Not Banned, Not Refused: Green Card Holders Quietly Pull Back From US Citizenship

Applications for US citizenship have fallen sharply in 2025 and early 2026, with approvals dropping to their lowest level on record, according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data.

USCIS figures show significant volatility over the past year. At the peak in 2025, 88,488 citizenship applications were approved in a single month, the highest monthly total since the agency began publishing detailed naturalisation data in 2022. 

By January 2026, approvals had fallen to 32,862. Application numbers also fluctuated, reaching 169,159 in October 2025 before dropping to 41,478 in November. The introduction of a revised Naturalisation Civics Test in October 2025 coincided with the sharp decline. 

The updated test requires applicants to demonstrate a broader understanding of US history, government and political systems. Applicants who submitted before the change were allowed to take the earlier 2008 version of the test.

Policy changes introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration have also affected application patterns. Since January 2025, eligibility rules for work visas have been tightened and enforcement around potential denaturalisation cases has increased. Immigration lawyers report more detailed scrutiny of applications, with minor discrepancies sometimes leading to delays or refusals. 

Higher fees, inconsistent processing times and uncertainty over future policy have also been cited as factors affecting demand. Some legal advisers now recommend that eligible residents renew permanent residency documents rather than apply for citizenship, citing concerns about increased scrutiny of immigration histories. 

At the same time, the US State Department reduced the fee for renouncing US citizenship from $2,350 to $450, a change that has been noted in discussions around broader immigration policy trends.