Borrow toward your future

Loan for USCIS Citizenship Application Fees

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Introducing the OPA 1% APR Loan

Every journey to citizenship is unique, filled with courage, hope, and determination. 

At One Percent for America, we believe that no one should be held back by financial barriers when pursuing their dream of becoming a U.S. citizen.  

Our loan is designed to empower immigrants who are ready to take the step toward citizenship. With our 1% interest loan, you can apply now and pay the fee over the next year. No need to wait!   

This loan can only be used for USCIS citizenship application fees. It is currently available to individuals living in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas. 
Don’t see your state? Sign up for our new state lending alert.

Your Smart Financing Option

With our 1% interest loan, you can apply now and pay the fee over the next year.

The fee for a typical N-400, Application for Naturalization online application costs $710.  Compare your total cost of an OPA loan versus paying the fee with a credit card. 

OPA logo

Loan from OPA (1% APR)

  • Payment period: 12 months
  • Minimum monthly payment: $59.76
    (including $0.59 in interest)
  • Total repayment: $717.10

    (including $7.10 in interest)

Costs reflect if the borrower meets monthly payments and repays the loan within 12 months.

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Credit Card (24% APR)

  • Payment period: 12 months
  • Minimum monthly payment: $73.36

    (including $14.20 in interest)
  • Total repayment: $880.40

    (including $170.40 in interest)

This comparison uses a 24% APR cited as a national average by LendingTree as of August 6, 2025. Credit card APRs vary widely. Borrowers should review their own credit terms before making a financing decision.

This comparison is provided for illustrative purposes only to demonstrate the potential costs of financing citizenship application fees.  

Who is Eligible for the OPA 1% APR Loan?

 

You are Eligible if You:

  • Are 18 or older  
  • Live in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas.*  
  • Have a Social Security Number  
  • Plan to apply for U.S. Citizenship in the next 60 days (Form N-400 or N-600)  
  • Have a U.S. debit card and can make minimum monthly loan payments  
  • Meet our minimum credit requirements 
    If you don’t meet them on your own, you may be eligible to apply with a qualified co-borrower.  If your application is not approved, you will receive a written notice explaining the reasons, as required by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
  • Can provide proof of income from a job, Social Security, a pension, disability payments or a similar source. If you cannot provide proof of income, you may still be eligible by applying with a qualified co-borrower.  
  • Consent to receive all documentation electronically (based on state compliance requirements) ^
  • Consent to having your credit pulled and reviewed

 Co-Borrower Eligibility Requirements

If you don’t qualify on your own, you may be eligible to apply for an OPA loan with a co-borrower. Your co-borrower shares responsibility for repaying the loan. Co-borrowers must have proof of income, meet the minimum credit requirements, and be able to support the monthly loan payments if necessary.  

  • Meet minimum credit requirements  
  • Can provide proof of income from a job, Social Security, a pension, disability payments or a similar source.  
  • Has shared responsibility for repaying the loan if the borrower is unable to make payments at any time before the loan is paid off.  

Learn About Being A Co-Borrower

*One Percent for America loans are currently available to residents of the following states, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas. 
If your state is not listed, please sign up for updates.  

^You agree to receive loan disclosures electronically. You have the right to request paper copies at no charge. You may withdraw this consent at any time, which may affect your ability to complete the application. 

OPA 1% Interest Loan Terms & Conditions

 

Interest Rate 1% fixed annual percentage rate (APR) 
Loan Term 1 year (12 months) 
Repayment Schedule Monthly installments. Payment activity will be reported to credit bureaus 
Fees and Charges

If a monthly payment is not received within 15 calendar days after the due date, a late fee will be charged on the 16th day. The late fee will be $5.00 or 5% of the unpaid installment amount, whichever is less. Only one late fee will be charged for each missed payment.

If your account is more than 90 days past due, it will be considered in default. When this happens, the full past due balance must be paid within 30 days to avoid loan acceleration.

If your account is more than 120 days past due, your loan will be accelerated. When this happens, the full remaining loan balance including interest and outstanding fees must be paid within 30 days of receiving a notice of default. The APR remains at 1%. 
Prepayments No prepayment penalties. You won’t have to pay any extra fees if you pay off your loan early. 
Type of Loan Personal or joint installment, consumer loan for USCIS citizenship application fees 
Conditions OPA will conduct a credit inquiry and require all applicants to meet minimum credit requirements. Borrowers who provide proof of income and meet minimum credit requirements do not require a co-borrower.  Some loans may require a co-borrower who meets minimum credit requirements and has proof of income. On-time payments can help build credit for both the borrower and co-borrower, while delinquent payments may negatively impact credit. 
Loan Amount OPA’s 1% interest loans range from $380 to $1,385, depending on the type of citizenship application the borrower will submit to USCIS. 

 

Important Information: Current U.S. Immigration Processing

A temporary federal policy—unrelated to One Percent for America (OPA)—is currently impacting USCIS citizenship application processing for applicants from over 35 countries. To prevent delays or complications for prospective OPA loan applicants, we are pausing OPA loan applications for individuals from the impacted countries. We look forward to reopening the OPA Loan applications for individuals from these countries if and when this federal policy is lifted.  

See the list of affected countries before applying.

Application Process

What You'll Need to Apply

  • Contact Information  
  • Social Security Number  
  • Exact Loan Amount for USCIS Citizenship Application Fees  
  • Payment Information (Debit Card)  
  • Proof of income from a job, Social Security, a pension, disability payments or a similar source.  
    If you cannot provide proof of income, you may still be eligible by applying with a qualified co-borrower. A co-borrower is someone who agrees to share responsibility for the loan.

Important Note: You must complete the application in one sitting, as it cannot be saved. Please gather all required information before you begin.

Start the Application

By applying, you agree to our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, including your SSN and financial data. We will obtain a credit report in connection with your application.