According to USCIS data, more than 818,500 people became U.S. citizens in 2024, underscoring the continued demand for American citizenship. Yet the cost of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen has a price tag that’s climbing fast.
This campaign from The Mendoza Law Firm examines what it costs in dollars and cents to become an American. These costs include government fees, newly introduced surcharges, premiums for those looking to fast-track their application, and numerous hidden expenses like the cost of legal help, medical exams, translations, and lost wages.
The Cost of Becoming an American
And costs ultimately depend on the immigration pathway someone takes, meaning there’s no single price for becoming an American.
Whatever the pathway, here are some of the basic costs associated with citizenship.
While becoming a U.S. citizen has never been cheap, 2026 costs may be more expensive than many people appreciate, with some cost elements rising fast.
The Rising Cost of Becoming American
Currently, the naturalization application (Form N-400) costs $760 for a physical (paper) copy or $710 for an online (e-copy); a reduced $380 fee applies to those earning between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty level. However, a June 2026 DHS proposal would raise the standard fee to $1,330 for a physical copy and $1,280 for an online copy, an eye-watering increase of roughly 75%.
If we include study materials, translations, travel, medical exams and a first U.S. passport, the citizenship stage alone usually costs between $800 and $2,000, before legal fees.
And naturalization is only the final step. A marriage-based green card for a spouse already residing in the U.S. costs $3,005 in government filing fees across Forms I-130, I-485, I-765, and I-131. Employment-based applicants can also pay a $2,965 fast-track premium to avoid lengthy delays.
Recent policy changes have further increased some citizenship costs. H.R. 1 imposed a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” for many nonimmigrant visas, alongside new non-waivable statutory fees for asylum applications, employment authorization, parole and Temporary Protected Status. And since January 1, 2026, USCIS applied a 2.7% inflation adjustment to many statutory fees.
If we add legal fees (between $1,000 and $3,000+), lost wages, travel expenses, and the financial drain of years-long processing times, it’s easy to appreciate the complex, increasingly expensive burden that pursuing U.S. citizenship often represents.
Yet even if we factor in sticker price amounts, that doesn’t necessarily represent the full extent of citizenship costs.
Sticker Price vs Real Price
While USCIS publishes a citizenship fee schedule, it only reflects the minimum cost of applying. The true price of becoming American is often significantly higher once legal fees and required supporting costs have been added to the total figure.
So, while an online naturalization application costs $710, accompanying legal assistance costs an average of $349 per hour (the full range runs between $196 and $490, according to Clio). Regarding a straightforward citizenship case that demands between 4 and 8 attorney hours, that adds between $1,400 and $2,800 in legal fees. And once we’ve also considered the cost of certified translations (between $30 and $55 per page), replacement records, passport photos, and notary costs, the total cost of naturalization can land somewhere between $2,300 and $4,000. That’s between 3 and 5 times higher than the cost of the government filing fee.
The gap is even more significant when it comes to green cards. While a marriage-based application costs $3,005 in government filing fees, attorneys often spend between 12 and 20 hours preparing a case, which means between $4,200 and $7,000 in legal fees. If we add the mandatory medical exam fee (between $250 and $500), the cost typically reaches between $7,500 and $10,500, up to 3.5 times the basic government fee.
For employment-based green cards, the cost is even higher. Due to their comparative complexity, associated legal fees often reach five figures (even before the $2,965 premium-processing fee). While employers often cover these costs, they remain a significant part of the overall immigration bill.
Clearly, many necessary costs associated with citizenship are not initially apparent. Attorney rates vary by state, case complexity can affect billable hours, and translation, documentation, and administrative costs accumulate at varying rates throughout each citizenship application. As a result, applicants rarely pay the published fee alone.
We briefly touched upon the matter of a medical exam. But that aspect of the equation can potentially add up to thousands, far more than the flat examination fee.
Medical and Travel Costs
Although perhaps seen as a perfunctory part of the immigration process, the medical examination process can be difficult. For standard cases, a medical exam can be relatively straightforward. But in complex cases, and for applicants processing their application via a foreign U.S. consulate and who subsequently need to travel to the visa interview, things can quickly become stressful and expensive.
The medical exam must be completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon or State Department-approved panel physician. Because these fees are unregulated, costs can range between $200 and $500 per person and are rarely covered by health insurance. As part of the exam, applicants are assessed for 14 vaccine-preventable diseases, including hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, rubella and polio. There may also be tests for tuberculosis and syphilis (where deemed necessary). Applicants who need additional vaccinations or laboratory work may end up paying in excess of $1,000.
Time constraints may also lead to a further increase in costs. Since mid-2025, a medical exam can’t be transferred to a new application if a case is denied, withdrawn, or refiled, which means applicants may have to pay for a second exam. With family-based cases (they often take over a year to complete), repeat medical costs are now much more likely.
