Cost of Applying for Citizenship
Filing and Biometric Fees When Applying for US Citizenship
Pursuing citizenship in the U.S. involves several different types of costs, not all of which may be immediately obvious. In addition to the fee for filing your application and the fee for your biometrics, you may need to pay to get certain documents for your application. If you do not live near a USCIS office, you might incur travel costs when you are going to your biometrics appointment and your naturalization interview. If your situation is complex, and you feel that you may benefit from the assistance of an immigration attorney, their services may cost you a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars. (You should make sure that any attorney whom you retain is experienced in immigration law and can represent you before USCIS if needed.)
Filing Fees for the Application
Filing Form N-400, which is the standard application for citizenship, will cost you several hundred dollars. In 2022, it costs $640. In addition to this amount, you will need to pay close to $100 for your biometrics appointment. These fees do not apply to everyone, though. If you are a member of the U.S. military or a veteran, you may be able to apply for citizenship under special rules. You do not need to pay any fee for filing the application or for biometrics. If you are 75 or older, you do not need to pay a fee for biometrics, even though you still will need to go through the biometrics process.
If you are simply unable to pay the fee due to exigent financial circumstances, you can request a fee waiver in certain situations. In general, you can get a fee waiver if you are receiving a means-tested benefit from the government, your household income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or you are facing some other type of extreme financial hardship.
Even if you are not eligible for a fee waiver, you might be eligible to pay a reduced fee. You would need to show that your household income is no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size. The reduced fee would amount to about half of the standard fee.
- Form N-400 filing fee
- Biometrics fee
- Document copying and translation fees
- Travel costs
- Immigration attorney fees
Documents and Travel Costs
Some foreign nationals do not need to pay to get the documents that will supplement their application. Others will need to pay for a translation service if they need to submit materials that are in a foreign language, or if they need to get a certified copy of their criminal records from a court. You may need to pay a fee to get copies of tax returns from a long time ago. Foreign nationals who are filing their Form N-400 from outside the U.S. must submit two passport-style photographs, which involves a fee.
You should be aware that the locations where you will attend your biometrics appointment and your naturalization interview will be open only during business hours. You may need to get time off from work to go there, which may result in some missed wages. If you live far away, you may need to plan an overnight trip so that you can make sure to appear on time. This means that you may need to pay for a hotel near the location.
Immigration Law Center Contents
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Immigration Law Center
- Green Cards and Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S.
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Becoming a U.S. Citizen Under Naturalization Law
- Civics and English Language Tests Under Naturalization Law
- Risks of Applying for Citizenship
- Cancellation of Green Card After Citizenship Denial
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Cost of Applying for Citizenship
- Residency Requirement When Applying for Citizenship
- The Fingerprinting Requirement for Citizenship Applications Under Naturalization Law
- Who Is Legally Eligible for Expedited Review of a U.S. Citizenship Application?
- Applying for U.S. Citizenship as a Former Asylee or Refugee & Related Legal Concerns
- Fee Waivers When Applying for Citizenship & Potential Impact on Legal Eligibility
- The Naturalization Interview & Establishing Legal Eligibility for Citizenship
- Second Chance Naturalization Interviews & Proving Legal Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship
- Requesting a Hearing After Denial of U.S. Citizenship Under Naturalization Law
- Moving After Applying for Citizenship
- The Naturalization Ceremony & Legally Swearing Allegiance to the U.S.
- Muslim Applicants for Citizenship & Their Legal Options When Placed on the CARRP List
- Name Corrections & Legal Name Changes in the Naturalization Process
- Birthright Citizenship and Legal Acquisition or Derivation of Citizenship Through Parents
- When Military Service Members and Veterans May Have Legal Shortcuts to Citizenship
- Children of Refugees Legally Qualifying for Citizenship Through Derivation
- How Conditional Resident Status Can Legally Affect Applying for Citizenship
- When Foreign Nationals Affected by Domestic Violence May Have Legal Shortcuts to Citizenship
- Crimes That May Legally Prevent You From Receiving U.S. Citizenship
- Public Benefits & Legal Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship
- When Political Affiliations Can Legally Disqualify You From U.S. Citizenship
- Does an Extramarital Affair Legally Disqualify You From U.S. Citizenship?
- Impact of Bigamy or Polygamy on Legal Eligibility for U.S. Citizenship
- Does Failure to Register With the Selective Service Legally Disqualify You From U.S. Citizenship?
- When Absences From the U.S. Can Affect Legal Eligibility for Citizenship
- How Getting U.S. Citizenship Provides Legal Advantages
- Obtaining Legal Proof of U.S. Citizenship
- Voting Rights & Legally Registering to Vote After Receiving Citizenship
- Can U.S. Citizens Legally Hold Dual Citizenship?
- How Can U.S. Citizenship Be Legally Removed?
- Immigrant Visas Leading to Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S.
- Non-Immigrant Visas Providing a Legal Basis for Temporary Residence in the U.S.
- Work Visas Allowing Foreign Nationals to Legally Enter the U.S.
- Family Immigration Options Under the Law
- Investor Visas Providing Legal Status in the U.S.
- Visitor Visas Allowing Foreign Nationals to Legally Enter the U.S.
- Student Visas Allowing Foreign Nationals to Legally Enter the U.S.
- Denials of Visas or Green Cards & Your Legal Options
- Consular Interviews When Seeking a Visa or Green Card
- VAWA Petitions for Foreign Nationals Affected by Domestic Violence & Seeking Legal Status in the U.S.
- How Children of Foreign Nationals Affected by Domestic Violence Can Legally Obtain Immigration Status
- Work Authorization for Foreign Nationals Without Green Cards
- How Foreign Nationals Unable to Return Home Safely May Legally Qualify for Temporary Protected Status
- Asylum for Foreign National Refugees
- Humanitarian Parole for Foreign Nationals With Compelling Needs
- Advance Parole for Foreign Nationals Living in the U.S. Without Green Cards
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Legal Protections From Deportation
- Visa Waiver Program for Brief Visits to the U.S. Without Formal Legal Status
- Grounds for Finding a Foreign National Legally Inadmissible to the U.S.
- How the Deportation Legal Process Works
- Appeals of Immigration Decisions Through the Legal Process
- LGBTQ+ Individuals Facing Immigration Legal Issues
- Inspections of Foreign Nationals Seeking to Legally Enter the U.S.
- Unlawful Presence in the U.S. & Legal Penalties
- Tax Law Issues for Visa or Green Card Holders
- Waivers of Legal Inadmissibility to the U.S.
- How a Criminal Record Legally Affects Immigration Status
- How Social Media Use Can Affect Legal Admissibility to the U.S.
- Immigration Law FAQs
- Immigration Legal Forms
- Find an Immigration Law Lawyer
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