Due to the costs of increased security checks, immigration officials are planning to raise fees for citizenship and other services. During the first or second week in October, certain application fees will increase by approximately $15.00. The exact fee increases have not been decided. The new fees will take effect in November.

These increases will cover the costs for checking names and fingerprints against intelligence databases and to cover the costs of living increases. While some have criticized raising fees again with no corresponding improvements in service, defenders of the fee increase argue that the hike is needed because the fees help pay USCIS expenses and because there is no separate Congressional appropriation to help the agency. The agency is required to review and adjust its fee scale every three years, according to its financial needs.

According to USCIS, the agency is forced to raise its fees for several reasons: (1) USCIS lost approximately $30 million after Congress eliminated the surcharge tacked onto application fees to pay for the processing of applications of refugees and asylum-seekers. This surcharge was reinstated in February. (2) The number of applicant for fee waivers has risen because immigrants cannot pay application costs. And (3) USCIS is anticipating additional costs to the agency as a result of legislation that will make becoming a citizen easier for legal residents who serve in the military.