Drive-Through Naturalizations Make New U.S. Citizens In The COVID-19 Era

As previously reported on the ImmigrationProf blog, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) held a series of naturalization ceremonies to swear in new U.S. citizens.  When the coronavirus pandemic put a hold on naturalization ceremonies in March 2020, it left a backlog of thousands of people who had qualified to become citizens but hadn’t been able to officially swear an oath of allegiance — the final step in the often years-long process.

To try to reduce the backlog, USCIS put together a series of naturalization drive-throughs, where prospective citizens could take the final step toward citizenship without leaving their cars.  New citizens are sworn in by USCIS officers without leaving their cars.

USCIS is looking to transition back to larger naturalization events later this summer.

KJ