[2] Office of Policy & Strategy (OP&S) 

Policy and Research Division (PRD)

October 2020

Citizenship and 

Assimilation Grant 

Program 

FY 2016 Fact Sheet

FACT SHEET
[1] 

FY2016 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides an overview of the characteristics and outcomes for Citizenship Assistance 

Grant Program (CAGP)1 participants receiving citizenship preparation services during fiscal year 2016 

(FY 2016). The characteristics of CAGP participants highlighted include age, gender, marital status, 

occupation, country of birth, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) class of admission, and length of time

in LPR status. Outcomes examined include type of service provided to CAGP participants, naturalization 

application submission count, English and civics test results including test exemptions, fee waivers, 

and naturalization rates. 

This fact sheet also includes summary CAGP information for FY2014, and FY 2015 compared with

 FY 2016. USCIS collected the underlying data from CAGP grant recipients and USCIS data systems. In 

addition, corresponding Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) data was provided by USCIS Office of 

Information Technology (OIT). The USCIS Office of Policy and Strategy, Policy Research Division (PRD), 

Immigration Data Analysis Branch analyzed the data.

During FY 2016, 80 CAGP organizations provided citizenship preparation services to CAGP participants 

in the District of Columbia and 32 states across the United States. Of these CAGP recipients, 40 received 

their two-year CAGP grant in September 2014, providing their first year of services in fiscal year 2015 

and their second year of services in fiscal year 2016. The other 40 CAGP recipients received their twoyear CAGP grant in September 2015, providing their first year of services in fiscal year 2016 and their 

second year of services in fiscal year 2017. 

 Each CAGP recipient received approximately $250,000 in funding for their two-year grants. 

specifically, CAGP participants are offered citizenship instruction services to prepare for the English 

and civics portions of the naturalization test, as well as naturalization application services to assist 

with submitting Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.

In summary, a total of 38,572 individuals participated in the FY 2016 CAGP, up 18% from 32,540 in 

FY 2015. Meanwhile, the number of N-400 applications associated with FY 2016 was 32,734, up 36% from

the 20,760 CAGP participants who submitted form N-400 in FY 2015. 

18% of CAGP participants enrolled between October and December 2015, 22% enrolled between 

January and March 2016., and 60% enrolled between April and September 2016.

As of August 2020, about 62% of FY 2016 CAGP participants had become naturalized U.S citizens 

compared with 64% for FY 2015 CAGP participants. 

1 The program was formerly known as the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program (CIGP). For details about the CAGP, see:

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/citizenship-and-assimilation-grant-program

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/About%20Us/Citizenship%20and%20Integration%20Grant%20Program/FY 

2015_Grant_Program_Awards_Fact_Sheet.pdf and

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/About%20Us/Citizenship%20and%20Integration%20Grant%20Program/FY 

2016_Grant_Program_Awards_Fact_Sheet.pdf
[3]

FY2016 CAGP Geographic Coverage

In total, FY 2016 CAGP participants were born in 173 different countries. The top five leading countries 

of birth, comprising 42% of total CAGP participants were: Mexico 23%, Myanmar 5.2%, Iraq 4.6%, 

Dominican Republic 4.5%, and El salvador 4.5%. (See Figure 1 and Figure 1a)

In comparison, the leading countries of birth for FY 2015 CAGP participants were: Mexico 19%, Iraq 7%, 

Dominican Republic 5%, Bhutan 4%, Burma 4%, Vietnam 4%, El Salvador 4%, and Colombia 4%.

Figure 1. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total by County of Birth

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Figure 1a. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total by County of Birth

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

569 (2%)

586 (2%)

804 (2%)

871 (2%)

931 (2%)

974 (3%)

995 (3%)

1,254 (3%)

1,509 (4%)

1,659 (4%)

1,744 (5%)

1,747 (5%)

1,766 (5%)

2,001 (5%)

8,870 (23%)

 - 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000

Honduras

Ethiopia

Ecuador

Peru

China

Vietnam

Guatemala

Cuba

Colombia

Bhutan

El Salvador

Dominican Republic

Iraq

Myanmar

Mexico

Number of participants

CAGP -Total & (%) - by Country of Birth

Top 15 Shown
[4]

Fifty-three percent of FY 2016 CAGP participants lived in five states: California 22%, New York 11%, 

Texas 10%, Florida 8%, and Illinois 5% (See Figure 2 and Figure 2a). California showed the largest (about 

8 percent) increase in FY 2016 compared with FY 2015.

