Over 59,000 Indians obtained U.S. citizenship in 2023, making India the second-largest source country for new citizens after Mexico. This information was revealed in the annual progress report for 2023 released by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In total, nearly 870,000 foreign nationals became U.S. citizens during the fiscal year 2023 (ending September 30, 2023). Of these, over 110,000 were Mexicans (12.7% of the total) and 59,100 were Indians (6.7%).
To be eligible for naturalization, an applicant must meet certain requirements set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These generally include being a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for at least five years. However, there are special provisions that exempt certain applicants, such as spouses of U.S. citizens and military personnel, from some of these requirements.
The majority of those who acquired U.S. citizenship in FY 2023 were eligible based on being LPRs for at least five years. The median number of years spent as an LPR for all citizens naturalized in FY 2023 was seven years.
Naturalizations during the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 accounted for nearly a quarter of all naturalizations over the past decade.