Status as of October 18, 2026. The latest USCIS figures cover April through June 2026, not the current month. They show a sharp year-over-year drop in naturalization decisions and a growing backlog. No blanket suspension of citizenship applications has been announced.

Getting a decision on U.S. citizenship is taking longer for many applicants. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services decided about 70,500 Form N-400 cases from April through June 2026, compared with roughly 264,600 during the same three months in 2025 — a drop of about 73%, according to the agency’s quarterly figures. Meanwhile, more than 742,000 applications remained pending at the end of June.

The numbers matter to lawful permanent residents who have met the requirements for naturalization but are waiting for an interview, a decision or an oath ceremony. A slower system can postpone voting rights and other benefits of citizenship even when the applicant has done everything required.

Fewer decisions — and fewer approvals

The headline decline measures decisions, not just approvals. USCIS field-office figures show approximately 57,700 approvals in April–June 2026, compared with around 241,300 a year earlier — a decrease of roughly 76%. Denials also fell in absolute numbers, but less sharply. As a result, the share of completed cases ending in denial increased from about 9% to about 18%.

At the same time, the pending inventory rose from approximately 529,000 in June 2025 to 742,138 in June 2026, an increase of about 40%. USCIS received about 145,900 new N-400 applications in the latest quarter while issuing roughly 70,500 decisions. Fewer decisions than incoming applications add pressure to an already growing queue.

Why has naturalization slowed?

USCIS has said it is strengthening screening and vetting to ensure applicants satisfy citizenship requirements. In an August 15, 2025 policy memorandum, the agency directed officers to take a more comprehensive approach to evaluating applicants’ “good moral character,” including positive evidence as well as disqualifying conduct. The administration also introduced a revised civics test for more recent filers.

Those changes provide context, but the quarterly statistics do not establish how much of the slowdown each policy caused. Application volumes have also declined. In reporting published October 15, Bloomberg Law cited former immigration officials and advocates who described increased scrutiny, longer interviews and delays before oath ceremonies. USCIS defended its focus on eligibility and fraud prevention.

What does this mean for someone awaiting citizenship?

A longer wait does not mean an application has been denied or that the legal eligibility rules for every applicant have changed. Processing times vary substantially by field office and case. The quarterly decision figures are national totals, not an estimate of how long any individual will wait.

USCIS offers a case processing-time tool and online case-status services. Applicants who have been approved must still complete the oath of allegiance, unless a statutory exception applies, before becoming U.S. citizens. Delays between the interview and the oath can therefore matter as much as an outstanding N-400 decision.

For a guide to eligibility, the civics test and the steps to citizenship, see Factum Immigration’s citizenship and naturalization overview.

Official sources

Disclaimer: Factum Immigration provides general information, not legal advice. For advice about an individual case, consult a licensed immigration attorney.