Naturalization through Military Service

If you are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and are interested in becoming a U.S. citizen, you can most likely do so easily, quickly and freely. To recognize the patriotic service and extraordinary services that U.S. armed forces servicemen and women have done for national security, the Department of Homeland Security is allowing those eligible to bypass many of the standard guidelines, and filing fees, for naturalization.

While a member of the U.S. armed forces must meet some of the general requirements and qualifications, such as good moral character, to become a U.S. citizen, some of the requirements are either reduced or completely waived.  Specifically, qualifying service members and certain veterans are not required to pay an application fee or a biometrics fee (a savings of $675) to apply for naturalization. They are also not required to demonstrate residence or physical presence in the United States.  Additionally, service members who serve during specifically designated periods of hostilities may not need to be lawful permanent residents.

Most importantly, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 reduces the time requirements for naturalization through military service from three years to one year for applicants who served during peacetime, and extends benefits to members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of the U.S. Armed Forces. Service members who have served honorably in an active-duty status or in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve for any time since Sept. 11, 2001, can file immediately for citizenship.

The rule also eliminates the requirement for members of the military to file biographic information forms (Form G-325B) with their naturalization applications -- removing administrative redundancy and increasing efficiency for those who risk their lives for the nation's security.

Other opportunities for naturalization benefits through military service include:

On July 17, 2009, USCIS naturalized one of the first nonimmigrants to enlist in the military under the Defense Department's Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest pilot recruiting program. The article can be found here.

On May 30, 2008, USCIS held its first overseas naturalization ceremony for a spouse of a U.S. military member. The article can be found here. The significance of this is before Oct. 1, 2004, military service members could only naturalize while physically within the United States.

Spouses of U.S. Armed Forces members may also be given the opportunity to become naturalized under a streamlined process. In 2008, the National Defense Act added sections that allow 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.

Surviving spouses, and other family members, of U.S citizens that died during a period of honorable service in an active duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces may also be eligible for naturalization. A surviving spouse (unless he or she remarries), children, or parents 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 a posthumous grant of citizenship) is considered an immediate relative for two years after the service members 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.

More information on Naturalization Through Military Service can be found on the USCIS website.

For Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. Citizenship, click here>>