| Qualifications
● While a member of the U.S. armed forces must meet the general requirements and
qualifications to become a citizen of the United States, such as good moral character, some
of the other requirements are either reduced or completely waived. Specifically, qualifying
service members and certain veterans are not required to demonstrate residence or
physical presence in the United States, and are not required to pay an application fee or a
biometrics fee to apply for naturalization. In addition, service members who serve during
specifically designated periods of hostilities may not need to be lawful permanent residents.
● The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 extended all aspects of the
naturalization process, including naturalization applications, interviews, oaths and
ceremonies to members of the U.S. armed forces serving abroad. Before Oct. 1, 2004,
service members could only naturalize while physically within the United States.
● The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 added Sections which
allows certain eligible spouses and children of members of the U.S. armed forces to
naturalize abroad without traveling to the United States for any part of the naturalization
process.
Service in Wartime
● 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
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.
Application Packet (from a member of the military)
● Application for Naturalization
● Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service
● If applicable, a copy of the USCIS Form I 551, Permanent Resident Card; and
● Two passport-style photographs.
● NOTE – There is no fee for members of the military applying for naturalization under INA
Sections 328 or 329.
Statistics
● Since September 2001, USCIS has naturalized more than 58,300 members of the
military, in ceremonies across the United States and in the following 19 countries:
Afghanistan, Djibouti, China, Cuba, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Iraq,
Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, and the United
Kingdom.
● Since August 2002, USCIS has granted posthumous citizenship to 130 members of the
military.
● Since 2008, USCIS has naturalized 592 military spouses during ceremonies in Bulgaria,
China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Panama, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the United
Kingdom.
● Since 2009, USCIS has presented 19 military children with citizenship certificates during
ceremonies in Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
For More Information, Please Contact:
San Diego Immigration Attorney Phillip Kim
(619) 752-5379
http://pkimmigration.com/
|
