Indian Green Card Holders Skip US Citizenship Fee Hikes

The number of Indian green card holders applying for U.S. citizenship has dropped sharply following the introduction of higher application fees. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services raised the naturalization fee from $725 to $1,170 earlier this year.

Indian nationals constitute the second-largest group of green card holders in the United States, after Mexicans. Many are choosing to delay or forgo citizenship due to the added financial burden.

The fee hike has particularly affected families, who now face costs of several thousand dollars to process multiple applications. Some applicants have reported saving for months to afford the new fees.

Immigration attorneys note that the decline in applications could have long-term implications for the Indian diaspora's political representation and access to certain federal benefits.