Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request

USCIS allows applicants to request a reduced fee for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. We recognize that some applicants cannot afford to pay the full filing fee ($710-760) but can pay a reduced fee ($380). We will approve a reduced fee request only if you clearly show that your documented annual household income is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. We will carefully consider the merits of each reduced fee request before we decide on your request.

A reduced fee is not the same as a fee waiver. Please see our Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver page for information about fee waivers. Do not file both a request for a reduced fee and a request for a fee waiver.

If you are requesting a reduced fee or filing a fee waiver, you cannot file Form N-400 online. You must file a paper Form N-400 if you are requesting a reduced fee or filing a fee waiver.

Forms

• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

Associated Fees:

• N-400 Reduced Fee - $380

Find on this page

• Eligibility
• Requesting a reduced fee
• How to show that your household income is less than 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Determining who counts towards your household size and income
• How marital separation affects eligibility
• How an Affidavit of Support affects eligibility
• Common reasons why we deny reduced fee requests

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.

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Requesting a reduced fee

1. Complete Part 10 of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.

• It is important that you provide all the information required by the form instructions.  If you do not provide enough information and documents to support your request, it will take much longer to process your request and we may reject it. Please read the form instructions carefully to avoid common mistakes.
• You must include a full English translation for all documents that have information in a foreign language. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

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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.

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Determining who counts toward your household size and income

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.

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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.

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How an Affidavit of Support affects eligibility

If someone filed a Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, or Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act, for you, that person may still be responsible for supporting you. However, we will consider that person’s income or assets in deciding whether you are eligible for a reduced fee only if that person is currently a member of your household.

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Common reasons why we 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.

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