Top 5 Birth Countries for Naturalized Citizens in the US
To celebrate the 4th of July, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) held naturalization ceremonies across the United States to welcome new citizens. According to a press release by USCIS, between July 1 and July 8, more than 6,600 immigrants became new citizens in more than 140 naturalization ceremonies. In the fiscal year 2021, 8,55,000 new citizens were naturalized, and U.S. Homeland Security statistics provide the top 5 birth countries for naturalized citizens.
- Mexico: 24,508
- India: 12,928
- Philippines: 11,316
- Cuba: 10,689
- Dominican Republic: 7,046
These 5 birth countries accounted for 34% of new citizens in the 1st quarter of 2022, compared to the 1st quarter of 2o21 when the top 5 countries were 2021; the top five nationalities were Mexico, India, Cuba, the Philippines and China. According to the press release, in the 2021 fiscal year, 8,55,000 new citizens were naturalized, and in 2022, 6,61,500 new citizens have been naturalized as of June 15. The United States fiscal year starts on October 1 and ends on September 30.
If you are not from one of these countries, don’t despair – this means that 76% of new citizens were NOT from the top 5 countries!
Do You Want to Become a U.S. Citizen?
Naturalization is when a person voluntarily applies to become a permanent U.S. citizen. To apply to become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, a lawful permanent resident must have lived in the United States for five years, or three years in some cases, be fluent in English, and want to make the United States their permanent home.
The naturalization process can take a long time, and there are many steps to prepare for naturalization, which include:
- Evaluation of citizenship eligibility
- Overcoming any barriers to ineligibility
- File USCIS Form N-400
- Get fingerprinted and other biometric requirements
- Attend a citizenship interview
- Attend an oath ceremony where you are granted U.S. citizenship and say the Pledge of Allegiance
WATCH: Immigration Attorney Mario Godoy Explains How To Avoid Naturalization Pitfalls
Oak Brook Immigration Attorney
To ensure that every step of your naturalization application to become an American citizen is correctly completed and provides the best opportunity for a successful outcome, a skilled immigration attorney can put their experience to work for you to achieve your American Dream. If you need help with an immigration issue, please contact our office at 630-912-0322. Godoy Law Office serves the entire Chicago, Illinois area, including DuPage, Cook, Kane, Will and Lake Counties.