Approximately 50% of all FY 2015 CAGP participants were residing in the following states: California 

14.6%, New York 14%, Texas 8.3%, Florida 7.2%, Illinois 6.1%, and Virginia 4.1%

Figure 2. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total by U.S State Address

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Figure 2a. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total by U.S State Address

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

684 (2%)

693 (2%)

709 (2%)

751 (2%)

762 (2%)

816 (2%)

826 (2%)

851 (2%)

1,026 (3%)

1,550 (4%)

1,678 (5%)

2,969 (8%)

3,555 (10%)

3,948 (11%)

8,211 (22%)

 - 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000

 VA

 MN

 CT

 CO

 OH

 UT

 AZ

 MI

 NJ

 MD

 IL

 FL

 TX

 NY

 CA

Number of Participants

CAGP -Total & (%) - by U.S States Address

Top 15 Shown
[5]

CAGP Participant Characteristics 

Figure 3. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total -Age Group by Gender

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Over one-half of FY2016 CAGP participants were 25 to 44 years old. The median age was 38. The age 

distribution of CAGP participants was relatively similar for both males and females. (See Figure 3)

Figure 4. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total - World Region by Gender

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Over 70% of CAGP participants were born in the following regions: Asia 29%, North America 22%, 

South America 11%, and the Caribbean 10%. (See Figure 4)

3,204

6,068

5,058

3,470

1,797

702

2,053

3,927

3,074

1,934

1,171

549

7000 5000 3000 1000 1000 3000 5000 7000

18-24 Years

25-34 Years

35-44 Years

45-54 Years

55-64 Years

65 years and over

Female Male

2,086

6,344

2,529

2,462

779

5,454

34

2,746

162

1,469

4,783

1,289

1,357

479

3,373

23

1,375

106

7000 5000 3000 1000 1000 3000 5000 7000

Africa

Asia

Caribbean

Central America

Europe

North America

Oceania

South America

Unknown

Female Male
[6]

ContinuedCAGP Participant Characteristics 

Figure 5. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total – Marital Status by Gender

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Females accounted for 61% of all FY2016 CAGP participants. The majority of CAGP participants were 

married 62%, while 31% were single, 2.5% were divorced and little over 3% were widowed. (See Figure

5)

Figure 6. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total - Admission Class by Gender

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Thirty-one percent of FY 2016 CAGP participants gained LPR status after admission as immediate 

relatives of U.S citizens, while 29% were admitted as refugees and asylees, and another 19% were 

admitted under family-sponsored preferences. (See Figure 6)

6,341

14,222

813

978

84

158

5,208

8,539

110

251

41

105

15000 10000 5000 0 5000 10000 15000

Single

Married

Divorced

Widowed

Separated

Unknown

Female Male

1,004

4,797

8,204

6,040

2,551

793

2,403

3,586

4,959

2,513

9000 7000 5000 3000 1000 1000 3000 5000 7000 9000

Employment Preferences

Family Preferences

Immediate Relatives of USCs

Refugees and Asylees

Other

Female Male
[7]

ContinuedCAGP Participant Characteristics 

Figure 7. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total - Occupation by Gender

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Nearly one-third of FY 2016 CAGP participants reported that they had no occupation or were not 

working outside the home at the time they applied for naturalization. Of those 7% were unemployed, 

13% were homemakers, 12% were students, and 1% reported they were retired; an additional 7% were 

in service occupations. (See Figure 7)

Figure 8. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total –Years in LPR Status by Gender

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

CAGP participants had spent a median of eight years in LPR status before becoming U.S. citizens. 

(See Figure 8). FY 2015 CAGP LPR status median duration time was 8 years as well.

