US Citizenship Cost Calculator - N-400 Total

How Citizenship Costs Differ From Texas to Florida

Naturalization cost looks simple on surface because N-400 fee is federal and same nationwide, yet total out of pocket shifts with where you hire attorney and how many people in household file together. In Dallas Texas, a single applicant filing N-400 with self filing may see total around 760 plus photos, while same applicant using attorney help in San Jose California may see attorney add-on of 800 to 1500 due to higher market rates. The USCIS fee stays identical in Texas and California, but attorney market changes total.

In Florida, Orlando shows lower attorney rates, so total with attorney help may be lower than New York New York where attorney rates are high. In Seattle Washington, rates sit mid high between Texas and California. This calculator keeps USCIS fee separate from local attorney rate so you see why total moves even though N-400 fee itself does not change by state.

Family filing together also changes total. Two adults in same household each file separate N-400, so USCIS fees double. Photos double as well. Attorney may charge per person or offer family discount. Understanding per applicant versus total household cost helps budget.

What Goes Into Citizenship Cost Breakdown

First part is N-400 filing fee. USCIS publishes fee schedule for Form N-400. Standard filing fee is used in this calculator as 760 baseline for paper filing. Online filing may be slightly lower at 710, but we use 760 for planning to avoid underestimation. Biometric services are included in N-400 fee under current schedule, so no separate biometric fee.

Second part is reduced fee option. Applicants with household income between 150 percent and 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines may qualify for reduced fee of 380. This requires Form I-942 request and income proof. Fee waiver exists for even lower income or receipt of means tested benefits, setting USCIS fee to zero if approved. Waiver approval is not guaranteed and requires documentation.

Third part is military path. Current military members filing under INA 328 or 329 may have no USCIS fee for N-400. Veteran path may also have fee waiver under certain conditions. This calculator sets USCIS fee to zero when you select military path, reflecting USCIS military provision.

Fourth part is attorney support. Self filing sets attorney to zero. Attorney help for basic review ranges from 500 to 900 in Texas baseline, 800 to 1500 in California high market. Full attorney interview preparation ranges from 1000 to 1800 in Texas, higher in California and New York. Market factor from 0.85 to 1.45 adjusts base attorney fee to local market.

Fifth part is photos and preparation. Passport style photos cost around 15 per applicant. Civics study book around 50, prep class around 150. These are optional but included for complete budget.

Step by Step Guide to Use Calculator Correctly

First, pick eligibility path. Choose 5 year permanent resident for most Green Card holders, 3 year spouse of US citizen if married to citizen for three years, or military service if filing under military provisions. Military path sets USCIS fee to zero automatically for estimate.

Second, set number of applicants. One applicant means single N-400. Two adults means two separate N-400 filings. Three or four family includes additional adult children or family members each filing own N-400. Total USCIS multiplies by applicant count.

Third, choose fee type. Standard for full fee, reduced for low income reduced fee option, waiver for fee waiver eligible. Reduced sets per applicant fee to 380, waiver sets to zero but still shows attorney and photos.

Fourth, select attorney support. Self filing no attorney, attorney help for review, full attorney interview prep for full representation. Attorney cost scales with market and applicant count.

Fifth, select attorney market. Texas moderate baseline 1.00, California San Jose high 1.45, Florida lower 0.85, New York high 1.40, Seattle mid high 1.20. Market adjusts attorney base.

Sixth, choose study material. No extra material sets prep to zero, basic civics book adds 50 per applicant, prep class adds 150 per applicant. Photos always included at 15 per applicant.

Formula Used to Figure Citizenship Cost - Sources

Source: USCIS fee schedule N-400, USCIS reduced fee Form I-942 guidance, USCIS military naturalization fee waiver guidance, attorney market data Texas to California, photo market.

DEFINITIONS
PATH = 5YR 3YR MIL
APPS = Number of applicants 1 to 4
FEE_TYPE = standard reduced waiver
N400_STD = 760 standard
N400_RED = 380 reduced
N400_MIL = 0 military
N400_WAIVER = 0 waiver if approved
PHOTO = 15 per applicant
BOOK = 50 if basic
CLASS = 150 if class
ATT_BASE_HELP = 600 Texas help
ATT_BASE_FULL = 1200 Texas full prep
MKT = Market factor TX 1.00 CA-H 1.45 FL 0.85 NY 1.40 WA 1.20

CORE FORMULAS
1. USCIS per applicant = If MIL then 0 else if FEE_TYPE reduced 380 else if waiver 0 else 760
2. Total USCIS = APPS times USCIS per applicant
3. Attorney per applicant = If self 0 else if help ATT_BASE_HELP times MKT else ATT_BASE_FULL times MKT
4. Total Attorney = APPS times Attorney per applicant
5. Other per applicant = PHOTO plus (BOOK if basic else CLASS if class else 0)
6. Total Other = APPS times Other per applicant
7. Total Cost = Total USCIS plus Total Attorney plus Total Other
8. Cost Per Person = Total Cost divided by APPS

Verified with default values:

• Path 5YR 1 applicant standard self Texas: USCIS 760 per, Total USCIS 760, Attorney 0, Other 15 photo, Total 775, Per person 775
• Same with attorney help Texas: Attorney per 600 times 1.0 equals 600, Total 760 plus 600 plus 15 equals 1375
• Same with 2 applicants standard help Texas: USCIS 1520, Attorney 1200, Other 30, Total 2750, Per person 1375
• Reduced fee 1 applicant: USCIS 380, Attorney 0, Other 15, Total 395, Per person 395
• Military path 1 applicant: USCIS 0, Attorney 0, Other 15, Total 15, Per person 15 plus prep if selected
• California high market help: Attorney per 600 times 1.45 equals 870 vs Texas 600, difference 270 per applicant

Guards: Applicants 1 to 4 capped, path trimmed upper case, fee type lower case, market factor 0.85 to 1.45 capped, non finite to zero, rounding at display only, attorney zero if self.

