Time is running out for the public to weigh in on one of the most significant proposed changes to the cost of becoming a U.S. citizen in recent memory. The comment period for the Trump administration's proposed 75% increase in naturalization filing fees closes on August 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and immigration advocates are making a final push to ensure affected communities make their voices heard before the deadline.
What the Proposed Rule Would Do
The Department of Homeland Security published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register on June 23, 2026
, proposing sweeping changes to the fees associated with applying for U.S. citizenship.
Here are the key changes under the proposed rule:
- Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization):
- Form N-336 (Request for Hearing on Denial):
- Elimination of fee relief:
- Military exemption preserved:
The Government's Rationale
DHS justifies these increases under the "beneficiary-pays" principle, which holds that those who receive a government service should bear the cost of that service.
The proposed higher fees are intended to align with the agency's actual costs of adjudicating these forms, including necessary screening and vetting checks.
The proposed rule represents a deliberate philosophical departure from past practice.
Past administrations kept naturalization fees below full cost to "promote citizenship and integration," but the Trump administration is reversing that.
DHS calls the change a "full-cost, beneficiary-pays" model, under which applicants would pay the full processing cost of their citizenship application, including expanded background checks, interviews, vetting, and investigations now required by recent executive orders.
USCIS has cited observed revenue shortfalls and the likelihood that costs for Form N-400 and Form N-336 will continue to grow, arguing it expects the cost/revenue gap to continue widening if not addressed soon.
Who Would Be Affected
The scope of this proposal is substantial.
USCIS received 993,120 naturalization applications in 2024
, and
the changes would affect hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents each year, potentially delaying naturalization for lower-income immigrants and shifting more of USCIS's operating costs directly onto applicants.
The elimination of fee waivers is especially consequential.
According to the New Americans Campaign, over half of N-400s completed by NAC partners are currently submitted with a full or partial fee waiver request.
For those applicants, the cost of seeking citizenship would effectively increase from little or nothing to $1,280–$1,330 — a potentially insurmountable barrier.
According to federal data, millions of lawful permanent residents in the United States are eligible for naturalization, yet the vast majority haven't applied — in 2024, just 993,120 naturalization applications were submitted while the number of eligible individuals exceeded 10.7 million.
Critics worry that a steep fee increase could widen this gap even further.
What Advocates and Experts Are Saying
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocates and former government officials. As former DHS official Adam Klein told Newsweek,
"While USCIS is largely a fee-funded agency and must recover its operational costs, substantially increasing naturalization fees risks turning citizenship into a benefit that is less accessible to those of modest means."
Asian American advocacy groups have been particularly vocal in opposing the change.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Southern California wrote: "For many immigrants and families, these changes would put U.S. citizenship out of reach. Every eligible immigrant should have a fair and accessible path to citizenship, regardless of their income or ability to pay."
The New Americans Campaign has warned that these proposed changes would present "huge barriers" to prospective naturalization applicants.
How to Submit a Comment Before August 24
Written comments must be submitted on or before August 24, 2026, and the electronic Federal Docket Management System will accept comments prior to midnight ET at the end of that day.
Here's what you need to know about participating in the process:
1. Submit through the proper channel:
You can submit a public comment before the August 24th deadline through regulations.gov, using docket number USCIS-2026-0265.
Emails sent directly to USCIS do not count; it must go through the portal.
2. Make your comment count:
Comments that explain a personal impact — how the fee increase or loss of a waiver would affect your specific situation — carry more weight than general objections.
3. Contact your representatives:
Call your U.S. senators and representative. Members of Congress have real oversight over federal agencies, and constituent calls get noticed — especially when they come in volume.
4. Anyone can comment:
During the comment period, anyone — individuals, organizations, attorneys, or advocacy groups — can submit written comments to USCIS.
What Happens Next
It is important to understand that this is a proposed rule, not a final one.
After comments close, DHS will review the feedback and may revise the rule before issuing a final version.
While USCIS is not required to do what commenters say, meaningful public opposition can and does influence outcomes, and courts have struck down rules where agencies failed to genuinely engage with significant comments.
Current fees ($760 paper, $710 online for N-400) stay in place throughout this process, and there is no confirmed effective date for the increase.
However, DHS is expected to move forward with implementation, anticipated by year-end.
Practical Advice for Eligible Applicants
For lawful permanent residents who are already eligible for naturalization, the calculus is straightforward.
Filing at the current fee locks in the lower cost — you just need USCIS to receive your application before any final rule takes effect.
However,
filing before you are ready, or before gathering the right documentation, can slow or complicate your case, so speaking with an immigration attorney before filing is strongly recommended to confirm your eligibility and timing.
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The bottom line: With the comment period closing on August 24, this is the last opportunity for the public to formally weigh in on a proposed rule that could fundamentally alter the affordability of American citizenship for hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents. Whether you're a prospective applicant, an advocacy organization, an immigration attorney, or a concerned member of the public, now is the time to act.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions about how these proposed changes may affect your immigration case, consult with a qualified immigration attorney.