62

259

4,635

716

1,863

1,094

146

698

1,597

2,726

1,648

7,152

496

855

112

834

471

2,041

138

428

1,179

1,780

992

4,926

8000 6000 4000 2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000

Construction occupations

Farming,fishing,forestry

Homemaker

Management,professional

Others

Production,transportation

Retirees

Sales and office

Service occupations

Students

Unemployed

Unknown Occupations

Female Male

210

1,018

2,006

2,518

2,004

1,329

1,031

4,221

2,104

6,155

123

753

1,435

1,575

1,205

706

494

2,188

1,556

4,219

7000 5000 3000 1000 1000 3000 5000 7000

3 Years or Less

4 Years

5 Years

6 Years

7 Years

8 Years

9 Years

10 to 19 Years

20 Years or More

Unknown

Female Male
[8]

CAGP Participant Services 

Figure 9. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total - Service Type by Gender

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

About 18% of CAGP participants used both citizenship instruction services and naturalization 

application services, while 28% used only citizenship instructions services, and 54% used only 

naturalization application services. (See Figure 9)

Figure 10. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total - –Fee Waiver2

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Forty percent of the FY 2016 CAGP participants met the financial hardship eligibility criteria and had 

their fee waiver request approved. (See Figure 10)

Note: Individuals with “unknown” or “missing” gender Information were not included in:

Figure 3 – Figure 10

2 For details about application fee waivers, see: https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver

3,759

5,968

9,764

1,868

3,019

7,243

10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

Both Services

Citizenship Instruction Services

Naturalization application services

Female Male

11,406

8,347

7,683

4,477

12000 9000 6000 3000 0 3000 6000 9000 12000

Fee Waived:No

Fee Waived:Yes

Female Male
[9] 

ContinuedCAGP Participant Services

Figure 11. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total– English and Civics Tests Waivers Received

N-400 Submission

32,734

Civics Test Waiver Only

90

English Test Waiver Only

1,276

Both Tests Waived

1,621

 No Waiver

29,747

FY 2016 CAGP Participants

38,572

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Ninety-one percent (29,747 of 32,734) of FY 2016 CAGP participants who submitted Form N-400, 

received no exemption from taking any portion of the naturalization test. Of FY 2016 CAGP 

participants, 90 participants were exempt from taking only the civics test, 1,621 participants were 

exempt from taking both tests, while another 1,276 participants were exempt from taking only the 

English test. 

(See Figure 11)
[10] 

CAGP Participants Outcome

Figure 12. FY2016 CAGP Participants Total –N 400 Information

FY 2016 CAGP Participants

38,572

N-400 Submission

32,734

English Test Pass

22,520

Civics Test Pass

25,013

Pass on first attempt

20,765

Pass on 2 or more attempts

1,755

Pass on first Attempt

22,840

Pass on 2 or more attempts

2,173

Pass Both English & Civics Tests 

22,230

Naturalized U.S Citizens **

23,812

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

* * Note: The number of CAGP participants who became naturalized U.S Citizens also includes those 

who were otherwise eligible for naturalization and either passed both the English and the civics portion 

of the naturalization test or received an exemption from one or both tests.

About 85% (32,734 of 38,572) of FY2016 CAGP participants submitted Form N-400 based on USCIS data 

as of August 2020. Over 90% of CAGP participants who applied for naturalization passed either the 

English or the civics test on the first attempt. 62% of total CAGP participants (23,812 of 38,572) had 

become naturalized U.S Citizens as of August 2020. 
[11]

Appendix I: CAGP Participants Summary Characteristics by Gender, FY 2016

Median

Age

Total 

and

(% Percent) 

of

Male

Total 

and

(% Percent) 

of

Female

Age

18-24 Years 21 2,053 (14.4%) 3,204 (14.2%)

25-34 Years 30 3,927 (27.6%) 6,068 (26.9%)

35-44 Years 39 3,074 (21.6%) 5,058 (22.4%)

45-54 Years 49 1,934 (13.6%) 3,470 (15.4%)

55-64 Years 59 1,171 (8.2%) 1,797 (8.0%)

65 years and over 70 549 (3.9%) 702 (3.1%)

Marital Status

Divorced 59 110 (0.8%) 813 (3.6%)

Married 37 8,539 (59.9%) 14,222 (62.9%)

Separated 40 41 (0.3%) 84 (0.4%)

Single 26 5,208 (36.5%) 6,341 (28.1%)

Unknown 36 105 (0.7%) 158 (0.7%)

Widowed 46 251 (1.8%) 978 (4.3%)

Birth Region

Africa 32 1,469 (10.3%) 2,086 (9.2%)

Asia 36 4,783 (33.6%) 6,344 (28.1%)

