The N-400 (Application for Naturalization) is the official USCIS form used by eligible permanent residents to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. The fees associated with the N-400 are set by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and are subject to change when USCIS updates its fee schedule — updates require a rulemaking process and are announced in the Federal Register before taking effect.

The current N-400 fee structure was established following USCIS's most recent fee rule. Before submitting any naturalization application, applicants should verify the current fee on the official USCIS website, as using an outdated fee amount will result in automatic rejection of the application regardless of the merits of the case.

The N-400 filing fee for most applicants is $640. In addition to this filing fee, applicants under the age of 75 are required to pay a biometrics fee of $85 — bringing the total cost for most applicants to $725.

The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints, photographs, and signature at an Application Support Centre (ASC) appointment, which USCIS uses to run FBI background checks as part of the naturalization adjudication process. Applicants aged 75 and older are exempt from the biometrics fee because USCIS does not require fingerprinting for this age group, meaning their total N-400 cost is $640.

Military applicants filing under Section 328 or Section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) are exempt from both the N-400 filing fee and the biometrics fee — their total cost is $0. Section 328 applies to current and former members of the U.S. armed forces who have served honourably for at least one year.

Section 329 applies to members serving during designated periods of hostilities who may be eligible for an expedited naturalization path with additional benefits beyond the fee waiver. Military applicants should carefully document their service and eligibility basis when submitting their N-400, as the fee exemption requires proper documentation of qualifying military service to be applied.

USCIS does not charge separately for the naturalization interview or the oath of allegiance ceremony — these are included in the N-400 filing fee and are not subject to additional charges. However, applicants who need to retake the civics test or English test because they failed at the initial interview may be required to return for a second interview without additional fees, though this is an applicant's second opportunity within the allotted timeframe.

If an applicant fails both attempts, the application is denied and the filing fee is forfeited — USCIS does not refund fees for denied applications, though the denial does not prevent reapplication in the future once eligibility has been re-established.

Concurrent with the N-400 filing, applicants who are applying to replace their green card as part of naturalization preparation may have recently paid for a Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card). These are separate USCIS forms with separate fees — paying for an I-90 does not reduce the N-400 fee.

Applicants who have a green card that expires within six months of anticipated naturalization approval sometimes choose to forgo renewing their green card (saving the I-90 fee) and instead focus on filing the N-400 promptly, since an approved naturalization application renders the green card moot by establishing U.S. citizenship.

Payment of N-400 fees must be submitted with the application and can be made by personal cheque, cashier's cheque, or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Online payment is available for applicants who file electronically through the USCIS online account system — this is the most convenient payment method as it allows credit card, debit card, or bank account payment through the secure USCIS portal.

Paper filers who send cheques should write their name and date of birth on the memo line of each payment instrument to ensure accurate crediting. USCIS does not accept cash payments under any circumstances.

Applicants who file the N-400 through the USCIS online account system receive several advantages over paper filers. Online filing allows real-time tracking of application status through the applicant's USCIS account, eliminates the risk of mail loss or processing delays in mail intake, and provides automatic confirmation of receipt with a case number assigned immediately upon submission.

USCIS began accepting online N-400 filings in 2016 and has expanded online filing availability since then. Not all N-400 applicants can file online — certain categories of applicants and situations may require paper filing, so applicants should check the USCIS website's online filing guidance before selecting their submission method.

The biometrics appointment that follows N-400 filing is a brief, routine procedure conducted at an Application Support Centre (ASC). Applicants receive a biometrics appointment notice (Form I-797C) in the mail and must appear at the designated ASC on their scheduled date to have fingerprints scanned, a photograph taken, and a digital signature collected. The biometrics appointment typically takes 30 minutes or less.

Applicants should bring their biometrics appointment notice and a valid government-issued photo identification document. Missing the biometrics appointment can cause significant delays in N-400 processing — applicants who cannot attend their scheduled appointment should contact USCIS promptly to request rescheduling before the appointment date passes.

Translation and legal assistance costs are external to the USCIS fee structure but represent real costs that applicants may incur when preparing the N-400. Many applicants choose to work with an immigration attorney or an accredited representative at a recognised legal services organisation to prepare their application — these services have their own costs separate from USCIS fees, typically ranging from $150 to $1,500 or more depending on the complexity of the case and the type of representation engaged.

Applicants with straightforward naturalization cases may not need paid legal assistance, while those with criminal history, prior immigration violations, or unusual circumstances should strongly consider investing in qualified legal representation to maximise their chances of a successful outcome.

USCIS fee changes announced since 2020 have been subject to legal challenges in federal courts, resulting in periods of uncertainty about applicable fee amounts. Applicants who researched N-400 fees during periods of legal uncertainty should re-verify the current fee on uscis.gov regardless of what they previously found — court rulings have in some cases rolled back proposed fee increases, while new fee rules have taken effect at other times. USCIS's fee schedule page lists the current applicable fee with an effective date, allowing applicants to verify they are using the correct amount for applications filed on or after that date.

Fee processing times at USCIS can vary based on whether payment is made online or by check. Online payments are confirmed immediately upon submission, allowing USCIS to begin processing the case without delay. Paper payments by check must be processed through USCIS's lockbox operations — typically several days to two weeks after receipt at the processing centre — before the case is formally receipted.

