New Costs for US Citizenship
New Costs for US Citizenship
申請美國公民新費用
Introduction
The US government wants to make it more expensive for people to become citizens.
美國政府希望增加人們申請成為公民的成本。
Main Body
The government will raise the price for citizenship forms. For example, the N-400 form will cost more money. People will pay more if they use paper or the internet.
政府將調高公民申請表格的價格。例如，N-400 表格的費用將增加。無論是使用紙本或網路申請，都將支付更多費用。
Poor people cannot get help with the cost now. Only people in the military still get a lower price.
目前貧困人士無法獲得費用援助。僅有軍方人員仍可享有較低的價格。
The government also wants to check people more. They will visit neighborhoods and check if people are good. They want to stop people from lying to get citizenship.
政府也希望加強對申請人的審查。他們將走訪社區，核查申請人是否品行良好。他們希望阻止人們透過謊言獲取公民身份。
Conclusion
People have 60 days to tell the government if they like these changes.
民眾有 60 天的時間向政府表達是否同意這些變更。
Vocabulary Learning
💰 Talking about Money & Change
In this text, we see a very useful pattern: [Something] + [Action] + [More/Less].
Look at these examples:
- The N-400 form cost more money.
- People pay more.
How to use this for A2: When you want to say a price is going up, you don't need big words. Just use "cost more" or "pay more".
Quick Comparison:
- ❌ High price (Too simple/fragmented)
- ✅ It costs more (Full A2 sentence)
Wait! What about the opposite? If the price goes down, we use "lower price".
- Military people get a lower price.
Key Words to Remember:
- Raise (To make something go up 📈)
- Cost (The money you need to pay)
- Lower (To make something go down 📉)
Vocabulary Learning
Proposed Changes to U.S. Naturalization Application Fees
關於美國入籍申請費擬議變更
Introduction
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed new rules to increase the fees for legal immigrants who want to become citizens. Additionally, the agency plans to remove most of the discounts and fee waivers currently available.
美國公民及移民服務局 (USCIS) 已提出新規定，擬調高希望入籍的合法移民所需支付的費用。此外，該機構計劃取消目前提供的大多數折扣與費用豁免。
Main Body
The proposed changes involve a significant increase in the costs for Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) and Form N-336 (Request for Hearing). For example, paper applications for Form N-400 would rise from $760 to $1,330, while online applications would increase from $710 to $1,280. Similarly, Form N-336 fees would rise to $1,475 for paper and $1,425 for online filings. Furthermore, the government intends to end fee waivers and reduced-fee options for low-income applicants, although military personnel will still be exempt.
擬議的變更涉及 N-400 表格（入籍申請書）與 N-336 表格（聽證會請求）的成本大幅增加。例如，N-400 表格的紙本申請費將從 760 美元增加至 1,330 美元，而線上申請費則從 710 美元增加至 1,280 美元。同樣地，N-336 表格的費用對於紙本申請將升至 1,475 美元，線上提交則為 1,425 美元。此外，政府打算取消低收入申請人的費用豁免與減費選項，但軍方人員仍可獲豁免。
This policy is a major change from previous administrations, which kept fees low to help immigrants integrate into society. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized that the current system is no longer sustainable because other immigration services are paying for the naturalization process. The administration asserted that because U.S. citizenship is so valuable, applicants should pay the full cost of the process. Consequently, these price hikes come at the same time as stricter background checks, including the return of 'neighborhood checks' and a closer look at an applicant's 'good moral character' to prevent fraud.
此政策與先前政府的方針有重大差異，先前政府透過維持低費用來幫助移民融入社會。美國國土安全部 (DHS) 強調，目前的系統已不再具有永續性，因為其他移民服務正在為入籍程序買單。政府聲稱，由於美國公民身份極具價值，申請人應支付整個程序的全部成本。因此，在漲價的同時，政府將實施更嚴格的背景調查，包括恢復「鄰里調查」並更仔細地審視申請人的「良好道德品格」以防止欺詐。
Conclusion
The proposal is now open for a 60-day public comment period before the government decides if it will be finalized and put into effect.
該提案目前開放為期 60 天的公眾評論期，隨後政府將決定是否將其定案並正式生效。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 From 'And' to 'Furthermore': Mastering Logical Flow
At the A2 level, you likely connect ideas using and, but, and because. To reach B2, you need Connectors of Addition and Result. These words act like bridges, making your writing sound professional rather than like a list of simple sentences.
🛠 The Upgrade Path
Look at how the text moves from simple addition to formal progression:
-
The 'Plus' Step The 'Professional' Step
- A2 Style: The fees are going up and the discounts are going away.
- B2 Style: The agency plans to increase fees. Additionally, it plans to remove most discounts.
-
The 'Also' Step The 'Expanding' Step
- A2 Style: Form N-400 is more expensive. Also, Form N-336 is more expensive.
- B2 Style: Costs for Form N-400 would rise. Similarly, Form N-336 fees would rise.
-
The 'So' Step The 'Consequence' Step
- A2 Style: Citizenship is valuable, so people should pay more.
- B2 Style: Citizenship is so valuable; consequently, applicants should pay the full cost.
💡 Pro-Tip: The "Comma Rule"
Notice a pattern? In the article, words like Additionally, Similarly, and Consequently always start a sentence and are followed by a comma.
