Title page
Contents
Summary 2
Introduction 5
Impacts of Naturalization 6
Rights and Benefits of Citizenship 6
Outcomes for the United States 7
Naturalization Requirements 7
Continuous Residence 8
Good Moral Character 8
English Language Proficiency and Civics Knowledge 9
The Naturalization Process 11
Application Procedures 11
Naturalization Oath of Allegiance 12
Children's Citizenship and Naturalization 12
Military Naturalizations 14
Dual Citizenship 17
Loss of Citizenship 17
Expatriation 18
Revocation 18
Naturalization Trends 20
Naturalization Determinants 24
Issues for Congress 29
Backlogs, Processing, and USCIS Capacity 29
Naturalization Fees 31
Citizenship Resources and Promotion 33
Legislation in the 118th Congress 34
Appendix. Selected Links to Naturalization Information and Application Materials 35
Author Information 36
Acknowledgments 36
Disclaimer 36
Table 1. Requirements for U.S. Citizenship Acquisition for Children Born Outside the United States 13
Table 2. Foreign-Born Population, by Naturalization Eligibility and Country of Birth 27
Figure 1. Military Naturalizations, FY2000-FY2023 16
Figure 2. Naturalization Applications Filed and Denied, and Persons Naturalized, FY1983-FY2023 21
Figure 3. Proportion of Persons Naturalized, by Region of Birth 22
Figure 4. Naturalized Foreign Born as a Proportion of the Total Foreign Born 23
Figure 5. Persons Naturalized by Country of Birth, FY2022 24
Figure 6. Foreign-Born Population by Origin Country and Citizenship Status, 2022 25
Figure 7. Number of Pending Naturalization Applications, FY2012-FY2023 31