Citizenship Approvals Fall 72%: What Naturalization Applicants Should Know

Fewer people are being approved for U.S. citizenship this year, and the drop is large. A Washington Post report published October 23, 2026, says federal immigration officials approved about 173,000 people for citizenship during the first eight months of 2026. That is down 72 percent from the same period a year earlier. The waiting list is also getting longer. The same report says pending naturalization applications rose from about 500,000 at the start of the current administration to more than 800,000 as of August. Other outlets, citing a separate analysis, say average waits grew from about six months in August 2025 to nearly 13 months a year later. Why is this happening? Immigration lawyers quoted in the coverage say processing has slowed sharply and that fewer naturalization interviews are being scheduled. Some applicants say their interviews took place and then nothing happened for months. Officials have also changed parts of the process. Reports describe a return to an older version of the civics test, higher English requirements, closer checks of social media, a closer look at tax returns, and a deeper review of whether an applicant has good moral character. Some interviews also include checks with neighbors and co-workers. The same report says some naturalization ceremonies have been canceled or scaled back in various places. This matters because approval is only one step. You become a citizen when you take the oath at a ceremony, so a delay at that stage can also delay your ability to vote. The numbers come from news reports that analyzed USCIS data, not from one official announcement. One analysis found denials also fell, by about 41 percent, which suggests fewer decisions overall rather than more rejections. Another tracker found that the share of completed cases ending in denial roughly doubled between July 2025 and July 2026. Sources do not all agree on exact figures, so check uscis.gov for official updates. What this means for you: If you have a Form N-400 pending, the delay may not be caused by anything in your own file, but you can still protect your case. Keep your mailing address current with USCIS. Save copies of every notice and receipt. Use your receipt number to check your case status online. Go to every interview and bring exactly what the notice asks for. Keep your travel dates, tax returns and residence records organized, since officers are reviewing these more closely. Make decisions about travel, work or school based on your own notices, not only on news headlines. If your case has been pending well beyond the posted processing time, ask yourself whether USCIS has sent you a notice or asked for more evidence. Some applicants have gone to federal court after long waits. Court action has strict rules and deadlines, so talk to an immigration attorney before filing anything or making major decisions. If you are a green card holder hoping to vote in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, remember that you must be a citizen first. A pending application cannot be counted as a citizenship approval, so plan with that in mind. This article is general information, not legal advice. Sources: 72 percent drop in approving new citizens leaves would-be voters in limbo - The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/10/23/with-citizenship-approvals-slowing-would-be-voters-are-left-limbo/ US Citizenship Approvals Fall 72% This Year - The Rio Times: https://www.riotimesonline.com/us-citizenship-approvals-fall-72-percent/ Citizenship Approvals Plummet a Year Into Trump's Second Term - Bloomberg Law: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/citizenship-approvals-plummet-a-year-into-trumps-second-term MD joins lawsuit against Trump’s changes to green card policy - Maryland Daily Record: https://thedailyrecord.com/2026/10/07/maryland-joins-lawsuit-trump-green-card-public-charge-rule/ Photo: Cristina Glebova on Unsplash