For people saving to apply for U.S. citizenship, the immigration fee rule published October 24, 2016 carried more than one price. In this October 29 retrospective, the relevant change was still ahead: the rule took effect December 23. Applications or petitions mailed, postmarked or otherwise filed on or after that date had to include the new fee. [2016-25328]
The final rule set the ordinary N-400 naturalization application fee at $640. Applicants with documented income above 150 percent and no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level could qualify for a $320 filing fee. That reduced tier was not a waiver of every charge: the agency described an additional $85 biometric fee, where applicable, and required a reduced-fee request with income documentation. [2016-25328]
The May 4 proposal explained the pressure behind the schedule. USCIS projected an average annual $560 million gap between fee-account revenue and costs if existing fees continued. That was a forecast supporting cost recovery, not a later measured deficit. The October final rule and May proposal belong to the same agency rulemaking, not two independent tests of affordability. [2016-25328][2016-10297]
The public-interest question is therefore about distribution, not just the headline increase. A weighted-average rise of 21 percent did not describe every applicant's bill. The reduced naturalization tier recognized different means, while documentation added a practical step. DHS hoped the lower fee would reduce financial barriers, but these documents did not establish how many additional people would apply or whether access would improve. [2016-25328][2016-10297]
Source documents
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedulehttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-10-24/html/2016-25328.htm
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedulehttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-05-04/html/2016-10297.htm