Since a citizenship application is a one-time cost, your estimate weighs the fee you enter against roughly three months of your budget rather than a single month's income, since that's closer to how a cost like this actually gets absorbed.
These key factors affect citizenship application affordability
USCIS filing fee structure
The N-400 naturalization application fee is set by USCIS and adjusted periodically, and applicants who file online sometimes pay a slightly reduced rate compared to paper filing.
Biometrics and supporting document costs
Depending on current USCIS policy, biometrics services may be bundled into the filing fee or billed separately, and applicants sometimes need certified copies of documents like birth certificates or translations that add smaller out-of-pocket costs.
Fee waivers and reduced fees
USCIS offers a fee waiver for applicants who meet income thresholds, typically at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, and a reduced fee option for others, which can significantly lower the total cost for lower-income applicants.
How to use your results
- Check the current USCIS fee schedule before budgeting, since naturalization fees are adjusted periodically and the number here is a starting point.
- If you qualify for a fee waiver or reduced fee, factor that in rather than assuming you owe the full published amount.
- Set the total aside in a lump sum before filing, since USCIS will reject an application with an incorrect or missing fee.
Ways to make a citizenship application more affordable
- Apply for the fee waiver using Form I-912 if your household income and circumstances qualify.
- Gather your own supporting documents and translations where allowed, rather than paying a preparer to do it.
- Avoid paying for unnecessary expedited services from third-party preparers, since USCIS processing times aren't sped up by them.
- Time your application around a stable stretch in your budget so the one-time fee doesn't collide with other large expenses.
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