India is now second-largest source for new citizens in US: Report
As of 2023, India had the second-largest number of foreign-born American nationals, with 2,831,330, trailing only Mexico with 10,638,429
According to the most recent Congressional report, 65,960 Indians officially became citizens of the United States, making India the second-largest source country for new citizens after Mexico.
According to American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau, an estimated 46 million foreign-born people lived in the United States in 2022, accounting for around 14% of the overall population of 333 million. Of these, 24.5 million, or around 53%, claimed being naturalised citizens.
In its most recent “US Naturalisation Policy” report, published on April 15, the independent Congressional Research Service reported that 969,380 people became US citizens in fiscal year 2022.
“Individuals born in Mexico represented the largest number of naturalisations, followed by persons from India, Philippines, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic,” according to the report.
According to the most recent available data, up to 128,878 Mexican nationals will become citizens of the United States in 2022. They were followed by Indians (65,960), Filipinos (53,413), Cuba (46,913), Dominicans (34,525), Vietnamese (33,246), and Chinese (27,038).
As of 2023, India had the second-largest number of foreign-born American nationals, with 2,831,330, trailing only Mexico with 10,638,429. Mexico and India are followed by China, which has 2,225,447 foreign-born American nationals.
However, the CRS analysis stated that up to 42% of Indian-born foreign nationals living in the United States are currently unable to become US citizens.
As of 2023, up to 290,000 Indian-born foreign nationals with a Green Card or Legal Permanent Residency (LPR) were possibly eligible for naturalisation.
CRS stated that in recent years, some commentators have expressed worry over USCIS processing backlogs for naturalization petitions.
Although there has been a backlog of naturalisation applications since FY2020, the agency has decreased the number of applications awaiting completion by more than half.
As of the conclusion of FY2023, USCIS had roughly 408,000 pending naturalization petitions, down from 550,000 at the end of FY2022, 840,000 at the end of FY2021, and 943,000 at the end of FY2020.
In fiscal year 2023, 823,702 legal permanent residents applied for naturalization. The number of people who have recently sought for citizenship is still far lower than the expected population of 9 million LPRs who are eligible to naturalize in 2023. The percentage of foreign-born people who are naturalized varies depending on numerous factors, including their nation of origin.
Hondurans, Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, El Salvador, and Brazil have the lowest percentages of naturalized foreign-born, while those from Vietnam, the Philippines, Russia, Jamaica, and Pakistan have the greatest.
To be eligible for naturalization, an applicant must meet specific criteria established in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The prerequisites include being a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for at least five years.
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