According to recent data released by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. government conferred U.S. citizenship to 7.53 lakh individuals during the fiscal year 2016 (October 1,2015 to September 30,2016) out of which 6% was conferred on the Indians.
Among U.S. citizenship granted during the fiscal year 2016, Mexicans top the list, followed by Indians. The second largest group of people is Indian nationals, after Mexico to opt for naturalisation.
Normally, only green card holders can opt for naturalisation. A green card is a permit to live and work long-term in the U.S. The flux in visa policies and focus on increased number of jobs for citizens is inducing many green card holders to opt for U.S. citizenship.
However, there has been a slight decline in the number of citizenship being granted. Reasons for rejection of citizenship applications are severe examination of applications, uncertainty in work visa policies and various odd grounds of the U.S. Government.
There was a 24% rise in the number of applications in fiscal year 2016 as compared to the previous year 2015. The rise in the number of applications was relatively low, just 1% in 2015 as compared to 2014.
Out of the total 9.72 lakh applications in fiscal year 2016, only 7.53 lakh individuals were granted the U.S. citizenship of which 46,100 are Indians.
(Source http://bit.ly/2AlArkT)
Pradnya Sawant, Legal Assistant
Keywords: US citizenship, Indians, Naturalisation, Fiscal Year