How Much Does it Cost to Become a Citizen? Complete Guide

How much does it cost to become a citizen? Learn more about the current citizenship filing fees, methods of payment, applying for a fee waiver and the processing time in our comprehensive citizenship guide.

For most lawful permanent residents, it will cost $725 to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. 

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Citizen

This table shows how much does it cost to become a U.S. citizen:

How Do I Pay USCIS Fees?

Most USCIS immigration forms require you to pay a filing (or processing) fee. 

How you pay your filing fees is largely dependent on whether you are located in the United States or abroad.

USCIS requires that you pay the exact amount required or your application will be rejected.  

Are USCIS Fees Refundable?

In paying any fee, you ask the USCIS to perform a service. 

That service is processing your USCIS form (or application).

Because USCIS is performing a service for you, these fees are non-refundable regardless of whether USCIS approves your application or not. 

Can I Pay While Outside the United States?

The USCIS will not accept the payment of some fees through a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.

If you are permitted to pay this fee abroad, you must contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you are filing for the acceptable payment method: Find U.S. Embassy.

How Do I Pay While Inside the United States?

If you file your citizenship application online, you will make a payment online on USCIS website. 

If you file your citizenship application (Form N-400) by mail, you can pay the fee with: 

• Money order
• Personal check
• Cashier’s check, or 
• By credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions

Making Payment by Check

If paying with a bank draft, cashier’s check, certified check, personal check, or money order, you must draw from a U.S. financial institution and it must be payable in U.S. funds. 

You can purchase a money order at any USPS office. Find your nearest USPS office here.

You must mail these check or money order payments with your N-400 application.

If you choose to make payment by check, please be aware of the following: 

• Insufficient Funds: If your check or other payment method is unpayable, USCIS will attempt the process for a second time. If this second attempt is returned as unpayable, your application will be denied for failure to pay fees and you will be charged $30.00.

Your personal check must be pre-printed with both your name and your bank’s name. 

Your address and phone number must also be pre-printed, typed, or written in ink.

If you are making payment by personal check, USCIS requires the check to be written as follows:

Tips how to write the personal check:

1. Use the U.S. style of month/day/year when writing the date (Jan. 4, 2017, or 1/4/17);
2. Write “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” (not “USDHS” or “DHS”) on the Pay to the Order of line;
3. When stating the amount of the check, use numerals and the exact amount of the fee (“$725.00”);
4. You must spell out the exact dollar amount and write the cents portion of the amount as a fraction over 100 (“Seven hundred twenty-five and 00/100”);
5. You should write a description of the purpose of your payment (“N-400 application and biometric services fee”); and
6. Using your legal name, sign the check in ink.

Making Payment with a Credit Card

You can pay your fees with a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card for both online and mail (paper) N-400 applications. 

USCIS accepts: 

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express, and
• Discover. 

Be sure your card is active and there are sufficient funds on your card to make payment. 

If your card is rejected for any reason, USCIS will not attempt to process your card a second time and will deny your application for failure to pay fees. 

Making Payment Online 

When you file any form online, the USCIS website will direct you to the secure U.S. Treasury Department website.  

This Treasury Department website will guide you through the process of paying your fees with a credit, debit, prepaid card, or a direct bank account withdrawal.   

Beware: The USCIS only uses the Treasury Department website (pay.gov) to process fees.  

Always check the website address before paying.  

Beware of scam websites and scammers who may pretend to be a legitimate USCIS website. 

Making Payment by Mail

If you file your form by mail, you can still pay fees by credit card by following these steps: 

1. Complete and sign Form G-1450 (Authorization for Credit Card Transactions);
2. Place your completed Form G-1450 in the envelope with your USCIS application; and
3. Mail the entire package to the appropriate USCIS Lockbox.

If your application is complete and ready for processing, USCIS will: 

• Charge your credit card for the amount of your fees;
• Destroy the Form G-1450 you filed to protect your credit card information (USCIS will destroy your Form G-1450 even if your application is rejected and no payment is taken from your card); and 
• You will see a charge from USCIS on your credit card statement.

Can I Get N-400 Fees Reduced or Waved?

The United States government recognizes that some are unable to pay the fees associated with the immigration process. 

USCIS Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) is one of the forms in which fees may be reduced or waived.

Am I Eligible for a Fee Reduction? 

A fee reduction means the USCIS will reduce the application fee associated with Form N-400 from $640 to $320.  

A fee reduction should not be confused with a fee waiver. 

This is discussed further below.

The granting of a fee reduction does not relieve you from paying the full $85 biometric services fee.

To qualify for a fee reduction, you must provide documentation showing that your total household income is greater than 150% but below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you filed your application.

Am I Eligible for a Fee Waiver?

A fee waiver means that USCIS will waive the application fee associated with Form N-400 from $640 to $0. 

A fee waiver should not be confused with a fee reduction discussed above.

The granting of a fee waiver also relieves you from paying the $85 biometric services fee.

To qualify for a fee waiver, you must “clearly demonstrate” that you are unable to pay the necessary filing fees because:

You, your spouse, or the head of your household is currently receiving a means-tested benefit;

• Your household income is at-or-below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline when you filed your application; or
• You are currently experiencing unusual and unexpected hardship that prevents you from paying the fees.

How Long Will it Take to Process My N-400 Application?

USCIS N-400 applications are processed by some 89 field offices located throughout the United States and U.S. territories. 

Unfortunately, there is no set time frame between these local field offices. 

To help you approximate your N-400 wait time, SelfLawyer presents the following table listing the average N-400 processing time for each USCIS field office. 

Form N-400 Processing Time

You can track the status of your N-400 application through the Case Status Tracking Tool on the USCIS website.