Naturalization Procedures for Members of the Military
Posted Aug 10, 2007
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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an update on the naturalization requirements for members and certain veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Fact Sheet with this information was issued by the USCIS on August 1, 2007. The USCIS statement provides that, since the beginning of the "War on Terror," the USCIS has naturalized more than 33,750 members of the military, with posthumous grants of citizenship to 102 members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Eligibility and criteria for military personnel are outlined below.
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Who Qualifies for Expedited Naturalization as Military Personnel?
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Military personnel eligible for the special naturalization track have to be serving active duty or be recently discharged. The qualifying service is in one of the following branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, certain reserve components of the National Guard, and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.
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Criteria and Exemptions for Naturalization
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Qualifying members must meet the following requirements common to all other naturalization applicants:

  • Good moral character

  • Knowledge of the English language

  • Knowledge of U.S. government and history (civics)

  • Attachment to the United States by taking an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution

Qualifying members are exempt from certain requirements pertaining to residency and physical presence in the United States. If an individual who obtains U.S. citizenship through his or her military service separates from the military under "other than favorable conditions" before completing five years of honorable service, such a person may have his or her citizenship revoked.
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Criteria for Those Serving in Wartime and Peacetime
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All members who have served honorably in active duty, including past wars and conflicts, on or after September 11, 2001 are eligible to file for expedited naturalization. All others qualify if they have served honorably for at least one year, obtained lawful permanent resident status, and filed an application while still in military service or within six months of separation from the military.
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Application Procedure
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No filing fee is required for the N-400 for eligible members of the military. Every military installation, whether inside or outside of the United States, has a designated point-of-contact to assist with filing the military naturalization packet. Once complete, the package is sent to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center for expedited processing.
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There is provision for the posthumous grant of citizenship which may be extended to surviving spouses, children, and, in some situations, parents.
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