What Each Result Box Means For Your Budget

Estimated Total Citizenship Cost: Main total. Sum of all USCIS N-400 fees plus attorney plus photos and prep for all applicants. This is household total to budget.

USCIS N-400 Fees: Federal fees for N-400 per applicant multiplied by number of applicants. Zero if military path or waiver eligible. Reduced to 380 if reduced fee selected. Same nationwide.

Attorney Fees: Estimated attorney help cost. Varies by market factor. Texas moderate, California high, Florida lower, New York high. Zero if self filing. Scales with applicant count.

Photos plus Prep: Passport photos per applicant plus optional study book or class per applicant. Photos always 15 per applicant, book 50, class 150.

Cost Per Person: Total divided by number of applicants. Shows average per person for household planning. Useful when comparing single versus family filing.

Three Household Examples - Verified Math

Example 1 - Dallas Texas, 5 Year Resident, 1 Applicant, Standard Fee, Self Filing, No Extra Material: USCIS per 760, total USCIS 760, attorney 0, other photo 15, total 775. Per person 775. This is baseline minimal cost for single applicant self filing.

Example 2 - San Jose California High Market, 5 Year Resident, 2 Applicants, Standard Fee, Attorney Help, Basic Book: Market factor 1.45. USCIS 2 times 760 equals 1520. Attorney per 600 times 1.45 equals 870, total attorney 1740. Other per photo 15 plus book 50 equals 65 per, total other 130. Total 1520 plus 1740 plus 130 equals 3390. Per person 1695. Shows attorney market adds about 540 versus Texas for two applicants.

Example 3 - Orlando Florida Lower Market, 3 Year Spouse Path, 1 Applicant, Reduced Fee, Full Attorney Prep, Prep Class: Market factor 0.85. USCIS per reduced 380, total USCIS 380. Attorney per full 1200 times 0.85 equals 1020, total attorney 1020. Other per photo 15 plus class 150 equals 165, total other 165. Total 380 plus 1020 plus 165 equals 1565. Per person 1565. Reduced fee saves 380 versus standard, but full attorney adds cost. Military path would set USCIS to zero, total would be 1185.

Mistakes That Make Citizenship Math Wrong

1. Forgetting each applicant needs own N-400 fee: Two adults filing together do not share one fee. Each pays own N-400 fee. Multiply by applicant count.
2. Assuming reduced fee is automatic: Reduced fee requires income proof and Form I-942 approval. Without approval, standard fee applies. Do not assume reduced unless eligible and approved.
3. Ignoring attorney market difference: Attorney in Dallas Texas charges less than attorney in San Jose California. Using single flat attorney fee misstates total by hundreds per applicant.
4. Thinking military path always free: Military path waives USCIS fee but attorney and photos may still apply. Total not zero if you hire attorney or need prep class.
5. Mixing photo and biometric fee: Biometric services are included in N-400 fee under current USCIS schedule. Do not add separate biometric fee. Photos are separate and still required.

How to Plan Budget After Estimate

Use estimate to set aside funds for filing. If single applicant Texas self filing, budget around 775 for USCIS plus photos. If using attorney help, add market adjusted attorney. If family of two in California high market, budget around 3390 for standard help plus book. If eligible for reduced fee, save 380 per applicant. If military, USCIS may be zero, so budget only attorney and photos. After citizenship, consider next steps such as passport application cost and voting registration. For broader immigration picture, also check Green Card cost and H1B wage level calculators in same silo.

Key Limits to Keep in Mind

This tool gives estimates for educational purposes only. Not legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. USCIS fees change and are published on USCIS fee schedule. Reduced fee and waiver require USCIS approval and proof. Attorney fees vary by market and service level. Photo and prep costs vary by provider. Actual total depends on eligibility path, fee type approval, and case history. Verify with official sources and immigration counsel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does US citizenship cost with N-400

US citizenship through N-400 includes USCIS filing fee per applicant plus biometrics included, attorney if used, and photos and exam preparation. Total varies by standard fee, reduced fee eligibility, and number of applicants in household.

What is reduced fee for N-400 naturalization

USCIS offers reduced fee for applicants with household income between 150 and 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Reduced fee lowers N-400 cost significantly but requires proof of income and specific form request.

Do military members pay for citizenship

Current military members and certain veterans filing under military provisions may have no USCIS fee for N-400. Attorney and other costs may still apply, but USCIS fee can be waived under military path.

Does citizenship cost change with family size

Yes. Each person files separate N-400 with separate USCIS fee. Two adults filing together double USCIS fees, plus attorney add-on per person and photos per person.

Is attorney required for N-400 citizenship

No. Many file N-400 without attorney. Attorney helps with eligibility, travel history, and interview prep. Fees vary by market such as Texas versus California.

Does this calculator store my citizenship data

No. Values stay on your device for estimate only. Closing tab clears entries. No data sent to server for this calculator component.