This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the United States, a surge in US citizenship applications was recorded between January 1st, 2020 and March 31st, 2020.
According to data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a total of 239,180 US permanent residents applied for US citizenship during this period.
Of these applications, 189,620 were approved, while 27,973 were denied.
At the same time, 700,885 naturalization applications (N-400) were pending adjudication by March 31st.
USCIS halted interviews and oath ceremonies, as well as other immigration services, for two and a half months starting March 18th due to the pandemic.
However, the agency began reopening offices to the public for interviews, oath ceremonies, and other in-person services on June 4th.
