration has proposed a significant increase in citizenship application fees, raising the cost for paper applications from $760 to $1,330 and for online filings from $710 to $1,280, while also eliminating fee waivers for low-income applicants. Additionally, fees for reconsideration of denied citizenship requests would rise by $645, and the plan will enter a 60-day public comment period before any changes take effect. This move comes as the Department of Homeland Security emphasizes the need for these hikes to fully subsidize application processing amid heightened scrutiny of applicants, marking a shift from previous administrations that aimed to keep fees low to encourage citizenship.