USCIS | Office of Policy and Strategy | Research and Evaluation Division 1

Citizenship and 

Assimilation Grant 

Program Fact Sheet

Office of Policy and Strategy

September 2017

FACT SHEET
USCIS | Office of Policy and Strategy | Research and Evaluation Division 2

Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program Fact Sheet

From fiscal years 2009 to 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided citizenship 

preparation services through the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program (CAGP)1 to over 138,000 

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) in the District of Columbia and 35 states across the United States.2

This fact sheet provides information on the characteristics of and resulting outcomes for individuals who 

received citizenship preparation services during fiscal year 2014 based on analyses conducted by USCIS’ 

Office of Policy and Strategy, Research and Evaluation Division. 

CAGP grant recipients provided USCIS with data on the type of services provided and CAGP participant 

scores on nationally normed standardized tests of English proficiency. Using Alien Registration Numbers, 

the data provided by CAGP grant recipients was merged with data maintained by USCIS from applications 

for LPR status and naturalization. The characteristics of program participants that USCIS examined 

included age, gender, marital status, occupation, immigration admission type, and length of time in LPR 

status. Naturalization outcomes such as naturalization application submission rates, civics and English 

test results, test exemptions, and naturalization rates were also analyzed.3 The information on 

naturalization outcomes was based on USCIS naturalization records from October 1, 2014, through July 

15, 2015, to allow sufficient time for CAGP participants to complete the naturalization process after 

receiving citizenship preparation services through CAGP grant recipients.4

 

1 The program was formerly known as the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program (CIGP). 

2 See: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/citizenship-and-assimilation-grant-program. 3 The CAGP serves LPRs who are interested in applying for naturalization. In order to apply for naturalization, LPRs must be 18 years or older, 

meet the residence requirements (continuous and physical presence in the U.S. for 5 years for most LPRs and 3 years for spouses of U.S. 

citizens), maintain a good moral character, and pass (or be exempt from) the English and civics portions of the naturalization test. Any 

exemption (either from the English or civics test) is classified as “pass.” For naturalization eligibility requirements, see:

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/article/chapter4.pdf. 4 The average naturalization processing time as of December 2015 was 6 months.
USCIS | Office of Policy and Strategy | Research and Evaluation Division 3

CAGP GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

During fiscal year 2014, 40 CAGP grant recipients provided citizenship preparation services to 17,465 

LPRs in 21 states across the U.S. (see Figure 1). Almost half of all CAGP participants were located in New 

York, California, and Texas.

Figure 1

Number of CAGP Participants Receiving Services in Fiscal Year 2014, by State
USCIS | Office of Policy and Strategy | Research and Evaluation Division 4

CHARACTERISTICS OF CAGP PARTICIPANTS

Over two-thirds of all CAGP participants were 25 to 54 years of age with an average age of 45. Females 

accounted for 60.2 percent of all CAGP participants; however, the age distribution of CAGP participants 

was similar for both males and females (see Figure 2). The majority of CAGP participants were married 

(64.2 percent). More than a third of CAGP participants reported that they were either unemployed (20.3 

percent) or homemakers (15.5 percent) at the time they applied for naturalization. Of the CAGP 

participants who were employed, 14.8 percent were in construction occupations and 14.3 percent were in 

service occupations (see Table 1). 

Figure 2

Age of Fiscal Year 2014 CAGP Participants, by Gender (Percent of Total)

People from Asia comprised the largest share of CAGP participants (28.8 percent), followed by North 

America (21.5 percent), South America (13.2 percent) and the Caribbean (11.8 percent). The top 5 

countries of birth comprised 44.3 percent of all CAGP participants and included Mexico, Iraq, Dominican 

Republic, El Salvador, and Colombia (see Figure 3).5

 

5 The country of origin for CAGP participants was slightly different compared to all persons who naturalized in fiscal year 2014. The top 5 

countries of origin for all persons who naturalized in fiscal year 2014 were Mexico, India, the Philippines, China, and the Dominican Republic. 

See: 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Citizenship/Citizenship%20Through%20Naturalization/CharacteristicsPeopleWhoNaturaliz

edBetweenFY2009FY2014.pdf 

7.8

20.0

24.2

22.9

15.6

9.5

8.1

19.0

24.0

22.2

15.7

10.9

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65 and over

Female Male
USCIS | Office of Policy and Strategy | Research and Evaluation Division 5

Figure 3

Leading Countries of Birth of Fiscal Year 2014 CAGP Participants (Percent of Total)

The largest proportion of CAGP participants were admitted to the United States as immediate relatives of 

U.S. citizens (33.7 percent) followed by those who were admitted as refugees and asylees (27.7 percent) 

and under family preferences (19.4 percent). CAGP participants spent an average of 10.5 years in LPR 

status before becoming United States citizens (the median was 7.2 years).

