USCIS published its final fee rule on 31 January 2024, the first general fee change since 2016, and the new fees took effect on 1 April 2024. For Form N-400, the separate $85 biometrics fee was folded into the main fee. Most applicants had paid $725 in total ($640 plus biometrics). They now pay $760 if they file on paper or $710 if they file online, a $50 discount for online filing.
Key facts
- Paper fee $760 per application
- Online fee $710 per application
- Reduced fee $380, income 150% to 400% of poverty guidelines, paper only
- Old fee $725 ($640 plus $85 biometrics)
- From 1 April 2024
Reduced fee and fee waivers
The rule widened the reduced fee. Applicants with household income between 150 and 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines pay $380, half the paper fee. Before the rule, the half-price option only covered incomes from 150 to 200 percent. A reduced fee is now requested in Part 10 of the N-400 itself, so a separate Form I-942 is not needed with the current edition. Fee waivers continue for people who receive a means-tested benefit, have household income at or below 150 percent of the guidelines, or face extreme financial hardship. Reduced fee and fee waiver requests both need a paper N-400. Qualifying members of the US armed forces pay no fee.
When the rule was proposed on 4 January 2023, DHS had suggested $760 with no online discount for naturalisation forms, and a reduced fee limited to incomes under 200 percent. The final rule was more generous on both points.
What this means
Check which fee applies before you file: online is cheapest if you pay the full fee, while a reduced fee or waiver means filing on paper with income evidence. The poverty guidelines are updated each year, so use the current figures on the USCIS poverty guidelines page. The fee does not change what you study: the English and civics tests are the same whichever way you pay.