Caribbean 36 1,289 (9.0%) 2,529 (11.2%)

Central America 36 1,357 (9.5%) 2,462 (10.9%)

Europe 45 479 (3.4%) 779 (3.4%)

North America 33 3,373 (23.7%) 5,454 (24.1%)

Oceania 45 23 (0.2%) 34 (0.2%)

South America 41 1,375 (9.6%) 2,746 (12.2%)

Unknown 48 106 (0.7%) 162 (0.7%)

Admission Class

Employment Preferences 38 793 (5.6%) 1,004 (4.4%)

Family Preferences 36 2,403 (16.9%) 4,797 (21.2%)

Immediate Relatives of USCs 39 3,586 (25.2%) 8,204 (36.3%)

Other 35 2,513 (17.6%) 2,551 (11.3%)

Refugees and Asylees 37 4,959 (34.8%) 6,040 (26.7%)

Occupation

Construction, extraction and maintenance occupations 36 496 (3.5%) 62 (0.3%)

Farming, fishing and forestry occupations 34 855 (6.0%) 259 (1.1%)

Homemaker 38 112 (0.8%) 4,635 (20.5%)

Management, professional and related occupations 41 834 (5.9%) 716 (3.2%)

Military occupations 28 2 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)

Other and no occupations 34 471 (3.3%) 1,863 (8.2%)

Production, transportation and material moving occupations 35 2,041 (14.3%) 1,094 (4.8%)

Retirees 67 138 (1.0%) 146 (0.6%)

Sales and office occupations 39 428 (3.0%) 698 (3.1%)

Service occupations 37 1,179 (8.3%) 1,597 (7.1%)

Students 24 1,780 (12.5%) 2,726 (12.1%)

Unemployed 43 992 (7.0%) 1,648 (7.3%)

Unknown occupations 38 4,926 (34.6%) 7,152 (31.7%)

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Individuals with “unknown” or “missing” gender information were not included in Appendix I
[12]

Appendix II: CAGP Participants Summary Characteristics by Gender, FY 2016

Median 

Age

Total Number

and (% Percent) 

of

Males

Total Number

and (% Percent) 

of

Females

Years in LPR Status

3 Years or Less 36 123 (0.9%) 210 (0.9%)

4 Years 37 753 (5.3%) 1,018 (4.5%)

5 Years 38 1,435 (10.1%) 2,006 (8.9%)

6 Years 39 1,575 (11.0%) 2,518 (11.1%)

7 Years 39 1,205 (8.5%) 2,004 (8.9%)

8 Years 38 706 (5.0%) 1,329 (5.9%)

9 Years 38 494 (3.5%) 1,031 (4.6%)

10 to 19 Years 38 2,188 (15.4%) 4,221 (18.7%)

20 Years or More 33 1,556 (10.9%) 2,104 (9.3%)

# of Participants by Quarter

Oct-Dec 2015 38 2,658 (18.6%) 4,142 (18.3%)

Jan-Mar 2016 38 3,164 (22.2%) 4,847 (21.5%)

Apr-Jun 2016 37 4,238 (29.7%) 6,657 (29.5%)

Jul-Sep 2016 37 4,194 (29.4%) 6,950 (30.8%)

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Individuals with “unknown” or “missing” gender information were not included in Appendix II

Appendix III: CAGP Participants Summary Service and Outcome by Gender, FY 

2016

Median Age

Total Number

and (% Percent) 

of

Males

Total Number

and (% Percent) 

of

Females

Services Used

Naturalization Application Services 36 7,243 (50.8%) 9,764 (43.2%)

Citizenship Instruction Services 37 3,019 (21.2%) 5,968 (26.4%)

Both Services Used 34 1,868 (13.1%) 3,759 (16.6%)

No Service Used 35 2,124 (14.9%) 3,105 (13.7%)

Fee Waiver

Yes 35 4,477 (36.8%) 8,347 (42.3%)

No 36 7,683 (63.2%) 11,406 (57.7%)

Exam Waiver

Civics Test 38 23 (0.2%) 62 (0.3%)

English Test 33 383 (3.3%) 723 (3.7%)

Both Tests Waived 36 587 (5.0%) 998 (5.1%)

No Waiver 35 10,667 (91.5%) 17,848 (90.9%)

