Traditionally, getting a green card is just one step on the pathway to U.S. citizenship. However, increasingly strict immigration standards make that final leap harder for aspiring U.S. citizens. According to Newsweek, a combination of higher fees and uncertainty around the naturalization process drives some green card holders to delaying their citizenship applications.
For example, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed raising the filing fee for Form N-400, the naturalization application, from $760 to $1,330. This raises the cost by seventy-five percent. Additionally, the proposal eliminates the reduced-fee option and fee waivers for naturalization-related forms.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data illustrates how sensitive filing patterns are to these changes. Naturalization applications surged to 169,159 in October, 2025. The uptake in filing preceded a revised civics test taking effect later that month. Afterward, filings dropped seventy-five percent to 41,478 in November, 2025.
Denaturalization adds to the uncertainty. According to data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), there were fifteen denaturalization lawsuits filed in May, 2026. Additionally, immigration authorities filed another eighteen cases in the first half of June, 2026. That’s a sharp jump from a historical average of fewer than one such case per month, and from just eight denaturalization suits filed throughout 2025.
Its clear green card holders aren’t stepping back from naturalization because they don’t want citizenship. Additionally, affordability isn’t the main issue either. Citizenship filings haven’t collapsed. Immigration attorneys interviewed by Newsweek explained green card holders still pursue naturalization because of the rights and security only citizenship provides. This includes removal protections and petitioning for a broader range of family members.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.