USCIS Makes it Easier for Non-citizens in the U.S. Armed Forces to Naturalize
To recognize the important sacrifices made by non-citizen members of the United States armed forces and their families, USCIS seek to process their naturalization applications in a more timely and efficient manner. Qualifying military service is generally in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and certain components of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.
Certain general requirements and qualifications must be met, such as having a good moral character. However, other requirements such as residence and physical presence in the U.S., or payment of biometric fees or application fees, are either reduced or completely waived. In some cases, service members who served in specifically designated periods of hostilities do not even have to be lawful permanent residents.
Before Oct. 1, 2004, service members could only naturalize while physically within the U.S. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 allowed members of the U.S. armed forces who are serving abroad to be able to do the naturalization application, interviews, oaths and ceremonies without physically being in the U.S.
For families of service members, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 allowed certain eligible spouses and children of members of the U.S. armed forces to naturalize abroad without traveling into the United States for any part of the naturalization process.
Service in Wartime (INA Section 329)
Members of the military, who serve during specifically designated periods of hostilities, may qualify for naturalization under this provision if they have served honorably in an active duty status for any period of time, and if that service was during a specifically designated period of hostility. Unlike all other provisions for naturalization, a qualifying service member is not required to be a lawful permanent resident to naturalize under this provision if the service member enlisted, or was inducted within the United States or other qualifying geographical area. The Expedited Naturalization Executive Order of 2002 provides for expedited naturalization under this provision to qualified aliens and non-citizen nationals serving honorably in an active-duty status in the U.S. armed forces beginning on Sept. 11, 2001 to the present. This section also covers veterans of designated past wars and conflicts.
Service in Peacetime (INA Section 328) An individual may qualify for naturalization under this provision if he or she:
Certain general requirements and qualifications must be met, such as having a good moral character. However, other requirements such as residence and physical presence in the U.S., or payment of biometric fees or application fees, are either reduced or completely waived. In some cases, service members who served in specifically designated periods of hostilities do not even have to be lawful permanent residents.
Before Oct. 1, 2004, service members could only naturalize while physically within the U.S. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 allowed members of the U.S. armed forces who are serving abroad to be able to do the naturalization application, interviews, oaths and ceremonies without physically being in the U.S.
For families of service members, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 allowed certain eligible spouses and children of members of the U.S. armed forces to naturalize abroad without traveling into the United States for any part of the naturalization process.
Service in Wartime (INA Section 329)
Members of the military, who serve during specifically designated periods of hostilities, may qualify for naturalization under this provision if they have served honorably in an active duty status for any period of time, and if that service was during a specifically designated period of hostility. Unlike all other provisions for naturalization, a qualifying service member is not required to be a lawful permanent resident to naturalize under this provision if the service member enlisted, or was inducted within the United States or other qualifying geographical area. The Expedited Naturalization Executive Order of 2002 provides for expedited naturalization under this provision to qualified aliens and non-citizen nationals serving honorably in an active-duty status in the U.S. armed forces beginning on Sept. 11, 2001 to the present. This section also covers veterans of designated past wars and conflicts.
Service in Peacetime (INA Section 328) An individual may qualify for naturalization under this provision if he or she:
- Served honorably in the military for at least one year
- Obtained lawful permanent resident status
- Filed an application while still in the service or within six months of separation.
 Print | Click here for Immigration Updates  |