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

Individuals with “unknown” or “missing” gender information were not included in Appendix III
[13]

Appendix IV: Comparison of CAGP Participants Characteristics, FY2014-FY 2016

FY2014 CAGP 

Percent of Total

FY2015 CAGP 

Percent of Total

FY2016 CAGP 

Percent of Total

Age

18 to 24 years 7.9% 8.3% 13.7%

25 to 34 years 19.6% 19.5% 26.0%

35 to 44 years 24.1% 22.3% 21.1%

45 to 54 years 22.7% 21.9% 14.0%

55 to 64 years 15.7% 15.9% 7.7%

Over 65 years 10.1% 11.9% 17.5%

Gender

Female 60.2% 60.3% 58.6%

Male 39.8% 39.6% 36.7%

Marital Status

Married 64.2% 62.3% 59.1%

Single 29.0% 23.7% 30.0%

Divorced 3.4% 9.4% 2.4%

Widowed 2.7% 4.0% 3.2%

Other/Unknown 0.7% 0.6% 5.3%

Birth Region

Asia 28.8% 33.1% 28.9%

North America 21.5% 19.4% 22.9%

South America 13.2% 12.4% 10.7%

Caribbean 11.8% 11.4% 9.9%

Africa 9.6% 10.3% 9.3%

Central America 9.3% 8.5% 9.9%

Europe/Oceana 5.7% 4.5% 8.4%

Top Country of Birth

Mexico 21.3% 19.2% 23.0%

Iraq 8.6% 6.7% 4.6%

Dominican Republic 6.7% 5.3% 4.5%

El Salvador 4.0% 3.8% 4.5%

Colombia 3.7% 3.8% 3.9%

Others 55.18 56.7% 59.5%

Top U.S States Address

CA 14.8% 14.6% 22.2%

NY 17.6% 14.0% 10.7%

TX 13.2% 8.3% 9.3%

FL 3.9% 7.2% 8.4%

IL 5.4% 6.1% 4.5%

Others 45.1% 49.8% 44.9%

Classes of Admission

Employment preferences 5.6% 5.0% 4.7%

Family-sponsored preferences 19.4% 19.5% 18.7%

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens 33.7% 31.4% 30.7%

Refugees and asylees 27.7% 30.3% 28.6%

Other (Diversity Visa, IRCA, parolees, etc.) 13.6% 13.8% 17.3%

Employment and Occupation

Unemployed 20.3% 14.6% 6.9%

Homemaker 15.5% 9.4% 12.3%

Student 8.7% 5.0% 11.7%

Retired 3.8% 3.1% 0.7%

Construction, extraction, maintenance 14.8% 2.1% 1.5%

Service 14.3% 23.7% 7.2%

Sales and office 8.0% 4.9% 2.9%

Production, transportation 7.5% 5.3% 8.1%

Other/Unknown/Military/Farming/Management 7.1% 31.9% 48.7%

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.
[14]

Appendix V: Comparison of CAGP Participants Service and Outcome, FY2014-FY 2016

FY2014 CAGP 

Percent of 

Total

FY2015 CAGP 

Percent of Total

FY2016 CAGP 

Percent of Total

Services Used

Naturalization Application Services 55.0% 52.2% 46.2%

Citizenship Instruction Services 28.0% 27.6% 24.4%

Both Services 17.0% 20.1% 15.3%

Fee Waiver

Yes N/A 52.7% 41.1%

No N/A 47.3% 58.9%

Exam Waivers Received3

Civics Test 2.0% 4.1% < 1 %

English Test 11.0% 7.3% 3.9%

Both Tests Waived 2.0% 3.9% 4.9%

No Waivers Received 85.0% 84.7% 90.9%

Naturalization Information4

Passed both (Civics and English) tests on first 

attempt 84.0% 88.9% 91.3%

Passed tests on second or later attempt 16.0% 11.1% 8.7%

Passed both tests 92.0% 93.4% 90.1%

CAGP participants who became naturalized U.S 

citizens within study period 67.0% 64.0% 61.7%

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 3/CLAIM 4, and OIS LPR Data as of August 2020.

3 “Exam Waivers Received” refers to percentages of total CAGP participants.

4 For more information on naturalization:

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/the-naturalization-interview-and-test

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/the-naturalization-interview-and-test/applicant-performance-on-thenaturalization-test