Indians follow Mexicans as the second largest group to embrace US citizenship in 2022

Nearly 66,000 Indians embraced U.S. citizenship in 2022, marking a significant increase in naturalization among the Indian diaspora, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. The report also found that approximately 128,878 Mexican nationals became U.S. citizens during the same period, with Indians coming in second.

The influx reflects broader trends in immigration, with an estimated 46 million foreign-born individuals expected to live in the United States by 2022, representing about 14% of the total population. Among them, 24.5 million, or roughly 53%, were identified as naturalized citizens.

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SRS’s ‘US Naturalization Policy’ report, released on April 15, highlighted that 969,380 individuals achieved US citizenship in fiscal year 2022.

While the report paints a picture of a vibrant and dynamic naturalization landscape, it also sheds light on the challenges and differences within the process. Notably, despite the notable increase in Indian naturalizations, the CRS report revealed that a substantial portion of Indian-born foreign nationals in the US remain ineligible for citizenship, at 42%.

As of 2023, approximately 290,000 Indian-born individuals with a green card or a lawful permanent resident (LPR) were considered potentially eligible for naturalization, indicating that there is a vast reservoir of aspirants waiting for their turn in the citizenship queue .

Nevertheless, the report also highlighted improvements in the naturalization process, particularly in eliminating processing backlogs. Despite ongoing concerns about USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) processing delays, the agency has managed to reduce the backlog of pending naturalization applications by more than half since fiscal year 2020.

By the end of fiscal year 2023, USCIS reported approximately 408,000 pending naturalization applications, which represents a significant decrease from previous years.

However, problems remain, with differences observed between immigrants from different regions in terms of naturalization rates. Immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, El Salvador and Brazil showed lower naturalization rates compared to counterparts from Vietnam, the Philippines, Russia, Jamaica and Pakistan.

To qualify for naturalization, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria set out in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), including maintaining lawful permanent residence status for a minimum of five years.

As the United States continues to grapple with immigration dynamics, naturalization remains a critical path for immigrants who want to fully participate in American civic life and contribute to the country’s rich diversity.