A new proposal from the Trump administration would raise citizenship application fees by up to 80% for millions of green card holders.
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Under the Trump administration’s new proposal, millions of green card holders seeking to become U.S. citizens would have to pay significantly higher application fees.
Federal officials acknowledged that the changes would probably deter some people from applying, but said the fee increases were necessary to cover the cost of stricter background checks ordered by President Donald Trump.
The cost to apply for naturalization as a U.S. citizen would increase from $760 to $1,330 for a paper application and from $710 to $1,280 for an online application, according to a proposal published in the Federal Register this week. These are increases of 75% and 80%, respectively.
In addition, rejected applicants must pay between $830 and $1,475 for paper applications and between $780 and $1,425 for online applications.
Homeland Security officials said in a statement that the proposal reflects the value of becoming a citizen, “the most important benefit for immigrants.” Under President Trump’s strict policies, both legal and illegal immigration has decreased significantly. The White House is also actively seeking to revoke the citizenship of some naturalized immigrants accused of committing crimes or supporting hostile alien groups.
In the new proposal, federal officials also said they would eliminate some fee waivers for poor applicants, but keep them in place for those seeking citizenship by joining the military.
If fully implemented, DHS said the fee increases would cost future citizens more than $430 million annually. According to DHS, approximately 1 million people apply to become naturalized citizens each year.
“Reducing naturalization fees is also consistent with the previous administration’s efforts to promote citizenship and social integration,” DHS wrote in the proposal. “DHS no longer believes it is necessary to lower fees for naturalization benefit applications, potentially at the expense of other immigration benefits.”
The Trump administration has increased other fees in many immigration-related areas, and in May announced plans to fine immigrants about $18,000 in detention and deportation costs if they are found to be in the U.S. illegally.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said in a social media post that the fee increase appears to be aimed at discouraging people who already have green card status from becoming full citizens. Reichlin Melnick’s organization works for immigrant rights and provides free legal services to people who cannot afford an immigration lawyer.
“For years, the U.S. government has sought to keep costs artificially low in order to encourage more people with green cards to apply for citizenship,” he wrote. “It seems like it’s no good anymore!”
DHS is accepting public comments on the proposal until Aug. 24, and it may change or withdraw it based on responses.
