USCIS Waived Naturalization Fees for Military Personnel
Active-duty troops and veterans are now exempt from standard fees to become U.S. citizens.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Military
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has exempted all active-duty military members and veterans from standard naturalization application fees. This policy removes the $760 cost for those serving under Sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Why it matters
The change aims to reduce barriers to citizenship for those who have served in the armed forces. It ensures that financial constraints do not prevent military personnel from completing the naturalization process.
The standard naturalization application fee is currently $760, with reduced fees of $380 available for some. Full fee waivers remain accessible for civilian households with income at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines.
The players
USCIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is the federal agency that oversees the lawful immigration system and administers naturalization.
The details
Military applicants must submit Form N-426 to certify their service to receive the automatic fee exemption. Meanwhile, civilians facing financial hardship can continue to request full or partial waivers by submitting Form I-912 to the agency for review.
Timeline
The standard naturalization application fee currently stands at $760.
Political Context
Legislators and veterans advocacy groups have long pushed to streamline the transition from military service to civilian citizenship. Critics of past fee structures argued that high costs created an unfair hurdle for soldiers who had already demonstrated commitment to the nation.
Military service members and veterans can now bypass the $760 application cost entirely without needing to file hardship documentation. Civilians who do not meet the military criteria must still meet specific income thresholds, such as the 150% poverty guideline, to qualify for a full waiver.
The takeaway
Qualifying military personnel should ensure they submit the correct service certification forms to secure their fee exemption. For civilians, understanding the current federal poverty guidelines is essential when preparing an application for a hardship fee waiver.
Further reading
For more information on service-related policies, visit the Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news..
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