USCIS Celebrates Citizenship Day 

Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization 
Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization

 

 

The Biden-Harris administration is committed to making the naturalization process welcoming and accessible 

to all who are eligible. As part of that efort, President Biden issued Executive Order 14012: Restoring Faith in 

Our Legal Immigration System and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Eforts for New Americans. 

Sections 5(c) and (d) of the Order established the Interagency Naturalization Working Group (NWG), comprising 

11 federal agencies, and directed the NWG to submit a strategy to the President outlining steps the federal 

government should take to promote naturalization. USCIS published the NWG’s Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization on July 2, 2021. 

The interagency strategy is evidence-based and data-driven. It employs a whole-of-government approach by 

leveraging federal partner agencies’ diverse networks and by working collaboratively at the federal, state, and 

local community level. Since the strategy’s publication, the NWG has moved forward on several key areas for 

promoting naturalization and removing barriers for noncitizens. 

Ways to Access USCIS Services and Information 

• Online Naturalization Eligibility Tool: Users can check their eligibility to file for naturalization at uscis. 

gov or your myUSCIS account. This new tool walks users through a series of simple questions to help 

them decide whether they may be eligible to submit the Application for Naturalization (Form N-400). 

Afer receiving an application, once all the preliminary processes on the case are complete, USCIS will 

schedule an interview with the candidate to complete the naturalization process. The Eligibility Tool 

also serves as a gateway to the USCIS account and online filing process. 

Redesigned Naturalization Application Webpage: USCIS has launched a redesigned naturalization 

application that encourages applicants to apply online. There are many benefits to online filing, 

including the ability to immediately review case status alerts, secure messages, and receive all 

correspondence electronically. 

• Enumeration Beyond Entry: USCIS and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have collaborated 

to automate the Social Security number application processes for noncitizens residing in the United 

States. Noncitizens can now request a new or replacement Social Security card through USCIS Forms 

I-485 and I-765, avoiding the need to visit a local SSA ofice. USCIS and SSA are working to implement 

this new process for Form I-140 as well. 

• Public Information Releases – New USCIS Reports and Stakeholder Listening Session: USCIS is 

releasing the following reports on trends in naturalization and will host a listening session with 

stakeholders in October to collect information on data and statistics of interest to the public: 

The Trends in Naturalization Rates Report – This report provides data on cohorts of the eligibleto-naturalize population from 1973 to 2018 and assesses patterns in naturalization based on length 

of time spent in lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, country of birth, and class of admission. The 

Trends in Naturalization Rates report was last updated in 2016. 

The Characteristics of People Who Naturalized Report – This report provides data on the 

characteristics of people who naturalized over the last five years (FY 2015 – FY 2020), including region 

and country of birth, state and core-based statistical area of residence, time spent in LPR status, age, 

gender, marital status, and class of admission. The Characteristics of People Who Naturalized report 

was last updated in 2016. 

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Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization

 

Citizenship Statistics Public Webpage – USCIS has developed a new public webpage focused on 

citizenship statistics. The webpage highlights FY 2020 naturalization statistics, including naturalization 

pass rates, naturalization by months, country of birth, age, and gender, among other statistics. Along 

with the military naturalizations webpage, this is one of the first webpages USCIS has published with 

infographics. 

Outreach Tools and Educational Materials 

• New Educational Resources: USCIS is launching several new educational resources:

• A More Perfect Union: The USCIS Civics Test Guide to the Monuments and Memorials on the National

Mall – An interactive educational resource that walks users through U.S. civics and history

monument by monument at the U.S. National Mall and Memorial Park, developed in cooperation

with the NPS.

• Ellis Island Expeditions – Developed for students, this five-part video series explores the history

and significance of Ellis Island. Park rangers guide viewers through the creation of the first federal

immigration inspection station and share the experiences of many immigrants who were processed

there at the turn of the twentieth century.

Welcome to Ellis Island 

The Transatlantic Journey 

The Medical Inspection 

The Legal Inspection 

The Stairs of Separation 

• Guidance on the Taking of the Oath – An educational handout that explains the principles in the

Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, section by section, for adult

citizenship educators and learners.

• Two-Generation Family Approaches to Citizenship Education – A tip sheet that helps K-12 systems and

adult education providers develop approaches to citizenship education that involve both parents

and children in the learning process.

Additional Online Resources: While not new, USCIS also wants to highlight the collection of free 

educational resources and outreach materials available at uscis.gov in electronic format and for 

download, including posters, brochures, flyers, study guides and more. See the Citizenship Resource 

Center and the Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Campaign. 

Eligible organizations may also request a free print copy of the USCIS Civics and Citizenship Toolkit. 

The Toolkit contains educational materials and publications to help LPRs learn more about the United 

States and prepare for the naturalization process. 

• Citizenship Story Highlights – Coming Soon: Hear the immigrant histories and stories of U.S.

oficials and New Americans. These videos, hosted on uscis.gov, will showcase America’s rich and

vibrant immigrant history and encourage citizen and noncitizen participation in civic life.

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Interagency Strategy for 

Promoting Naturalization

 

Honorees, Grantees, and Public Outreach Activities 

• Special Naturalization Ceremonies and the Outstanding Americans By Choice (ABC) Initiative: USCIS 

hosted a number of special naturalization ceremonies earlier in the year, including Independence 

Day ceremonies with President Joe Biden, Deputy Homeland Security Secretary John Tien, Chief of 

Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (July 1-2); an overseas military 

naturalization ceremony for USAG-Bavaria also in honor of Independence Day with Homeland Security 

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (June 30); a frontline workers ceremony with USCIS Acting Director 

Tracy Renaud and former President George W. Bush live on The TODAY Show (April 20); a naturalization 

ceremony at the New York Public Library-Lincoln Center with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro 

Mayorkas (April 28); an Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month ceremony with White House 

Deputy Cabinet Secretary Cristóbal Alex (May 27), and a World Refugee Day ceremony at the New York 

Historical Society with the Second Gentleman Douglas Emhof (June 20). 

USCIS has 10 special naturalization ceremonies planned around Citizenship Day featuring U.S. oficials, 

notable speakers, and honorees. 

The Outstanding Americans by Choice (ABC) Initiative, revitalized this year, recognizes the 

outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Through civic participation, professional 

achievement, and responsible citizenship, recipients of this honor have demonstrated their 

commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans. USCIS has 

recognized the following individuals at FY 2021 naturalization ceremonies: Sandy Hoa Dang, Dr. Nguyen 

Dinh Thang, and Immaculée Ilibagiza. 

The following individuals will be recognized during Citizenship Day naturalization ceremonies: 

• Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, at George Washington’s Mount Vernon with USCIS Director Ur Jaddou; 

and 

• Judge Rya W. Zobel, at the U.S. District Court in Boston, MA. 

Full biographies for the recent Outstanding ABC recipients are available on the Outstanding Americans 

by Choice page. 

FY21 Citizenship and Integration Grants Program: USCIS has awarded nearly $10 million in grants to 

40 organizations in 24 states for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country, 

including new partners that work with traditionally underserved communities as identified in EO 

14012. Grant recipients will provide citizenship preparation services to approximately 25,000 LPRs 

originally from more than 50 countries. See the USCIS Citizenship Grantee Program webpage for more 

information. 

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