Citizenship by Military Service
Under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), certain veterans of the U.S. Armed forces are eligible to apply for United States citizenship. The U.S. Armed Forces includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Maine Corps, Coast Guard and certain reserve components of the National Guard and the Selective Reserve of the Ready Reserve.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has also streamlined the application process for naturalization of military personnel serving on active-duty or recently discharged soldiers.
A member of the U.S. Armed Forces must meet certain requirements and qualifications to become a citizen of the United States. Some requirements are:
* Good moral character
* Knowledge of the English language;
* Knowledge of U.S. government and history (civics);
* Must take an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution
Wartime Service All immigrants who have served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or as a member of the Selected Ready Reserve on or after September 11, 2001, are eligible to file for immediate citizenship under the special wartime provisions in Section 329 of the INA. This section also includes veterans of designated past wars and conflicts.
Peacetime Service Section 328 of the INA applies to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces or those already discharged from service. An individual may qualify for naturalization if he or she has:
* Served honorably for at least one year
* Obtained lawful permanent resident status
* Applied while still in the service or within six months of separation
Posthumous Benefits a member of the U.S Armed Forces who served honorably during a designated period of hostilities and dies as a result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by that services (including death in combat) may receive posthumous citizenship.
Section 329 A of the INA provides for grants of posthumous citizenship to certain members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Other provisions of the law extend benefits to surviving spouses, children and parents.
Under section 319(d) of the INA, a spouse, child or parent of the U.S. citizen who dies while serving honorably in active-duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces, can file for naturalization if the family member meets naturalization requirements other than residency and physical presence.
For immigration purposes, a surviving spouse (unless they remarry), child, or parent of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served honorably on active duty and died as a result of combat, and was a citizen at the time of death (including posthumous grant of citizenship) is considered an immediate relative for two years after the service member dies and may file a petition for classification as an immediate relative during such period. A surviving parent may file a petition even if the deceased service member had not reached age 21.
Member of the U.S. Armed Forces are not charged a fee to file for naturalization or to receive a certificate of citizenship.
Application for Naturalization (USCIS form N-400)
Request for Certificate of Military or Naval Services (USCIS Form N-426)
Biographic Information (USCIS Form G-325B)