US Naturalization Approvals Plunge as Backlog Grows
US naturalization approvals dropped 72% in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to a Washington Post report on federal data. The backlog exceeded 800,000 applications, with Cuban green-card holders among those affected and waits approaching 13 months. Because citizenship begins only after the oath ceremony, some applicants could miss the 3 November midterm elections.
Federal figures cited in the report indicate the pending naturalization queue grew from roughly 500,000 at the start of January 2025 to more than 800,000. Approvals from January through August 2026 were about 173,000, while average processing time moved from about six months in August 2025 to nearly 13 months a year later.
Quarterly data for April–June 2026 showed 57,697 approvals, compared with 241,326 in the same quarter of 2025 and 218,720 in 2024. Denials also declined by 41%, suggesting the overall volume of decisions fell rather than rejections rising.
The delay may affect green-card holders, including Cuban applicants in South Florida, who cannot vote until they take the oath. If ceremonies slip past 3 November, some may miss the midterms, potentially reducing participation among newly eligible voters. Longer waits could also create uncertainty for families and communities awaiting citizenship.