Transferring your international driver's license to the US: step-by-step
Your full guide to updating your foreign driver's license to the US.
If you’re getting ready to naturalize as a US citizen you’ll need to know the latest US citizenship application fee, so you can budget and plan how to pay your dues.
This guide covers the USCIS filing fees and some other unavoidable costs you should plan for. We’ll also touch on how you can use Wise to pay your fees for less if you’re sending money from a different currency.
📑 Table of Contents |
---|
If you’re planning to apply for naturalization as a US citizen, there are a few fees you’ll need to take into consideration. The USCIS citizenship application fee 2021 plus biometric cost comes in at around 725 USD for most people, although some are eligible for a reduced or waived fee¹. We’ll cover the citizenship application fee waiver a little later.
Don’t forget other costs may also apply — such as fees to get all the paperwork you need for your application, postage and travel costs if you need to attend meetings or interviews.
Here are the standard costs for filing your paperwork to naturalize as a US citizen. We’ll take a look at the exceptions which may apply here in just a moment.
What it is | Standard cost |
---|---|
Form N-400 | 640 USD filing fee |
Biometric | 85 USD fee |
Total | 725 USD |
Form N-400 is the application for naturalization. You can submit this form by mail or online by creating a USCIS account. In fact, even if you submit all your documents by mail, it’s worth having an online USCIS account so you can track processing updates as they are posted.
As your application is processed, you’ll normally need to also attend a biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Centre (ASC). Here you’ll give a photograph, fingerprints and a signature. This information is used to check your identity and make sure your application can be processed². Some applicants may be exempted from this stage — more on that later.
💡 Not quite ready to file your naturalization application yet? Get a full guide to becoming a US citizen, here. |
---|
The main costs you need to know about, and the waivers which may apply, are in the table below. Use the handy USCIS fee calculator to learn more about the costs of filing for US citizenship³.
If you apply for naturalization based on your US military service you may be eligible for a waiver of both USCIS fees. If you’re over 75 years old you may not need to pay the biometrics fee, cutting down the costs.
There are also some ways to have your fee reduced if you can prove your household income merits this, or even completely waived. You’ll need to apply formally for this using the correct paperwork from USCIS⁴.
Category | Cost |
---|---|
Fee reduction |
|
75 or older (without waiver) |
|
Veteran/US military |
|
Fee waiver |
|
Applying for a fee waiver may mean your naturalization process takes longer overall, as there is simply more paperwork to be approved.
It’s also important to note that to naturalize as a US citizen under some eligibility routes, you’ll need to prove you can support yourself. Although applying for a fee waiver due to financial hardship won’t in any way automatically mean you can not become a US citizen, you may still need to satisfy the authorities of your financial stability as part of your full application for naturalization.
How you pay your USCIS costs will depend on whether you’re in the US or not at the time you apply⁵. Here’s the lowdown.
If you are in the US you can pay your USCIS US citizenship application fees:
- Online by credit card or debit card
- Online by bank transfer
- By mail with a card, check or money order
- In person at a USCIS office
If you are applying for US citizenship from abroad, your local US embassy or consulate will manage the payment for your application. Not all payment methods are available in all countries, so you will have to get in touch with your embassy to understand the local processes.
If you need to send money from abroad for your fees — or for day to day life — you need Wise.
|
---|
Becoming a US citizen can be an exciting — if long — journey. If you’re ready to submit your application for naturalization you’re already well on the way. Use this guide to learn more about paying your application fees to USCIS, and good luck with gaining your US citizenship.
Sources:
Sources checked on 08.27.2021
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
Your full guide to updating your foreign driver's license to the US.
Whatever your reason is for moving to the US, this guide aims to help you figure out the most important costs you'll face when you live there.
Find all you need to know about getting a personal loan for H-1B visa holders in this guide.
Everything you need to know about the US certificate of naturalization.
The US welcomes large numbers of new arrivals every year — and getting a great job to both gain experience and set down roots is a core part of the American...
Find everything you need to know about the US citizenship test, including the USCIS questions and answers.