Along with the recent changes, many more are likely to occur in the future. By analyzing the history of the naturalization laws, the current policy of the INS, and the possibility of future changes, one can see that the area of mental disability naturalization is in a current state of significant transformation.
Naturalization is the formal acquisition of obtaining United States citizenship.
Recent changes in the eligibility of non-citizens for public health and welfare benefits along with other factors have caused a significant increase in the number of applicants for naturalization. For many the process effectively begins when the person, then living in another country, requests a visa for admission for permanent residence in the United States. Applicants must first go through a medical examination. The review board may request a second medical examination if it feels that it is necessary. Even after going through the process, an applicant's visa request, whether at a foreign consulate or at a U.S. border, can be denied for a variety of reasons.