File for Citizenship Now: Naturalization Fees Are About to Rise

By Melisa Pena, Esq. Founding Partner | Published September 10, 2026

“I’ll get around to it next year.”

We hear this constantly from green card holders in Miami and South Florida who are eligible for citizenship but haven’t filed yet—usually because life is busy, the process feels overwhelming, or there’s no urgent deadline pushing them to act.

Right now, there actually is one.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a steep increase to the filing fee for Form N-400—the naturalization application. If it finalizes, “next year” could cost you hundreds of dollars more than filing today. And once that rule is in place, there’s no going back.

The Proposed Increase, by the Numbers

DHS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on June 23, 2026, laying out the proposed new fee schedule:

•       Paper filing: rising from $760 to $1,330

•       Online filing: rising from $710 to $1,280

That’s an increase of roughly $570 for online filers—close to an 80% jump. The fee to appeal a denied naturalization application (Form N-336) would rise similarly, from $830 to $1,475.

Think of it this way: filing today is the same process, the same application, the same path to citizenship—just hundreds of dollars less. Every month you wait is a month closer to paying the higher fee.

Why the Fee Is Going Up—and Who Gets Hit Hardest

The proposed increase reflects what DHS calls a “beneficiary-pays” model. Instead of broadly subsidizing the naturalization process, the agency is moving toward requiring each applicant to cover the full cost of processing their own case.

But the part of this proposal that concerns us most for our clients in South Florida is this: the rule would also eliminate most fee waivers and reduced-fee options that have historically helped lower-income applicants afford the process. Active-duty military members would remain exempt, but for everyone else, the full fee applies.

Every week in our Miami and Fort Lauderdale offices, we work with clients for whom $760 is already a stretch. A jump to $1,330 is not a minor adjustment. It’s a real barrier for real families.

When Could This Take Effect?

The increase has not taken effect yet (as of September 9, 2026). DHS published the proposal, took public comment, and now has to review that feedback and issue a final rule before any new fee schedule applies. Current fees stay in place until that final rule is published and its effective date arrives.

That said, "not yet" is not the same as "not soon." Proposed fee rules like this one are frequently finalized largely as written, and there's no guarantee of a meaningful delay once DHS starts moving. If you're already eligible to apply, waiting to see what happens is a real financial gamble.

Not sure if you're eligible to file now? We break down the full eligibility picture — including some of the exceptions people miss — in When Can You Apply for U.S. Citizenship?. Or skip the reading and call us at 305-615-1005.

Why Filing Now Makes Sense

If you’re already eligible for citizenship, here’s the honest case for not waiting:

• You lock in the current, lower fee. Filing before the final rule takes effect means you pay today’s rate—not tomorrow’s.

• You avoid the fee waiver uncertainty. If you were planning to apply for a reduced fee or waiver, that option may not exist by the time you’re ready to file.

• Processing time doesn’t speed up by waiting. USCIS timelines are long. Filing sooner puts you that much closer to your Oath ceremony—and all the rights and protections citizenship brings.

• Your eligibility doesn’t improve by waiting. If you already meet the requirements, there’s very little upside to delay—and real downside if the fee increase finalizes before you file.

Are You Eligible to Apply Right Now?

In general, you may be eligible to apply for naturalization if you:

• Have held a Green Card for at least 5 years (or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen)

• Have maintained continuous residence and physical presence in the United States during that period

• Can demonstrate good moral character (this is where a past charge can complicate things — see how a criminal record can affect your path to citizenship if that applies to you)

• Can pass the English and civics test (with some exceptions based on age and time as a permanent resident)

If you’re not sure whether you qualify—or if you have a past criminal matter, a long trip abroad, or any other complication—that’s exactly the kind of question worth answering now, before a fee increase makes waiting even more expensive.

Legal Guidance You Can Trust

We understand that filing for citizenship feels like a big step. It’s natural to want everything in order before you do. But “getting ready” doesn’t have to take as long as most people think—and the cost of waiting is about to go up significantly.

At Jarbath Peña Law Group, we review eligibility, prepare strong applications, and catch the kind of issues—a past travel gap, an old charge, a document discrepancy—that can cause problems at the interview if they're not addressed upfront. Want the full roadmap first? How to Become a Naturalized Citizen: A Comprehensive Overview walks through the whole process start to finish, and How to Prepare for Your Naturalization Interview covers what happens after USCIS accepts your case. Our bilingual team serves clients throughout Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

You’ve already done the hard part—years of building your life here. Don’t let a fee increase be the reason you waited too long.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I file before the fee increase takes effect but my application is still pending when the new rule kicks in, which fee do I pay?

USCIS locks in the fee at the time of filing. If your N-400 is accepted before the new fee schedule takes effect, you pay the rate that was in place when you filed, not the higher rate that came later. This is one of the strongest reasons to file now rather than wait.

I’ve been eligible for years. Is it too late to file before the fee goes up?

That depends entirely on where DHS is in the rulemaking process on the day you're reading this, and that can change with very little notice. What doesn't change: once a final rule is published and takes effect, the higher fees apply. If you're already eligible, the safest move is to stop wondering and call us. We'll tell you exactly where things stand and whether the current fee is still available to you.

I qualify for a fee waiver right now. Should I still rush to file?

If you're eligible for a waiver today, don't sit on it. The proposed rule would eliminate most fee waivers for the N-400 once it's finalized, and we can't tell you exactly when that will happen. If your application isn't already filed when that switch flips, you'd be facing the full $1,330 with no waiver available. Filing while the waiver option still exists is the only way to guarantee you don't lose it.

Can I file my N-400 on my own or do I need an attorney?

You can file on your own, but the N-400 asks detailed questions about your full immigration history, criminal history, travel, and tax compliance—and any errors or omissions can result in a denial or, in serious cases, trigger removal proceedings. (We go deeper on this trade-off in Why Having an Immigration Lawyer Beats Going It Alone.)

I have a trip abroad coming up. Should I file before I leave or wait until I return?

It depends on the length of the trip and where you are in your statutory period. Trips longer than six months can affect your continuous residence, and extended travel during a pending application has its own complications — we cover the mechanics in Travel While Your Immigration Case Is Pending. Before you book anything, talk to us—we'll tell you whether filing before or after your trip makes more sense for your specific situation.

Eligible for citizenship and not sure where to start? Contact Jarbath Peña Law Group today at 305-615-1005 or visit us at www.jp-lawgroup.com for a consultation.