Applicants processing their application through a foreign-based U.S. consulate also face additional government fees: $325 per applicant for Form DS-260, a $120 Affidavit of Support fee per case, and a $220 USCIS Immigrant Fee for each approved applicant. For a family of three, that means a charge of $1,755 before travel.
Travel adds another significant expense. With average international round-trip airfare costing around $1,200 and hotel rates averaging $162 per night, attending a consular interview can cost between $1,000 and $1,500 (far more if additional appointments are necessary). Overall, and beyond standard filing fees, a consular-processed family case can cost between $3,350 and $4,750 in medical, government, and travel costs.
Many families have little option but to borrow money in order to finance these expenses. A 2022 One Percent for America survey found that 87% of newly naturalized citizens borrowed to cover immigration costs, while 67% relied on high-interest credit cards, payday loans, or personal loans that charged up to 22% interest.
The growth of specialized lending emphasizes this trend. The Mission Asset Fund offers 0% interest loans for USCIS fees, while One Percent for America provides 1% interest immigration loans. Additionally, some credit unions now offer citizenship loans of up to $4,000 without the need to establish any credit history.
The financial equation doesn’t end with the cost of entering the immigration system. For immigrants and their families, the economic payoff may also heavily depend on where they live and work.
Best States for Immigrants From an Economic Perspective
The states in which immigrants settle in the biggest numbers are not necessarily where they enjoy the strongest economic benefits. According to a 2026 analysis that ranked states by immigrant economic conditions (employment, entrepreneurship, income gaps, job growth and cost of living), South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota and Idaho were the top five states. (None of these states ranked among the country’s largest immigrant destinations.) By contrast, California ranked 49th, New York 48th, and Florida 46th for immigrant economic benefits, despite being home to some of America’s largest immigrant populations.
Clearly, for many immigrant families, where they’ve traditionally settled and where they might be best placed to thrive economically rarely coincide.
The American economy itself relies heavily on immigrant labor, with the following industries most reliant on immigrants.
American Immigrants: Key Economic Contributors
Rising immigration costs have coincided with a shrinking immigration pipeline. Such is America’s reliance on immigrant labor that further shrinkage could have significant effects on the national economy.
Foreign-born workers made up 19.2% of the U.S. labor force in 2024, while immigrants contributed around 18% of total U.S. economic output in 2023 ($2.1 trillion) despite representing just 14% of the population.
The Congressional Budget Office projects that expected immigration levels over the next decade will add nearly $9 trillion to the U.S. GDP by 2034. Such figures underscore a clear fact: immigration is a core and crucial part of the American economy.
Some of the industries that are especially dependent on immigrant workers already face worker shortages. Construction relies on immigrant labor more than any other sector: foreign-born workers account for 29.8% of its workforce (about 3.5 million people), while the industry faces a projected shortage of 500,000 workers in 2025 alone.
Transportation and utilities are also heavily dependent on immigrant staff (24.4%), while ”other services” and professional and business services are each composed of 22.8% immigrant workers. Agriculture depends on immigrants for nearly 22% of its workforce, with roles such as crop graders and sorters exceeding 50% dependence.
Within healthcare, the dependence on immigrant workers is stark (16% of nursing jobs; 28% of health aide positions), with such roles expected to become more crucial as the national population ages.
The mismatch is evident. The industries featuring the largest labor gaps are often those most dependent on immigration. Despite this growing reliance, the immigration process is increasingly difficult to negotiate.
However, the eventual benefits for successful citizen applicants are considerable. According to a Migration Policy Institute analysis, noncitizen immigrants earn median annual wages of $46,000 (men) and $38,000 (women), equal to roughly $22.12 and $18.27 per hour for full-time work. Naturalized citizens earn considerably more: $67,000 (men) and $54,000 (women), or about $32.21 and $25.96 per hour. Their median household income reaches $84,000, $20,000 higher than the amount noncitizen households earn.
Other research following the same individuals found that naturalization is associated with an 8.9% increase in earnings, even after accounting for education, skills, and English ability. So the paperwork that costs thousands of dollars and may take years to complete is also a clear route to higher earnings.
American Citizenship in 2026
The cost of becoming a U.S. citizen has significantly risen and continues to rise across nearly every pathway, with fees, legal expenses, travel, and additional costs meaning immigration is now a major financial commitment.
At the same time, the U.S. economy remains deeply dependent on immigrant workers, creating a growing tension between increasing obstacles (financial and otherwise) and ongoing national economic needs.
Ultimately, America is making immigration more expensive at the same time it remains economically dependent on the people willing to navigate that increasingly costly path. If the trend continues, the results could be problematic for the United States, as well as many hopeful future citizens.
Every immigration story is different, but many people begin their journey with a humanitarian visa, pursue permanent residency, and ultimately achieve American citizenship. This takes time, perseverance, and proper legal support.
The immigration lawyers at The Mendoza Law Firm are with you at every stage, helping you move forward with confidence and clarity toward your ultimate goal: citizenship. Contact us today for more information.