CAGP SERVICES

Through the CAGP, participants were able to access citizenship instruction services (English proficiency 

assessments and English and civics instruction), and naturalization application services (screening to 

determine naturalization eligibility, assistance with filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, 

or providing case-specific advice), depending on need. Over half of all CAGP participants (55 percent) 

used only naturalization application services, while over one quarter (28 percent) of CAGP participants 

used only citizenship instruction services. Less than one-fifth (17 percent) of all CAGP participants used 

both services. 
USCIS | Office of Policy and Strategy | Research and Evaluation Division 6

In some cases, applicants may qualify for an exception to the English proficiency or civics portions of the 

naturalization test. Specifically, a person may qualify for an exception to both tests if he or she provides 

evidence of a medically determinable physical or developmental disability or mental impairment. In 

addition, a person may qualify for an exception to the English proficiency test based on age and number of 

years as an LPR.6 About 1 in 7 CAGP participants received an exemption from one or both of the tests. Of 

those who received an exemption, the majority were for the English proficiency portion of the 

naturalization test (74 percent).

CAGP OUTCOMES

About 80 percent of CAGP participants submitted Form N-400 within the study period. Of those who 

submitted Form N-400, 91 percent took the naturalization test.7 The majority of applicants who took the 

test (84 percent) took it one time, compared to 16 percent who took the test more than once. Overall, of 

those who took the naturalization test, 92 percent passed. CAGP participants aged 18 to 24 had higher 

pass rates (97.8 percent) compared to participants aged 65 and over (84.3 percent).8

Overall, 67 percent of fiscal year 2014 CAGP participants became naturalized citizens within the 

study period. The majority of CAGP participants (93 percent) who took the naturalization test 

successfully naturalized. 

 

6 For the details about naturalization test exceptions, see https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-throughnaturalization/exceptions-accommodations 7 This includes those who took both portions of the naturalization test (English and civics) or received an exemption from one or both tests. 8 The national pass rate as of July 2015 was 91 percent. The overall national pass rate is based on an applicant’s first test within their current 

naturalization application and includes new naturalization tests from October 1, 2009 through July 31, 2015 (see https://www.uscis.gov/uscitizenship/naturalization-test/applicant-performance-naturalization-test).
USCIS | Office of Policy and Strategy | Research and Evaluation Division 7

Table 1

Characteristics of CAGP participants in Fiscal Year 2014

Age Percent of Total

18 to 24 years 7.9

25 to 34 years 19.6

35 to 44 years 24.1

45 to 54 years 22.7

55 to 64 years 15.7

Over 65 years 10.1

Gender

Female 60.2

Male 39.8

Marital Status

Married 64.2

Single 29.0

Divorced 3.4

Widowed 2.7

Other 0.7

Employment and Occupation

Unemployed 20.3

Homemaker 15.5

Student 8.7

Retired 3.8

Construction 14.8

Service 14.3

Sales and office 8.0

Production, transportation 7.5

Other 7.1

Region of birth

Asia 28.8

North America 21.5

South America 13.2

Caribbean 11.8

Africa 9.6

Central America 9.3

Europe 5.7

Country of birth

Mexico 21.3

Iraq 8.6

Dominican Republic 6.7

El Salvador 4.0

Colombia 3.7

Other 55.8

Classes of Admissiona

Employment preferences 5.6

Family-sponsored preferencesb 19.4

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizensc 33.7

Refugees and asylees 27.7

Other (Diversity Visa, IRCA, parolees, etc.) 13.6

Source: USCIS analysis of CAGP program data and applications for LPR status and 

naturalization of the Department of Homeland Security.

a Class of admission reflects the immigration category held when becoming a LPR.

b Preference categories apply to family members who are not immediate relatives

such as adult sons and daughters of U.S. Citizens, brothers and sisters of adult U.S.

citizens, spouses and unmarried children (those under the age of 21) of permanent

residents, and unmarried adult sons and daughters (those 21 years of age or older)

of permanent residents.

c Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens include: spouses, children (unmarried and

under 21) and parents (where the petitioning U.S. citizen is 21 or older).