India, June 23 -- Becoming a United States citizen could become considerably more expensive if a new proposal from the Trump administration is ultimately approved.

The rule, released for public comment on Monday, represents a significant change in federal policy as it seeks to align naturalization fees with what the Department of Homeland Security describes as the "full costs" of processing applications.

This includes enhanced screening and vetting measures introduced under recent executive orders, reported Newsweek.

The changes would impact hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents annually.

Critics warn that it could make the path to citizenship more difficult for lower-income applicants and place a greater share of U.S. C...