USCIS Changes the form and filing fees to Apply for Naturalization
Denice Flores • June 6, 2024
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services made changes to the naturalization application and the filing fee which became effective April 1, 2024.
The naturalization application, Form N-400, was updated. The new form edition is dated 04/01/2024. As of June 3, 2024, USCIS will only accept the new form edition.
The filing fee for Form N-400 also changed. The prior filing fee was $640.00 plus a biometric fee of $85.00, for a total of $725.00. The new filing fee became effective April 1, 2024, so all naturalization applications postmarked April 1, 2024, or later, must include the new appropriate filing fee. The new general fee if you file a paper application is $760.00, and if you file the application online the fee is $710.00.
USCIS introduced a reduced fee of $380.00 for applicants’ who have an annual household income less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/poverty-guidelines).
Applicants who want to request the reduced fee must answer Part 10 of the new form edition and include supporting documentation to show their annual household income is below the 400% federal poverty guidelines. The request for a fee reduction should be supported by a copy of each household member’s most recent federal tax return. There are other documents that can be submitted if tax returns are unavailable, such as paystubs, recent form W-2, and a letter from an employer verifying the applicant’s current income. The income calculation is made at the time of filing.
Applicants who satisfy the qualifying standards for a full fee waiver may still file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. The three qualifying standards to be eligible for a full waiver are: receipt of a means-tested benefit, income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or extreme financial hardship.
For more information about the changes implemented by USCIS, go to: https://www.uscis.gov/n-400.
If you believe you are eligible to apply for Naturalization or if you have questions about your eligibility and the process, please schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys and we will be more than happy to assist you.
This blog is not intended to be legal advice and nothing here should be construed as establishing an attorney client relationship. Please schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney before acting on any information read here.
Denice Flores
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