In August 2026, Sen. Mazie Hirono and a group of Senate colleagues asked the Department of Homeland Security to rethink a planned naturalization fee increase. They also want DHS to keep fee waivers in place for low-income citizenship applicants who qualify. The proposal, published by DHS in June 2026, would raise the current $760 Form N-400 paper-filing fee by about 75% (to $1,330) and end the reduced-fee option and fee waivers for non-military applicants. It is still a proposed rule, not final; you can check the current fee schedule at uscis.gov before you file.
This fight matters for anyone weighing the move from a green card to full citizenship. If you’re comparing your green card vs citizenship options, this proposed fee increase could affect your timeline and your budget.
1. What Changed With Naturalization Fees
2. Who Is Affected by Fee Waivers
3. What To Do About the Fee Increase
4. How Vega & Associates Can Help
5. What This Means for You
6. Frequently Asked Questions
What Changed With the Naturalization Fee Increase
DHS is weighing a naturalization fee increase that would also cut fee waivers for citizenship applicants. Sen. Hirono and 11 other senators sent DHS a letter this week opposing the plan. They want current rules, including the fee waiver eligibility process, to stay in place. DHS has not published a final fee schedule or a start date.
The Senators Behind the Push
Hirono led the letter, joined by 11 colleagues in the Senate. They sent it directly to DHS this week. Their focus is narrow: keep fee waivers available and drop the proposed fee hike for naturalization applicants.
What DHS Has Not Confirmed
DHS has not named a specific new fee amount. It also hasn’t set an effective date for any naturalization fee increase. So, current rules still apply while the agency reviews the proposal.
Key Takeaway: A group of senators, led by Hirono, are asking DHS to drop a proposed naturalization fee increase and keep fee waivers in place for low-income applicants who qualify. DHS has not set a final fee amount or start date, but its June 2026 proposal would raise the current $760 Form N-400 paper-filing fee by about 75% (to $1,330) and end the reduced-fee option and waivers for non-military applicants. Check the current fee schedule at uscis.gov before you file.
Who Is Affected by the Fee Waiver Changes
This proposal would hit lower-income citizenship applicants hardest. Fee waivers let eligible green card holders apply for naturalization without paying the full fee upfront. Remove that option, and some applicants may delay their case or drop it. Families weighing the move from a green card to citizenship should pay close attention.
Lower-Income Citizenship Applicants
Fee waivers exist for applicants who meet income limits tied to federal poverty guidelines. If DHS ends most waivers, these applicants would need to pay the full naturalization fee out of pocket. That’s a real barrier for many households.
Houston Families Weighing Citizenship
Many of our Houston clients rely on fee waivers to move forward with citizenship. Our immigration attorneys track proposals like this one closely, so clients get accurate, current guidance instead of guesswork.
What To Do Now About the Naturalization Fee Increase
You don’t need to wait for DHS to finalize anything before you act. Start by checking your income against current fee waiver rules. If you qualify now, filing before any naturalization fee increase takes effect could save you money. The official citizenship resources page walks through the naturalization process step by step.
Check Your Fee Waiver Eligibility
Review your household income against the current fee waiver limits. If you qualify, gather your documents now. That way, you’re ready to file the moment it makes sense for your case.
Time Your N-400 Filing
Fees and waiver rules can shift once DHS finalizes a new policy. So, filing sooner may lock in your current cost. Talk with an attorney before you submit your N-400 to avoid mistakes that slow your case.
Pro Tip: Gather your income documents now, even before DHS finalizes anything. That way, you’re ready to file the moment you confirm your fee waiver eligibility.
How Vega & Associates Can Help With Your Citizenship Case
Our team at Vega & Associates handles naturalization cases every day. We track proposed fee changes so your case moves forward on accurate information, not guesswork. One client summed up that experience in a client review: “I am extremely satisfied with the way they handled my case. They did my N-400 case and the entire process was carried very professionally and I am glad I chose them… I highly recommend them.”, Janak Badu, Google review.
Guidance Through Your Naturalization Case
We walk clients through fee waiver eligibility, form preparation, and interview steps. If DHS changes the fee rules, we’ll explain exactly what it means for your case.
Staying Current on Immigration Policy
Immigration rules shift often. Our team monitors proposals like this fee increase so you don’t have to. That means fewer surprises on your path to citizenship.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Waiting until DHS finalizes the rule before checking your fee waiver eligibility. By then, you may have missed your best window to file at the current cost.
What This Naturalization Fee Increase Means for You
If you qualify for a fee waiver now, that status won’t disappear overnight. DHS has not announced an effective date for any naturalization fee increase. Still, planning early protects you from a sudden cost jump once the rule is final.
Plan Ahead, Not in a Panic
You don’t need to rush into a decision today. But you should know where you stand on fee waiver eligibility. That puts you in control once DHS announces its final rule.
Next Steps for Citizenship Applicants
Review your income documents. Then talk with an immigration attorney about timing. Most importantly, don’t let uncertainty stop you from moving your case forward.
What This Means for You: If you qualify for a fee waiver today, keep your documents current and ready. DHS hasn’t set a date for any change. So, applicants who act early stay in the best position, no matter what DHS decides.
A group of senators are asking DHS to pull back a naturalization fee increase that could end fee waivers for citizenship applicants. DHS has not confirmed a final fee amount or a start date. The safest move is to check your fee waiver eligibility now, before any naturalization fee increase takes effect.
