Indians are leading the race to become US citizens, now standing second only to Mexico as per an official report.
In the fiscal year 2024, over 818,000 people became US citizens, according to USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration) data. That’s a slight drop from the previous year, but still much higher than pre-COVID numbers.
And among them, nearly 50,000 were Indians. That puts India in the number two spot, ahead of countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Dominican Republic, contributing to 6.1% of the total new citizens.
This is not a sudden jump. In 2023, over 59,000 Indians were naturalized showing that the flow has been steady. However, how long this number stays up under Trump remains to be seen.
Most Indians got in through the regular five-year green card route with data showing almost 90 percent passed the citizenship test on their first try.
For NRIs, naturalization means freedom from visa issues, more job options, and a better life for their children. Considering the current political climate more Indians would wish to follow the same path. But it will be difficult to achieve the American dream under Trump.
