USCIS Issues Naturalization Fact Sheet

On January 21, 2011, USCIS issued a revised naturalization fact sheet. The fact sheet provides the general requirements for naturalization. The fact sheet also provides interesting naturalization statistics:
Naturalization Statistics

  • Each year, USCIS welcomes approximately 680,000 citizens during naturalization ceremonies across the United States and around the world.
  • In FY 2009, 74 percent of all persons naturalizing resided in 10 states (in descending order): California, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts, Washington and Maryland.
  • In FY 2009, the leading metropolitan areas of residence were New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA (15 percent), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA (11 percent) and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL (7.3 percent).
  • FY 2009, the top countries of origin for naturalization were in the following order: Mexico, India, Philippines, China and Vietnam.
  • Since September 2001, USCIS has naturalized more than 64,000 members of the military, in ceremonies across the United States and in the following 22 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, Cuba, Djibouti, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2008, USCIS has naturalized 883 military spouses during ceremonies in Bulgaria, China, El Salvador, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Panama, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Total Naturalized Citizens: Fiscal Years 2001–2010

2010

675,967

2005

604,280

2009

743,715

2004

537,151

2008

1,046,539

2003

463,204

2007

660,477

2002

573,708

2006

702,589

2001

608,205


About the Author

Vishal Chander is an immigration attorney and founder of The Chander Law Firm PC in New York City. He advises employers and individuals on U.S. immigration strategy, including H-1B, PERM, and employment-based compliance.

The Chander Law Firm PC
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