N-400 Filing Fee

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT N-400 FILING FEE WAIVERS Checkout the Filing Fee Waiver Page or the USCIS page for it (https://www.uscis.gov/i-912). A Form I-912 Application for a Filing Fee Waiver is separate and distinct from the reductions discussed here. Form I-912 information is not included here. 💸N-400 REDUCED FEE

SUMMARY OF N-400 FILING FEE

Full Filing Fee ($710-760)

Reduced Fee ($380)

< 400% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines [table here]

Must clearly show that your documented annual household income is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines)

Eligibility

You can request a reduced fee if:

1. You are filing a paper Form N-400, Application for Naturalization;AND
2. You provide documentation showing you qualify because your documented household income is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file. Check the current eligible income levels based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines for this year.

NEW N-400 FILING FEE (2024)

The new fee rule is consistent with this longstanding practice, as indicated in the table below. Previously, the total cost included both an application fee ($640) and a separate biometric services fee ($85), for a total of $725 for most applicants. Under the new fee rule, there is no longer a separate biometric services fee, and the total fee is $710 for online filers or $760 for paper filers.

The new fee rule also provides a reduced naturalization fee ($380) for applicants with a household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), expanding eligibility for this reduced fee. Under the previous fee schedule, this reduced fee was only available to applicants with a household income between 150% and 200% of the FPG.

N-400 REDUCED FEE

The reduced fee for Form N-400 will be $380 as of April 1, 2024.

Note the new fee rule edition of Form N-400 incorporates in Part 10 a request for a reduced fee based on household income, eliminating the need to submit Form I-942, Request for Reduced Fee, which is being discontinued.

You cannot file online if you are requesting a reduced fee; you must file a paper Form N-400.

If you are applying for a reduced fee, select “Yes” in Part 10, Item Number 1, then complete Part 10, and submit $380 and documentation to support the reduced fee.

FILING N-400 WITH REQUEST FOR REDUCED FEE

An applicant submitting a request for a fee waiver should submit Form N-400 along with Form I-912 (or a written request) and without a fee.

You cannot file online if you are requesting a fee waiver; you must file a paper Form N-400.

If you are applying for a fee waiver, you are not required to completed Part 10 of the Form N-400. Do not send a fee. Submit a properly completed Form I-912, or a written request for a fee waiver, and documentation to support the fee waiver request.

An applicant requesting a reduced fee with Form N-400 on or after April 1, 2024, should submit the new Form N-400 with Part 10 complete and pay the amount of the reduced fee ($380).

If an applicant were to submit the correct reduced fee with their N-400 and also filed the Form I-912 fee waiver request, we would accept the fee and not adjudicate the fee waiver request.

<aside> <img src="/icons/error_red.svg" alt="/icons/error_red.svg" width="40px" /> An applicant cannot request a reduced fee if filing an N-400 online.

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How to show that your household income is greater than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

• You may request a reduced fee for the filing fees of the application if your documented annual household income is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines at the time you file.
• If your income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, do not file a request for a reduced fee. You may file a fee waiver request. See Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.
• If you are requesting a reduced fee while your spouse lives outside the United States and provides support to your household, include your spouse’s contributions to your household under total household income. If your spouse lives outside the United States and provides no support to your household, please include a statement explaining the situation. If you are applying on the basis of being a battered or abused spouse of a U.S. citizen who you continue to reside with, do not include that spouse’s income.

HHS POVERTY GUIDELINES 2024

WHO COUNTS AS PART OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

HOUSEHOLD CALCULATION

You count someone as part of your household size if that person is:

• You;
• The head of your household (if not you). If a child (under 21 years of age) is applying individually, provide the information of the primary custodial parent;
• Your spouse living with you (if you are separated or your spouse is not living with you, do not include your spouse); or
• Any of the following family members who live with you:
  • Your children or legal wards, who are unmarried and under 21 years of age;
  • Your children or legal wards, who are unmarried and are at least 21 years of age but under 24 years of age, are full-time students, and who live with you when not at school;
  • Your children or legal wards, who are unmarried and for whom you are the legal guardian because they are physically or developmentally disabled or mentally impaired to the extent that they cannot adequately care for themselves and cannot establish, maintain, or re-establish their own household;
  • Your parents; and
  • Any other dependents listed on your federal tax return, or on your spouse’s (unless separated or not living with you) or head of household’s federal tax returns.
• You must include the annual income of your household members as part of your household income.

My relative or roommate lives with me, does their income count toward my household income?

• If someone lives with you but does not meet the definition of a household member as described above, do not count that person’s income as part of your household income. You should count the specific amount of any financial contribution that you receive from them only if that money was used to support your household. You include that amount in your total household income.
  • Example 1: If your uncle lives in your house (which you own) and paid $1,000 towards your mortgage, that $1,000 would be included as income because it was financial support provided to your household.
  • Example 2: You share an apartment with a roommate who is not a household member. You pay your own expenses, and your roommate pays their own expenses. Your roommate’s income is not part of your household income because the roommate is not financially supporting you. Therefore, you do not include the roommate’s income as part of your household income.

I receive child support, but not the full amount as listed in the court order. Do I include the full amount of the child support as additional income or financial support or only what I actually receive?

• Annotate the actual amount of child support received. If there is a difference between what is stated in a court order or documentation, provide an explanation. Examples of documents may include bank statements, copies of checks, court documents, or other documentation indicating the actual income or financial assistance you are receiving.

How marital separation affects eligibility

• If you are requesting a reduced fee and are not including your spouse’s income because of a marital separation, please provide a signed statement or documentation to establish that your spouse does not live with you and provides no income assistance. Acceptable documents may include a copy of the court order that formalized your legal separation, a formal notarized property settlement agreement, financial support agreement, or separate mortgage, lease, or utility bills that show you and your spouse live apart.
• Even if you are separated from your spouse, your household income includes any monthly support payments that you receive from your spouse.

Common reasons why USCIS will reject reduced fee requests

• You did not provide evidence that your household income that is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; or
• You submitted evidence in support of your reduced fee request that is not in English, but you did not provide a certified English translation.
• If we denied your reduced fee request and you are not sure why, please read the denial notice (Form I-797, Notice of Action). If, after checking the denial notice, you still do not understand why we denied your reduced fee request, you may email us at lockboxsupport@uscis.dhs.gov.

LINKS

2025 Poverty Guidelines

How to Calculate Household Size