There is a way for people to apply for them to become a territory first then they can apply it be a state.
This is done like this because they need to show they have citizen ship that is willing to create government and can hold position. Maintaining stability… they maybe told why not not just no so on. Then after this they may say ok we need to see your finacial statement and debt situation. Last they would want to do a land assessment for minerals and other things.
After this they could be admired normally this takes like 2 years at minimum but maybe more… modern day likely more so on. Then after being a territory for a number of years likely 5 to 10 years then if they had the finacial and stability things together it maybe consider is the thing. Not sooner. So the likely quickest way to becoming a state is likely 12 to 20 years if things go right.
Now this is an area is the world I take it is the thing and so this is where people is they expect to be taken seriously they should ask to become a territory first. Then they could become a state.