Vega & Associates can walk you through your options and help you time your N-400 filing correctly. Schedule a case review with our team to see where you stand today.
This is general information, not legal advice. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.
Expert Insight from Vega & Associates: Naturalization applicants often assume fee rules stay fixed while a proposal moves through DHS. They don’t. Vega & Associates advises clients to confirm fee waiver eligibility now and keep every income document ready. That way, a client can file the moment it makes financial sense, instead of waiting on a decision with no confirmed date.
Bottom Line: A group of senators want DHS to drop a proposed naturalization fee increase and keep fee waivers for citizenship applicants. No fee amount or effective date has been confirmed. Check your eligibility and talk with an attorney before you file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proposed naturalization fee increase?
Sen. Hirono and 11 senators say DHS may raise naturalization fees and end fee waivers for citizenship applicants. They call this a naturalization fee increase that could hurt lower-income filers. DHS has not confirmed a final amount. No change has taken effect yet.
Will DHS still offer fee waivers for naturalization?
Right now, yes. Current fee waiver rules still apply to naturalization applicants. The senators’ letter asks DHS to keep it that way. But DHS hasn’t confirmed whether waivers survive once any naturalization fee increase takes effect. Check your eligibility today.
Who is pushing back on the naturalization fee hike?
Sen. Mazie Hirono led the letter, joined by 11 other senators. They sent it to DHS this week, according to Maui News. Their goal is to stop a naturalization fee increase and protect fee waivers for lower-income citizenship applicants.
When would a naturalization fee increase take effect?
DHS has not set a date. The senators’ letter responds to a proposal, not a finalized rule. So, no naturalization fee increase is in effect right now. Check back as DHS releases more details on its fee waiver plans.
What should I do before the naturalization fee increase happens?
Review your income against current fee waiver rules first. If you qualify, consider filing your N-400 now, before any naturalization fee increase takes effect. Talk with an immigration attorney about timing to avoid paying more than you need to.
Step-by-Step Process
Step-by-Step: Responding to the Naturalization Fee Increase Proposal
1. Read the senators’ letter on the naturalization fee increase.
2. Check current fee waiver rules for naturalization applicants today.
3. Gather income documents proving your fee waiver eligibility.
4. Confirm your current N-400 filing fee amount.
5. Talk with an immigration attorney about your filing timing.
6. Decide whether to file now or wait for DHS’s rule.
7. Submit your N-400 application with complete, accurate paperwork.
8. Track DHS announcements on the fee increase proposal.
9. Update your fee waiver request if your income changes.
10. Contact Vega & Associates with questions about your case.
Quick Reference: What Is a Naturalization Fee Increase?
A naturalization fee increase raises the cost of applying for U.S. citizenship. It usually comes from a DHS rule change, not a law passed by Congress. Right now, senators are asking DHS to drop a proposed increase. They also want DHS to keep fee waivers for applicants who qualify. So, current fee and waiver rules still apply until DHS finalizes anything new.
Additional Resources
Wondering what your green card is really worth? Read 10 benefits of holding a green card before deciding when to apply for citizenship.
Curious how long adjustment of status takes before naturalization even comes into play? See how adjustment of status timelines work for a realistic picture.
Want to know what happens after you submit your paperwork? Read understanding USCIS case processing times to set the right expectations.
Reviewed by Adan Vega, Board-Certified Immigration Attorney, Founding Partner · Updated
About the author
Board-Certified Immigration Attorney, Founding Partner · Texas Board-Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1985); Admitted, U.S. Supreme Court (2004); Admitted, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1980); J.D., The University of Texas at Austin School of Law (1979); B.A., Rice University (1976); Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (1982); Texas Super Lawyers — Thomson Reuters (2004); Special Service Award — Migration and Refugee Services, United States Catholic Conference
Adan G. Vega is a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney and the founding partner of Vega & Associates, PLLC in Houston, Texas. He has practiced immigration and nationality law exclusively for more than 45 years, making him one of the longest-serving immigration attorneys in Houston. He earned a B.A. from Rice University in 1976 and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 1979. In 1985 the Texas Board of Legal Specialization awarded him a Certificate of Special Competence in Immigration and Nationality Law, authorizing the title Board Certified Specialist. He is admitted to practice before the Texas state courts, the EOIR Immigration Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court, and has presented oral argument in the Fifth Circuit on three occasions, including one published opinion.
On August 23, 1988, Vega testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law, on the effects of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. He has served as immigration legal counsel to foreign governments in the United States, including the governments of Mexico and El Salvador, and to multinational companies on employment-based immigration.
A member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1982, he co-chaired the AILA Texas Chapter Conference in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2004, and has lectured on immigration law at AILA conferences and at the University of Texas. He authored the Guide of United States History and Government in 1989. The Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Catholic Conference presented him with a special service award for outstanding commitment and dedicated service to newcomers.
Vega was a founder and initial director of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1984, served as President of Consejo Hispano from 1987 to 1988, and has served as special immigration legal counsel, board director, vice president and president of the Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston. He has provided pro bono immigration services to Texas's indigent community throughout his career. He has been recognized as a Top Texas Lawyer by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) since 2004. He represents individuals, families and businesses before USCIS, the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
