Naturalization is the process of becoming a citizen of a particular country. For many individuals who have moved to the United States, naturalization is an important milestone. Naturalization is not an easy process, but it comes with a number of benefits such as being allowed to vote, hold public office, and travel with ease. Since the earliest days of the nation, naturalization has been a major part of American society. This article will delve into some of the most important naturalization statistics since 2011.
Naturalization Statistics by Country of Origin
Most naturalized citizens in the United States come from notable world regions such as Asia, Europe, and North America. However, recent data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicates that in the last decade, citizens from several African countries have been consistently among the top ten countries of origin for naturalized U.S. citizens. In fiscal 2016, Mexico had the highest number of naturalization applications (84,236) followed by Philippines (47,764), India (43,127), the Dominican Republic (20,415), and China (19,888). In fact, Mexico has consistently ranked first in naturalization applications since fiscal year 2011.
Between fiscal years 2014 and 2016, the number of naturalization applications submitted by African-born immigrants went up by 40%, from 70,291 in 2014 to 98,532 in 2016. Somalia had the highest increase over this period (from 3,463 in 2014 to 8,389 in 2016). The other countries with significant increases were Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Guinea, and Cameroon. This could be attributed to a combination of economic factors, an increase in opportunities, and the accommodation by the US government of refugees from those countries.
Naturalization Statistics by Age Group
The number of naturalization applications submitted increases with age; the older applicants, the more likely they are to have applied. According to research conducted by the University of Southern California’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, more than half of all naturalization applicants in 2015 were aged 50 or older. This age group accounts for approximately 43% of all naturalized citizens in the US.
In general, older immigrants have been living in the United States much longer compared to younger immigrants and, therefore, have a higher level of investment in the country. In addition, older immigrants are more likely to speak English, which is a key requirement for naturalization. Therefore, the process may be more straightforward for them than it is for younger immigrants.
Naturalization Statistics by Gender
Similarly, gender is also a major consideration in naturalization. According to the USCIS, women are more likely than men to apply for and obtain naturalization. In fiscal year 2016, women accounted for 53% of naturalized US citizens. The gender disparity is marked at higher ages.
Older immigrant women aged 50 or above were twice as likely to apply for naturalization compared to their male counterparts. In 2014, the Center for Migration Studies report on women and naturalization reports that naturalization rates among women surpassed those of men by 5%. This gender-based pattern could be due to factors such as family reunification, as women tend to have more family-based ties, and due to employment opportunities in the US.
Naturalization Statistics by State
States with the highest percentages of naturalized US citizens are, unsurprisingly, ones with a history of high immigration.
According to a report by the Center for American Progress, California, New York, and Florida are the top three states by percentage of the population that is naturalized. In each of these states, naturalized citizens account for more than 1 in 5 of the state’s residents. In New York alone, 22.5% of the population is naturalized citizens.
States with the highest numbers of new naturalizations are California, New York, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey. The state of California and New York are both ranked one and two, respectively, in naturalization rates per capita. They are also the top states by number of naturalizations. Texas has the third-highest number of naturalizations with 69,912 in fiscal year 2016.
Naturalization Application Trends
The number of naturalization applications received by the USCIS has seen a rise over the years. In fiscal 2016, the USCIS received over 971,556 naturalization applications. This marked a 24% increase from fiscal year 2015, which saw only 782,401 applications. The number had remained relatively stable in the previous years, but this increase was probably fueled by the upcoming presidential election.
Furthermore, a report released by the USCIS in 2016 points out that naturalization processing times dropped considerably, from 7.1 months in 2011 to 5.8 months in 2015. For a lot of applicants, the time frame for processing long met the governing 120-day timeline, leaving many applicants desperate for answers.
Among the reasons cited for the prolonged processing times, was the significant increase in case load and application complexities such as the need to complete photo capture, biometric checks, and exams. There are also other factors such as the preservation of the integrity of the system, additional screening, and continuous reviews of applicants’ backgrounds.
Conclusion
Naturalization is an important milestone for many noncitizens in the United States. Many immigrants have come to the United States in search of opportunities, and naturalization opens doors to many new opportunities. Over the past decade, naturalization statistics indicate that the majority of naturalization applicants are aged 50 and over, with women more likely to apply and obtain naturalization than men. Few states have the highest number of naturalizations. Additionally, African countries have upped their naturalization rates in the United States by a significant 40% over that same period. While the process of getting naturalized is not always easy, it comes with many benefits including voting rights, political participation, and improved mobility.
Immigrants who wish to apply for American citizenship have to go through the naturalization process. The naturalization process is a series of steps that an immigrant must take in order to be allowed full American citizenship.
American citizenship entails becoming a full member of American society and giving the individual the right to participate in any activity that an American born citizen can do. As illegal immigration in many aspects runs counter to the spirit of naturalization, the high frequency of success in naturalization should be emphasized to encourage legitimacy in living in the United States. The following are pertinent data related to the American naturalization process:
In 2006, statistics showed that the United States continuously accepts more immigrants as permanent residents than any other country in the world. In 2006, the number of immigrants in America totaled 38 million people.
The number of immigrants who apply for naturalization grows each year. In fact, in 2008, a new record was set: 1,046,539 immigrants underwent the naturalization process and achieved American citizenship. Of all the immigrants within the United States who underwent the naturalization process, the leading countries of origin were Mexico, India, and the Philippines.
All naturalization process forms are checked through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). American citizenship is harder than ever to gain since the September 11 attacks of 2001. With increased security demands due to terrorist attacks, an individual may have to go to greater lengths to achieve American citizenship.
Since statistics are often delayed in being fully compiled, the most comprehensive breakdown of naturalization statistics comes from the year 2003 and earlier. There were just over seven hundred thousand individuals who went through the naturalization process and received American citizenship in said year. More females were naturalized than men and the largest portion of those naturalized did so through an immediate relative that had already received American citizenship. The other ways individuals were naturalized, in descending order, were family-sponsored preferences, employment preferences, diversity programs, refugee and asylum status, and all other routes to citizenship.
Naturalization, because it involves prior acquisition of a green card, is often a fairly good barometer of legal immigration trends. Nonetheless, sometimes, full citizenship is not realized by an immigrant to the United States, who may be content to only remain a permanent resident or who may fail to reach this goal in light of a criminal offense. While absolute naturalization figures are still vital in their own right, as time goes on, more and more attention must be paid to the relationship between legal naturalization and illegal habitation of American territory.
