Is there a program that pays naturalization fees?

This is general information, not legal advice.

How much does citizenship cost?

As of October 21, 2026, the USCIS fee schedule lists Form N-400 at:

USCIS keeps the fee even if it denies your case. Get your eligibility checked before you pay.

Can USCIS lower or waive my fee?

Yes. This is the biggest "program" there is, and it comes from USCIS itself. Both options mean filing on paper. USCIS says you cannot file online if you ask for a reduced fee or a waiver.

Reduced fee, $380. For households with income at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. You ask for it on the paper N-400 and send proof of income.

Fee waiver, $0. You may qualify in one of three ways:

1. You get an income based public benefit, such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh, when you file.
2. Your household income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
3. You face serious financial hardship, such as big medical bills.

Ask with Form I-912 and proof. USCIS posts its income limits on Form I-912P; check the year shown before you use it.

If USCIS says no. If USCIS finds you do not qualify for the waiver, it rejects both the waiver request and your N-400 and sends them back, with the reasons (USCIS Policy Manual, checked October 21, 2026). There is no appeal. You can file again with the fee, or with a new waiver request and better proof. Your first try does not hold your place in line. That is why a clinic should help you choose between a waiver, the reduced fee and the full fee before you mail anything.

In San Mateo County, the county can send you a letter that proves you get public benefits, to include with your waiver request. It takes 1 to 2 weeks. Call (650) 363-4194 or ask on the county's citizenship fee waiver page.

Can I borrow the fee?

Yes, if you live in California. Mission Asset Fund lends the exact online N-400 fee, $710, at 0% interest. You apply online, take free money classes, and get a virtual card with your fee within about a week. The card is good for 60 days, and you use it when you file in your USCIS online account. Payments are reported to the three credit bureaus, which can help your credit. This loan fits the online fee only, not the $380 paper reduced fee.

Self-Help Federal Credit Union lists a citizenship loan of up to $1,000 at 16.00% APR. That loan charges interest, so you repay more than the fee.

Is there a grant?

Sometimes. Mission Asset Fund's Bay Area DACA/Dreamer Legalization Grant gives up to $5,000 to Dreamers who came before age 21, are 18 or older, have ties to certain Bay Area counties, and are working with a lawyer or nonprofit legal provider. It names the N-400 as an example of what it pays. Funding is limited, the page says.

Coastside Hope in Half Moon Bay offers scholarships for USCIS fees based on income, for people who live or work on the Coastside. Call 650-726-9071, extension 229.

California's old state program that paid citizenship fees ended at the end of 2023. We searched again and found no state or county fund paying N-400 fees today (checked October 21, 2026).

Will the fee change soon?

It might. On June 23, 2026, DHS proposed raising the N-400 fee to $1,330 on paper and $1,280 online, and ending both the reduced fee and fee waivers for citizenship. As of October 21, 2026, it is only a proposal: the USCIS fee schedule still shows $760, $710 and $380, and fee waivers are still offered.

Example (fictional). Mr. Tran has had his green card for 6 years. He and his wife get CalFresh. He lives in San Mateo County, so he asks the county for a benefits letter and gets it in about 10 days. A citizenship workshop helps him fill out the paper N-400 and Form I-912 with the letter. He pays $0. If his waiver had been rejected, he would have refiled right away with the $760 fee or a stronger waiver request. His case is made up; your result depends on your own facts. If you are ready and eligible, talk to a clinic about applying soon.

Am I ready to apply?

Most people can apply after 5 years as a permanent resident, or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. You can file up to 90 days early. A clinic will also check your trips, any arrests and your tax history before you file.

Where can I get free help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

For San Mateo County residents:

• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Redwood City): free first consultation, (650) 587-1558. Citizenship workshops every second Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; register at (650) 780-7530.
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: (650) 326-6440
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194, immigrantservices@smcgov.org

Elsewhere:

• Santa Clara County residents: the Office of Immigrant Relations keeps a list of citizenship providers.
• Anywhere in California: the state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.

Pay USCIS only through your USCIS account or Forms G-1450 and G-1650. No real program asks you to pay a fee to get a grant. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Related questions

• Can I get help paying my DACA renewal fee?
• Will traveling on advance parole hurt my green card chances?
• Who can help me file my DACA application in California?

Full guide: Help paying DACA and citizenship fees in the Bay Area