Infographics: What The Data Says About Applying For U.S. Citizenship

There are many reasons why people are hesitant to apply for U.S. citizenship. It's an important decision and it's natural that immigrants would consider the pros and cons before making a commitment.

We looked at recent data about naturalizations and the citizenship application process and found that several of the things people worry about actually may not be that bad.

We specifically looked at three common concerns:

• How many people are eligible for U.S. citizenship?
• How many people save money when applying for naturalization?
• How many people pass the U.S. Citizenship Test?

We hope you find these findings interesting and useful. We encourage you to use them to help your community understand that citizenship is possible and affordable.

You can download all of these infographics in English and Spanish as a single PDF file here.

A Lot Of People Became U.S. Citizens Last Year

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published its naturalization statistics for Fiscal Year 2024. 818,500 people became US citizens.

These people came from all over the world, but the top countries were Mexico, India, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

While the largest age group was between 30 to 44 years old, 17% of new citizens were under the age of 30 and 23 people achieved citizenship at the age of 100 years or more!

The majority of new citizens last year were women, making up 55% of all naturalized citizens.

Now, let's take a look at what we found that may help you make your decision.

How Many People Are Eligible For U.S. Citizenship?

Key Point: There were 8.6 MILLION people eligible, but only 11.5% of them actually applied

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics

Before you can think about applying for citizenship, you need to know when you will be eligible for it. Almost always that means you must have a Green Card for at least five years, or for three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen.

If you have a Green Card and have lived in the U.S. for enough time, there are some other things can make you ineligible. International travel is important. You must not have spent too much time outside the country. You can read more about travel restrictions here.

You can use our eligibility calculator to learn more about your own eligibility.

The good news is, a LOT more people meet the requirements for citizenship than actually apply. If you want to apply and think you might be eligible, it's worth looking into it, because you may be one of the almost 9 million lawful permanent residents who can apply whenever they are ready.

Can you save money on your application?

Key Point: 71% of potential applicants would qualify for financial assistance

Source: USC Equity Research Institute—Naturalize Now: Economic Equity and the Path to Naturalization

The cost of the application can be a barrier for many people. The application and biometrics cost $760. That's not including anything you may pay to a lawyer or other service to help you prepare your application.

Fortunately, some recent changes have made it possible for a lot of people to receive a 50% discount on their application. Many people can even get their application fees completely eliminated.

You can read more about fee waivers and fee reductions here.

Will you be able to pass the citizenship test?

Key Point: 95% of people who took the citizenship test passed on the 1st or 2nd try

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Part of the application process is an interview where you will be asked questions that demonstrate your ability to understand basic English, and show that you know about U.S. history and government. If you fail either one of these tests, you can take it a second time.

The really good news is that the vast majority of people who take these tests pass on the first try, and many people who have to re-take the test pass on the second try.

It's important to study for the test, but don't be scared of it. There are many resources to help you prepare, and since the test is the last step, you have time to get ready for it. Most people handle this part of the process just fine.

Download The Full PDF Of Infographics In English And Español

Wrapping Up

We hope these infographics help you understand that applying for U.S. citizenship is a good idea. It's a big step, but it's a great way to secure your future in the U.S.

We encourage you to use them to help your community understand that citizenship is possible and affordable.