Big U.S. citizenship fee hikes proposed

WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Proposed new U.S. fee increases would make it a lot more expensive for immigrants to become citizens, a report said.

Among its proposals is one to raise the application fee for U.S. citizenship from $330 to $595 and the fee for legal permanent residency from $325 to $905, USA Today reported Thursday.

Immigration advocates say the new fees will make the process to expensive for many people and an immigration attorney in Tucson called the increase "frightening" and "outrageous."

However, Emilio Gonzalez, director of the Citizenship and Immigration Service, said most people seeking residency here can afford it and consider their families worth the price, the newspaper reported.

The agency told USA Today the fee hikes will allow it to hire more staff and approve applications faster.

According to agency records, most people seeking permanent legal residency have jobs in the United States or are joining their spouses or parents as citizens.

In 2005, 1.1 million people were granted legal permanent resident status.