Indians continue to strengthen their presence in the United States, emerging as the second-largest group to gain US citizenship in FY 2024.
According to data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 49,700 Indians were naturalised this year, making up 6.1% of all new US citizens. This positions them second only to Mexico, which accounted for 13.1% of naturalisations.
The Indian-American population now exceeds five million, reflecting their growing influence and contributions across various sectors.
The top countries of birth for naturalised citizens in FY 2024 include Mexico, India, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam, collectively accounting for 33% of all naturalisations.
Naturalisation involves meeting specific criteria, including holding lawful permanent residency (Green Card status) for at least five years, demonstrating English proficiency, passing a US history and government test, attending an interview, and taking the Oath of Allegiance. Naturalised citizens enjoy the same rights and privileges as native-born Americans.
In FY 2024, 70% of those who naturalised, including Indians, resided in 10 states: California, Florida, New York, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington, with more than half living in the top four states.
Most naturalised citizens arrived in the US through family-sponsored or employment-based preference categories, refugee or asylum programs, or the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) reported that in 2022, 65,960 Indians became US citizens, trailing Mexicans (128,878) but surpassing Filipinos (53,413) and Cubans (46,913). As of 2023, Indians form the second-largest group of foreign-born US nationals, totaling 2.83 million, behind Mexico’s 10.6 million and ahead of China’s 2.22 million.
This steady upward trend highlights the Indian-American community’s ongoing commitment to contributing to the United States' social, economic, and cultural fabric.