More than 59,000 Indians became citizens of the United States in 2023, according to the annual progress report released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The report states that a total of nearly 870,000 foreign nationals obtained US citizenship during the fiscal year 2023.
Out of this, 1.1 lakh (12.7% of new citizens) were Mexicans, and 59,100 (6.7%) were Indians. Additionally, the report mentions that 35,200 (4%) new citizens were from the Dominican Republic, and 44,800 (5.1%) were from the Philippines.
To become a US citizen, individuals need to meet eligibility requirements outlined in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), such as being a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for at least five years. Most of the people granted US citizenship in FY 2023 were eligible for naturalization because they were LPRs for at least five years (INA Section 316(a)). Some were also eligible based on being LPRs for at least three years and being married to a US citizen for three years (INA Section 319(a)).
The report highlights that a non-citizen becomes eligible for naturalization after spending at least five years as a lawful permanent resident, while a US citizen’s spouse is required to spend at least three years as a lawful permanent resident.
Naturalizations during the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 accounted for almost a quarter of all naturalizations in the past decade, according to USCIS. In Fiscal year 2023, the median number of years spent as an LPR for those naturalized was seven years.
Many Indians have been pursuing American citizenship, especially from states like Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. Some migrate legally for job opportunities, while others attempt illegal entry. Between October 2022 and September 2023, around 42,000 migrants from India crossed into the United States illegally, primarily through the southern land border with Mexico. In 2023, delays in visa processing reduced after a record 1.4 million visas were processed, as reported by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India. Despite this, in 2023, about 96,000 Indians were caught or expelled while attempting to cross into the US, with uncertainties about how many successfully entered.
