February 6, 2023
Naturalization: Policy Overview and Selected Trends
Naturalization is the process by which a foreign national
community involvement, employment history, and absence
becomes a U.S. citizen under requirements established in
or presence of criminal history. The INA contains certain
the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). In 2021,
statutory bars to GMC (e.g., conviction of certain crimes).
approximately 24 million naturalized U.S. citizens were
residing in the United States, representing 53% of the
English and Civics Knowledge
foreign-born population.
Naturalization applicants must demonstrate an ability to
read, write, and speak English and take a civics exam that
Naturalization is voluntary and affords certain rights,
demonstrates understanding of U.S. history and
benefits, and eligibility; including eligibility for a U.S.
government. Individuals aged 50 and older with qualifying
passport, the right to vote and run for elected office,
U.S. residence may be eligible for modifications to these
eligibility for certain civil service and law enforcement
requirements. In addition, exemptions are available to
jobs, and protection from deportation. In addition, U.S.
individuals who are unable to comply with these
citizens may sponsor a broader range of family members
requirements because of a physical or developmental
for permanent residence than lawful permanent residents
disability or mental impairment.
(LPRs, also known as green card holders; foreign nationals
authorized to live permanently in the United States), and the
Process
immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (as defined in the INA)
Individuals apply to naturalize by filing an Application for
are not subject to numerical limits.
Naturalization (Form N-400) with USCIS with required
fees (currently $640 plus an $85 biometric fee). Next,
Generally, in order to naturalize, a foreign national must be
applicants undergo biometric screening, during which
an LPR, meet certain U.S. residence and physical presence
USCIS collects an applicant’s fingerprints, photograph, and
requirements, demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and
signature. Applicants then complete an interview with a
civics and English language ability, have good moral
USCIS officer in which they answer questions about their
character, and show attachment to the U.S. Constitution by
application and background and complete their civics and
taking the Oath of Allegiance in a public ceremony.
English tests. Those who pass their interviews and exams
Individuals must be at least 18 to naturalize; children derive
become U.S. citizens after taking the Oath of Allegiance.
citizenship through their parents. U.S. Citizenship and
The Oath may be administered by USCIS in an
Immigration Services (USCIS), a Department of Homeland
administrative ceremony or by a federal judge in a judicial
Security (DHS) agency, adjudicates naturalization
ceremony.
applications.
Dual Citizenship, Expatriation, and
Eligibility Requirements
Revocation
U.S. Residence and Physical Presence
An individual who naturalizes in the United States may
retain the citizenship of another country if that country
Generally, an LPR becomes eligible to naturalize after five
permits it. The United States has no authority to prohibit
years of continuous U.S. residence preceding their
another country from continuing to treat an individual as its
application. During at least half that time (30 months), the
citizen.
individual must have been physically present in the United
States. LPRs who are married to U.S. citizens and have
A native-born or naturalized U.S. citizen may lose their
been for at least three years may naturalize after three years
citizenship by committing certain expatriating acts if those
of U.S. residence and 18 months of physical presence.
acts are committed with the intention of relinquishing U.S.
citizenship. These include voluntary naturalization in a
The INA contains special provisions for the naturalization
foreign country after age 18, making a formal declaration of
of noncitizen members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Those
allegiance to a foreign country after age 18, serving in the
who apply while in service or within six months of
armed forces of a foreign country engaged in hostilities
discharge are exempt from residence and physical presence
against the United States, and serving in the armed forces of
requirements. Those who serve during designated periods
a foreign country as an officer. An individual may also
of military hostilities may also naturalize without having
voluntarily renounce their U.S. citizenship before a U.S.
first been an LPR.
diplomatic or consular officer abroad (e.g., because the
Good Moral Character
individual wishes to run for elected office in another
country).
Naturalization applicants must demonstrate that they have
been persons of good moral character (GMC). GMC is
A naturalized citizen may have his or her citizenship
determined on a case-by-case basis by USCIS based on the
revoked in federal court on the basis that he or she procured
totality of the circumstances, considering factors such as
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Naturalization: Policy Overview and Selected Trends
citizenship illegally by concealment of material facts or by
within 6 months. The median processing time for the N-400
willful misrepresentation.
decreased from 11.5 months in FY2021 to 6.9 months in the
first quarter of FY2023. The number of pending N-400
Naturalization Trends
applications declined by 42% from the end of FY2020
Annual Naturalizations
(943,000) to the end of FY2022 (550,000).
On average, 723,000 individuals naturalized annually in the
Origins of Naturalized Citizens
United States during the last 20 years. In FY2022, nearly 1
From FY2012-FY2021, the largest proportion of
million individuals naturalized, the highest number since
individuals who naturalized were from Asia and North
FY2008 (Figure 1). Naturalizations were relatively low
America (including Mexico and Central America), each
during FY2020 in part because of the COVID-19
representing more than one-third of those naturalized
pandemic—USCIS suspended in-person services at its field
(Figure 3). Individuals born in Europe and Africa each
offices from March-June 2020. In addition, some
represented approximately 10%, followed by South
naturalization applications were delayed because
applicants’
America (9%) and Oceania (1%). The top 10 countries of
immigration records were held in Federal
origin for naturalizations during that period were Mexico,
Records Centers operating with reduced staffing during the
India, the Philippines, China, Cuba, the Dominican
pandemic.
Republic, Vietnam, Colombia, El Salvador, and Jamaica,
Figure 1. Annual Naturalizations, FY2003-FY2022
cumulatively representing about half of all naturalizations.
Figure 3. Naturalized Citizens by Region of Origin
Source: DHS, 2021 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics.
Eligible to Naturalize
DHS’s Office of Immigration Statistics estimates that as of
Source: FY2003-FY2021: DHS, 2021 Yearbook of Immigration
January 2022, 9.2 million LPRs were eligible to naturalize,
Statistics; FY2022: USCIS, Fiscal Year 2022 Progress Report, December
based on meeting age and residency requirements,
2022.
representing approximately 72% of the 12.9 million LPRs
residing in the United States. Nearly half of those eligible to
Application Backlogs
naturalize were from North America, with more than a
quarter from Mexico.
In recent years, USCIS has come under scrutiny for its large
backlogs of pending applications and long processing times,
including for naturalization applications. At the end of
Additional Information
FY2020, the number of pending Forms N-400 reached
943,000 (Figure 2).
For more information, see the following:
Figure 2. Pending Cases, FY2013-FY2022
CRS Infographic IG10028, Naturalization: The Process of
Becoming a U.S. Citizen
CRS Report R43366, U.S. Naturalization Policy
CRS Infographic IG10035, Expedited Naturalization
through Military Service
CRS In Focus IF12089, U.S. Citizenship Through Military
Service and Options for Military Relatives
CRS Report R47223, U.S. Citizenship for Children Born
Abroad: In Brief
Source: USCIS, “Al USCIS Application and Petition Form Types,”
multiple years.
Holly Straut-Eppsteiner, Analyst in Immigration Policy
Notes: Number of cases pending at the end of each fiscal year.
IF12322
In 2022, USCIS announced new efforts to reduce
processing times, with a goal to process Forms N-400
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Naturalization: Policy Overview and Selected Trends
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