Naturalization Fee
How much does it cost to apply for citizenship? How much is the naturalization fee? Can I request a citizenship fee waiver? Get the free citizenship application assistance in this article.
I. How much is the naturalization fee?
Unless you qualify for citizenship fee waiver or reduction, you will have to pay a filing fee of $640 for Form N-400 and $85 for Biometric Services for the U.S. citizenship application fee.
Here, we will guide you through
- Who is required to pay for the naturalization fee
- How and where to submit the payment for the naturalization fee
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II. U.S. citizenship application fee
1. Who is required to pay? Who is eligible for citizenship fee waiver?
Not everyone has to pay the full naturalization fee. Those who apply based on military service are exempt from both $640 citizenship application fee and $85 biometric services fee. If you are 75 years old or older, you are also exempt from biometric services fee but still have to pay the citizenship application fee of $640. Everyone else will have to pay both citizenship application fee and biometric services fee.
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2. Can I request a reduced amount of naturalization fee?
Yes, there is a way to request a reduced amount of citizenship application fee. If your documented annual household income is greater than 150 percent but not more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file (https://www.uscis.gov/i-942p), then you may request for reduced citizenship application fee by filing Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee. Even if you qualify for a reduced filing fee, you still have to pay the full biometric services fee along with the reduced citizenship application fee. The reduced citizenship application fee amount is $320. This is not the same as a citizenship fee waiver (I-912).
NOTE: Please do not submit your Form I-942 without a completed N-400 application. You must mail (not online) the Form N-400, Form I-942, the reduced citizenship application fee, the biometrics fee, and supporting documentation to the address listed in the Form N-400 Instructions. Apply for your citizenship with Lawfully. We provide free citizenship application assistance!
3. Can I request a citizenship fee waiver?
How can I get a citizenship fee waiver? Fee waiver is a request to the USCIS to waive the citizenship application fee and biometric services fee if you qualify to do so. You can request a citizenship fee waiver by filing Form I-912 if:
The Form you are filing is eligible for a fee waiver; AND
You provide documentation showing that you qualify based upon one of the following criteria:
- You, your spouse, or the head of household living with you, are currently receiving a means-tested benefit.
- Your household income is at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file.
- You are currently experiencing financial hardship that prevents you from paying the filing fee, such as unexpected medical bills or emergencies.
NOTE: Please do not submit your Form I-912 without a completed N-400 application. You must mail (not online) the Form N-400, Form I-912, and supporting documentation to the address listed in the Form N-400 Instructions. Check our free citizenship application assistance and don’t make any mistakes.
4. How much does it cost to apply for citizenship?
Naturalization fee chart (a.k.a. Citizenship Fee)
| Applicant Type | Filing Fee | Biometric Services Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant in general | $640 | $85 |
| Applicant who is qualified for Fee Reduction (filing with the Form I-942) | $320 | $85 |
| Applicant who is 75 old or older | $640 | $0 |
| Applicant who is 75 old or older and is qualified for Fee Reduction (filing with the Form I-942) | $320 | $0 |
| Applicant filing based on Military Service | $0 | $0 |
| Applicant with Fee Waiver (filing with the Form I-912) | $0 | $0 |
NOTE: FILING AND BIOMETRIC SERVICE FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE, REGARDLESS OF ANY ACTION USCIS TAKES ON YOUR APPLICATION, OR IF YOU WITHDRAW YOUR APPLICATION.
II. How and where to submit the payment for the citizenship fee?
If you file your N-400 application online, you will have to create an online account with USCIS (https://myaccount.uscis.gov). Once you create an online account then you may also pay the citizenship application fees online.
If you mail your application Form N-400 (https://www.uscis.gov/n-400), you may pay the applicable naturalization fees with one of the following:
- Money Order
- Personal Check
- Cashier’s Check
- Credit Card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card transactions
NOTE: DO NOT MAIL CASH.
The checks should be payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (not “USDHS” or “DHS”)
You must choose only one method of payment, not a combination of methods. You cannot pay a filing fee with a money order and pay biometric services fee with a credit card.
If your check is returned as unpayable, USCIS will re-submit the payment to the financial institution one time. If the check is returned as unpayable a second time, USCIS will reject your application and charge you a returned check fee.
All payments must be in the exact amount of naturalization fees.
If you are paying with a credit card using G-1450, make sure to complete all three sections of Form G-1450, sign the Form, and place the Form G-1450 in addition to the Form N-400.
If you are filing from abroad and wish to pay by money order, personal check, or cashier’s check, you must contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your area for specific payment instructions.
NOTE: USCIS WILL REJECT YOUR N-400 IF YOU SUBMIT THE INCORRECT FEE OR AN INCORRECT PAYMENT METHOD. USCIS ALSO WILL REJECT YOUR N-400 IF YOU INCLUDE PAYMENT FOR MORE THAN WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY.
