Many social media congratulatory comments posted upon the conclusion of the Naturalization Ceremony at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 13, 2025, were meant for each one of the immigrants who at that time became America’s newest citizens.
The congratulations were extended to every one of the nearly 400 people from over 70 countries, including Ashwin Manivannan of Springfield, who immigrated from Chennai, India.
“These are the immigrants that helped make America,” posted Lauralee Gibson on the Illinois State Fair’s Facebook page.
Pat Taylor Fuller also offered congratulations.
“I am in awe of the work that it takes to get to being a naturalized citizen!” Fuller posted.
When Manivannan moved to the United States in 2015, he had goals to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity, get a job, secure a work visa and work in the U.S.
“That was my initial goal because with the work visa and getting a permanent residency Green Card and citizenship was a long process,” Manivannan told the Illinois Times. “I just had to be with the faith that if it’s supposed to happen, it happens, because nothing is guaranteed that you’re, first, going to be a citizen or you’re going to be a permanent resident of the U.S., so that was my mindset back in 2015.”
Manivannan’s immigration process is profiled in The Mosaic Project, a podcast hosted by pastor Tony Stang of Central Baptist Church in Springfield. Watch his episode and others at illinoistimes.com/the-mosaic-project/.
The Mosaic Project and Illinois Times are partnering to further The Mosaic Project’s motto of “Archiving moments of humanity.”
Visit to the U.S.
Naturalization is a voluntary process by which an immigrant becomes an American citizen, according to the National Archives. A press release announcing last August’s Naturalization Ceremony at the Illinois State Fair underscores the challenges.
“Naturalization ceremonies serve as the poignant finale to the arduous process undertaken by foreign citizens or nationals seeking to integrate into the rich tapestry of American society,” the press release says. “We invite you to join us in honoring and welcoming America’s newest citizens as they embark on this remarkable journey of belonging, opportunity and civic engagement.”
Manivannan, 32, visited family friends in Springfield in 2012. The visit was his first time in the U.S.
“I came here, it was like … the culture and the opportunities that kids get over here in regards to education and jobs and everything. That was really interesting to me, and following your dream,” Manivannan said. “I always say that America is like the land of dreams and opportunities.”
Manivannan finished his bachelor’s degree in engineering and information technology in India, and in 2015, he moved to the U.S. to work on his master’s in cybersecurity. He completed his master’s at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. In 2017, he moved to Springfield for a job.
Currently, Manivannan is a cybersecurity engineer, working remotely for a firm in the state of Virginia.
Getting citizenship
Manivannan didn’t face many obstacles toward his U.S. citizenship.
“My naturalization path, I would say, was a shorter one because I got my citizenship through being married to a U.S. citizen,” says Manivannan, who married his wife, Taylor, in 2020.
“Usually, if you’re going the route of having a work visa and getting a permanent residency and becoming a citizen, it would take somewhere between like 20 to 25 years because it’s backed up so much. People who applied for permanent residency in 2013 are getting their applications worked on right now,” he said.
Manivannan’s marriage to a U.S. citizen allowed the permanent residency aspect of the naturalization process to move quicker, even though he was required to be in the permanent residency status for three years before applying for citizenship.
“In the middle of the immigration process, that all immigrants across any category faces is, if there’s any emergency back home, they need to travel, the chances of going … is really less because you cannot leave the country during an application process,” Manivannan says. “My grandfather … was on his deathbed, and I wasn’t able to go for that, but that’s some of the challenges, I think, all immigrants face.”
Manivannan finished his interview for citizenship in January 2025. Then on Aug. 13, 2025, he attended the Naturalization Ceremony at the Illinois State Fair.
“It turned out to be a really good one because the governor was there and like tons of people from other countries, so it was a very memorable day,” Manivannan says.