Formula: [Connector] + [ , ] + [Complete Sentence]
⚡ Quick Reference for your Transition
| Avoid (A2) | Try This (B2) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| And / Also | Furthermore | Adding a stronger point |
| In the same way | Similarly | Comparing two like things |
| So | Consequently | Showing a direct result |
Vocabulary Learning
Proposed Adjustment of Naturalization Adjudication Fees by the Department of Homeland Security
美國國土安全部擬議調整入籍審理費用
Introduction
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a regulatory proposal to increase application fees for legal immigrants seeking naturalization and to eliminate most fee concessions.
美國公民及移民服務局 (USCIS) 提出了一項監管建議，旨在提高尋求入籍的合法移民之申請費用，並取消大部分的費用減免。
Main Body
The proposed fiscal restructuring involves a significant escalation in the costs associated with Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) and Form N-336 (Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings). Specifically, paper filings for Form N-400 would increase from $760 to $1,330, while online submissions would rise from $710 to $1,280. Similarly, Form N-336 fees would ascend to $1,475 for paper and $1,425 for online filings. Concurrent with these increases, the administration intends to terminate fee waivers and the reduced-fee option previously available to applicants whose household income did not exceed 400% of the federal poverty line; however, statutory exemptions for military personnel shall be maintained.
擬議的財務重組涉及 N-400 表格（入籍申請書）與 N-336 表格（入籍程序決定聽證請求書）相關成本的大幅上升。具體而言，N-400 表格的紙本申請費將從 760 美元增加至 1,330 美元，而線上提交則將從 710 美元升至 1,280 美元。同樣地，N-336 表格的費用將升至紙本 1,475 美元，線上提交 1,425 美元。在增加費用的同時，行政部門打算取消先前提供給家庭收入不超過聯邦貧困線 400% 申請人的費用豁免與減費選項；然而，針對軍人的法定豁免將予以維持。
This policy shift represents a departure from the historical precedent of previous administrations, which maintained lower fees to facilitate integration and encourage naturalization. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posits that the current fee structure necessitates a cross-subsidization model where other immigration benefits fund the naturalization process—a practice the agency now deems unsustainable. The administration asserts that the high value of U.S. citizenship justifies a 'full cost recovery' model. Furthermore, this financial adjustment coincides with an intensification of vetting protocols, including the resumption of 'neighborhood checks' and a more rigorous examination of the 'good moral character' requirement. These measures are aligned with a broader institutional effort to mitigate citizenship fraud and increase the frequency of denaturalization proceedings for those found to have obtained citizenship through fraudulent means.
這次政策轉向代表了與先前政府歷史慣例的背離，此前政府維持較低費用以促進融入並鼓勵入籍。國土安全部 (DHS) 認為目前的收費結構需要一種交叉補貼模式，即由其他移民福利資助入籍程序——而該機構現在認為此做法不可持續。行政部門主張，美國公民身份的高價值證明了「全額成本回收」模式的合理性。此外，此次財務調整與審查協定的強化同步進行，包括恢復「鄰里調查」以及對「良好道德品格」要求進行更嚴格的審核。這些措施與更廣泛的機構努力一致，旨在減少公民身份欺詐，並增加對被發現透過欺詐手段獲取公民身份者的取消國籍程序頻率。
Conclusion
The proposal is currently subject to a 60-day public comment period before it can be finalized and implemented within the federal rulemaking process.
在正式敲定並於聯邦立法程序中實施之前，該建議目前正處於 60 天的公眾評論期。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of Institutional Euphemism and 'Nominalization' as a Power Tool
To move from B2 (competent) to C2 (mastery), one must cease treating vocabulary as mere 'word choice' and start treating it as strategic positioning. In this text, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employs a linguistic strategy known as Bureaucratic Obfuscation through Nominalization.
⚡ The Linguistic Pivot: From Action to Entity
B2 learners often use verbs to describe change: "They are increasing the fees." C2 mastery recognizes the shift toward Nominalization—turning a process (verb) into a concept (noun) to remove agency and emotional weight.
Observe the transformation in the text:
- "increase application fees" "Proposed Adjustment"
- "making things more expensive" "Fiscal restructuring"
- "charging more" "Full cost recovery model"
By substituting a verb (increase) with a noun (adjustment), the writer strips the action of its aggression. An "adjustment" sounds technical and neutral; an "increase" sounds punitive.
🏛️ Lexical Precision: The 'Sustainably' Nuance
Note the phrase: "a practice the agency now deems unsustainable."
In a C2 context, "unsustainable" is not merely about ecology; it is used here as a fiscal justification. When a government entity labels a previous policy "unsustainable," they are creating a logical imperative for change that bypasses political debate. This is the essence of 'High-Register Administrative English': using a term of necessity to mask a choice of policy.
🧩 Synthesis: The 'Precedent' Framework
Look at the construction: "represents a departure from the historical precedent."
The C2 Formula: [Action] + [represents a departure from] + [established norm/precedent].
Instead of saying "This is different from what they did before," the author uses a formal structural anchor. This allows the writer to acknowledge a change in direction while maintaining an air of objective, historical observation rather than critical commentary.
C2 Mastery Key: To emulate this, stop describing what is happening and start describing the category of the phenomenon. Do not say "The company is changing its rules"; say "The organization is implementing a regulatory realignment."**