For many Indians, becoming a U.S. citizen is the final step in a journey that often takes years, sometimes even decades.
That journey could soon become more expensive.
The Trump administration has proposed a sharp increase in U.S. citizenship application fees, with costs expected to rise by nearly 80% if the plan is approved.
The money is one part of the story. The bigger concern is the direction U.S. immigration policy appears to be taking.
Many Indians have already spent years dealing with H-1B renewals, Green Card backlogs and immigration-related expenses. Citizenship is usually seen as the finish line. A higher fee means that finish line moves a little farther away.
The proposal has not taken effect yet and is still open for public comments. But it adds to a growing feeling among many immigrants that every step of the U.S. immigration process is becoming more expensive and more complicated.
For Indian families planning a long-term future in America, this may be just another fee hike on paper.
But it also serves as a reminder that the American dream is not getting any cheaper.