Applicants who send paper applications near USCIS processing volume peaks (common at the end of fiscal years or during policy changes) may experience longer intervals between mailing and receiving their receipt notice. Tracking the mailed application via USPS certified mail provides confirmation of delivery but does not indicate when USCIS has receipted and begun processing the case.

Fee waivers for the N-400 are available to applicants who demonstrate financial hardship. USCIS accepts requests for fee waivers based on three primary criteria: (1) the applicant's household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, (2) the applicant receives a means-tested benefit such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or (3) the applicant demonstrates financial hardship based on other documented circumstances.

Fee waiver requests are submitted using Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) and must be accompanied by supporting documentation — tax returns, benefit award letters, bank statements, or other evidence of financial need. Fee waivers are not guaranteed and are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis.

Reduced fees — not complete waivers — may be available for applicants whose income falls between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Under some USCIS fee schedules, applicants in this income range have qualified for a reduced filing fee rather than a full waiver.

Applicants who believe they may qualify for reduced fees should review the current USCIS fee waiver guidance carefully, as the specific income thresholds and reduced fee tiers change with each fee rule update. Legal aid organisations and nonprofit immigration assistance centres can help applicants assess their fee waiver eligibility and prepare Form I-912 at no cost to the applicant.

The fee structure for DACA recipients who apply for naturalization through other pathways is subject to specific guidance — DACA itself does not create a path to naturalization, but DACA recipients who obtained lawful permanent residence through other means (such as marriage to a U.S. citizen or an employment-based green card) are subject to standard N-400 fees unless they qualify for a waiver based on income.

Similarly, asylees and refugees who later naturalise are subject to the standard N-400 fee, though they may qualify for fee waivers if their income meets the criteria — many recent asylee and refugee naturalization applicants receive means-tested benefits that qualify them for fee waivers automatically.

USCIS does not process N-400 applications for which the fee was not received. Applications received without the correct fee — including the wrong amount due to an outdated fee schedule — are returned to the applicant with a rejection notice.

Rejected applications are not denied on the merits and can be resubmitted with the correct fee, but the original priority date is lost — the new submission receives a new filing date, which can affect processing time in the queue. For this reason, verifying the exact current fee on USCIS.gov immediately before preparing the payment is critical, particularly for applicants who researched the process months before actually filing.

Citizenship application assistance programmes funded at the federal level through the Office of Refugee Resettlement administer millions of dollars annually in naturalization fee assistance for eligible populations. Under these programmes, eligible immigrants — particularly refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian entrants — can receive direct financial assistance for N-400 fees, civics test preparation, and related services. The ORR-funded programmes are administered through state refugee agencies and local resettlement organisations. Applicants from qualifying populations should contact their state's refugee services agency or a former resettlement organisation to inquire about available fee assistance before concluding that they must pay out of pocket.

Some states and localities offer programs that assist low-income permanent residents with N-400 filing fees through grants or legal aid partnerships. New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago are among the largest cities with municipal programs that subsidise naturalization costs for eligible permanent residents. These programs typically require proof of income and may involve a waiting list.

National organisations including the National Immigration Law Center, Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), and CLINIC affiliates in most states also assist with fee waiver applications and may provide direct fee assistance for qualifying applicants. Reaching out to local immigration legal services organisations is the most efficient way to identify state and local fee assistance resources available in a specific area.

Refunds from USCIS for N-400 fees are extremely limited. USCIS policy is that fees are non-refundable once an application has been accepted and receipted — even if the applicant later withdraws the application, moves out of the country, or becomes ineligible. A full refund is only available if USCIS has not begun processing the application, which typically means the application was returned without being receipted due to an error or deficiency.

Applicants who are uncertain about their eligibility should consult with an immigration attorney before submitting the N-400 and paying the fee, as confirming eligibility beforehand avoids the costly scenario of losing the filing fee on an application that is ultimately denied for ineligibility.

Naturalization fee assistance is also available in some states through programs funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) or state refugee services agencies. These programs typically target refugee and asylee populations who have obtained lawful permanent residence and are approaching the five-year naturalization eligibility threshold.

Eligible participants may receive assistance not only with USCIS fees but also with civics test preparation classes, English language instruction, and application assistance services. Refugees and asylees who received resettlement services should contact their original resettlement agency to inquire about naturalization assistance programmes, as these organisations often maintain ongoing relationships with clients who may now be eligible for naturalization.

The N-400 application itself is available as a free download on uscis.gov and does not require purchase from any third party. Applicants should be aware that some commercial websites charge fees for N-400 PDF downloads, form filling assistance, or filing services — none of these are USCIS-authorised and may provide outdated forms or unreliable information. The current, authorised N-400 form is always available at no cost directly from uscis.gov. Using an outdated or third-party form may result in rejection, as USCIS accepts only the current edition with the current edition date printed in the bottom corner of each page.

Costs incurred after the N-400 is filed but before the oath ceremony are minimal under most circumstances. If an applicant fails the civics test or English test at the initial interview, USCIS schedules a second interview opportunity at no additional cost. If the application is denied and an appeal is filed, there is a fee for filing Form N-336 (Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings) — currently $700.

Applicants who believe their denial was incorrect should consult with an immigration attorney before filing an appeal, as the N-336 process has specific procedural requirements and the fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the hearing.