The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a proposal to significantly increase fees for naturalization applications, a move that could price out lower-income legal permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register, would raise the application fee from $760 to $1,330 for paper filings and from $710 to $1,280 for online filings, according to the department. The proposal also eliminates reduced fees and fee waivers for most applicants, with exceptions only for military service members, officials said. A 60-day public comment period is now open before any final decision.
Proposal Announced
DHS officials stated that the fee increases are necessary to cover the full cost of adjudication, including expanded background checks, screening, and vetting requirements. The proposal would end reduced fees and most hardship-based waivers currently available to low-income immigrants, according to the rule. DHS asserted that demand for citizenship is unlikely to decline significantly despite higher fees, the rule states.
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