The Department of Homeland Security has finalized adjustments to USCIS filing fees, including those that impact intercountry adoptees.
The biggest news is a new rule that eliminates filing fees for adult intercountry adoptees who are already US citizens and need a Certificate of Citizenship to prove that citizenship. That is, after April 1, 2024, the filing fee for adult intercountry adoptees who qualify to file Form N-600 will be $0.00.†
For intercountry adoptees without a green card (meaning they entered the country on a nonimmigrant tourist or visitor visa) the fees to obtain a green card through a US citizen spouse will increase substantially but not as much as initially proposed. The fees for a complete “Adjustment of Status (AOS) Package” will increase 44%, from $1,760.00 to $2,335.
Filing fees for naturalization applications will decrease slightly from the current fee of $725 to the new fee of $710 (which includes biometrics).
The new fee schedule is effective for all USCIS applications filed on or after April 1, 2024.
Final Fee Schedule for Selected Forms and Applications
Final fee adjustments, effective April 1, 2024. Please note the filing fee exemption and note for adult intercountry adopted people.
| Form | Current | New | +/- $ | +/- % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N-400: Application for Naturalization (with biometrics)* | $725.00 | $710.00 | -$15.00 | -2% |
N-600: Application for Certificate of Citizenship (for adult intercountry adoptees)† | $1,170.00 | $0.00 | --- | --- |
| N-600: Application for Certificate of Citizenship (for all others)† | $1,170.00 | $1,335.00 | +$165.00 | +14% |
| N-565: Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document* | $555.00 | $505.00 | -$50.00 | -4% |
| I-90: Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (with biometrics)* | $540.00 | $415.00 | -$125.00 | -23% |
| Full Adjustment of Status Package ("One Step" AOS)** | $1,760.00 | $2,535.00 | +$775.00 | +44% |
†adult intercountry adoptees who acquired US citizenship prior to the age of 18 and who qualify for a Certificate of Citizenship will not be charged a fee for filing form N-600. More information about the process, when it becomes available, will be published here.
*the proposed fee schedule eliminates a current practice of requiring separate fees for biometrics, instead folding them into the total filing fee.
**Adjustment of status application packages are related to the “one-step” process, which includes the filing of a number of forms at generally the same time. This is typically a process used by intercountry adoptees who did not enter the United States on an immigrant visa and must “adjust status” to obtain a green card through a US citizen spouse. It is a complex and expensive process.
Basic Chart Illustrating How Current US Law Works
This chart provides general information and is a quick way to determine if an intercountry adopted person brought to the United States needs to secure a Certificate of Citizenship or must naturalize or seek a different path toward citizenship. As with all general information, it is limited. Your or another person’s situation may be different and more complex. You should consult a lawyer before taking any action in this area of law.
Hello! Would you please confirm if the $0 COC change applies to current minors internationally adopted but without a COC? Or only adults over age 18? Thank you!
The fee exemption, as initially announced, appeared to apply only to intercountry adopted people who were 18 years of age or older. I have not had any experience applying on behalf of adoptive parents with minor adoptees so I cannot confirm that the exemption applies or does not apply to them, or whether it applies at a different age (e.g., adoptees 16 or over). I only know that, when I apply on behalf of an adult intercountry adoptee, the fee is $0.00. You could certainly complete the CoC process online to determine if there is a fee, as they calculate the fee before requiring you to pay it.