Military Immigration
Military Naturalization Benefits
U.S. military service members and veterans receive significant immigration benefits, including expedited naturalization, reduced requirements, and special processing for family members.
Key Benefit: Expedited citizenship path for service members
Family Benefits: Special provisions for spouses and children
Processing: Priority handling of all military cases
Service During Hostilities
Service members who serve during designated periods of hostility receive the most generous immigration benefits, including ability to naturalize without permanent residence.
Current Period: September 11, 2001 - Present
No Green Card Required: Can naturalize directly from service
Posthumous Benefits: Available for families of deceased service members
Military Naturalization Pathways
Service During Peacetime
Requirements:
- •At least 1 year of honorable active duty service
- •Lawful permanent resident status
- •Basic knowledge of English and U.S. civics
- •Good moral character
- •Oath of allegiance
Benefits:
- ✓Reduced residency requirement (1 year vs. 5 years)
- ✓No physical presence requirement outside U.S.
- ✓Expedited processing available
Service During Periods of Hostility
Requirements:
- •Honorable service during designated hostile periods
- •May apply even without permanent residence
- •Basic English and civics knowledge
- •Good moral character
- •Oath of allegiance
Benefits:
- ✓No prior permanent residence required
- ✓No residency or physical presence requirements
- ✓Posthumous citizenship available for families
- ✓Expedited processing
Military Naturalization Process
Complete Military Naturalization Timeline
Determine Eligibility Category
Confirm military service qualifies for expedited naturalization
Required Documents:
- •Form N-426 (Request for Certification of Military Service)
- •Military personnel records
- •Evidence of honorable service
- •Deployment or service documentation
File Form N-400
Submit naturalization application with military documentation
Required Documents:
- •Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
- •Completed Form N-426
- •$725 filing fee (may be waived for active duty)
- •Supporting military service evidence
Biometric Services
Complete fingerprinting and background check
Required Documents:
- •Biometric services appointment notice
- •Valid government-issued ID
- •Military ID acceptable
- •May be completed at military installations
Naturalization Interview & Test
Attend USCIS interview and take civics/English test
Required Documents:
- •Interview appointment notice
- •All original documents
- •Military service records
- •Evidence of good moral character
Oath of Allegiance Ceremony
Take oath and receive Certificate of Naturalization
Required Documents:
- •Oath ceremony notice
- •Green card (if applicable)
- •Special military ceremonies available
- •May take oath while deployed abroad
Family Immigration for Military Members
Spouse of U.S. Citizen Service Member
Category:
Immediate Relative - No Wait
Benefits:
- • No annual numerical limit
- • Eligible for expedited processing
- • Can adjust status while spouse is deployed
- • Special provisions for overseas processing
Process:
File Form I-130, then I-485 (if in U.S.) or consular processing
Children of U.S. Citizen Service Member
Category:
Immediate Relative - No Wait
Benefits:
- • Unmarried children under 21 qualify
- • No numerical limits or waiting periods
- • Child Citizenship Act may provide automatic citizenship
- • Special overseas processing provisions
Process:
File Form I-130, then adjustment or consular processing
Parents of U.S. Citizen Service Member
Category:
Immediate Relative (if service member 21+)
Benefits:
- • No waiting period once service member turns 21
- • Can be processed while service member deployed
- • Special consular processing options
Process:
File Form I-130 after service member reaches age 21
Special Military Programs
Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI)
Currently SuspendedProgram allowed certain non-citizens with critical skills to enlist and fast-track citizenship
Eligibility:
Program suspended since 2016 - no new applications accepted
Important Note:
Existing MAVNI participants may still process cases
Naturalization at Basic Training
Active ProgramUSCIS conducts naturalization ceremonies at military basic training locations
Eligibility:
Service members who complete naturalization requirements during basic training
Important Note:
Available at select military installations
Expedited Citizenship Processing
Active for All Service MembersPriority processing for military naturalization applications
Eligibility:
All qualifying active duty, reserve, and veteran applicants
Important Note:
Significantly faster than civilian processing times
Deployment & Overseas Service Considerations
Deployed Spouse Filing I-130
Solution:
Can file petition while deployed, special APO/FPO address procedures
Required Documentation:
Military orders, proof of marriage, deployment location
Family Member Abroad During Processing
Solution:
Consular processing available with military deployment provisions
Required Documentation:
Service member's orders, family relationship proof, consular interviews
Naturalization While Deployed
Solution:
Special provisions for taking oath and interviews abroad
Required Documentation:
Military orders, completed naturalization application, consular coordination
Children's Status While Parent Deployed
Solution:
Child Citizenship Act and special military provisions protect status
Required Documentation:
Birth certificates, parent's citizenship/service records, military orders
Military Fee Waivers & Requirement Modifications
Available Waivers and Modified Requirements for Military Personnel
- Filing fees waived for active duty military during hostilities
- English requirement may be waived for certain service-connected disabilities
- Civics test requirement may be waived for certain medical conditions
- Physical presence requirements waived for overseas military service
- Continuous residence requirements modified for military deployment
Designated Periods of Hostility
Service During These Periods Qualifies for Enhanced Benefits:
- •September 11, 2001 - Present (Global War on Terror)
- •April 28, 1952 - July 1, 1955 (Korean Hostilities)
- •February 28, 1961 - October 15, 1978 (Vietnam Era)
- •August 2, 1990 - April 11, 1991 (Persian Gulf Conflict)
- •Other periods as designated by executive order
Current Hostilities
Service members who have served honorably since September 11, 2001, qualify for the most generous naturalization benefits under the current period of hostilities designation.
This includes service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations as part of the Global War on Terror.
Key Military Immigration Benefits
Service Member Benefits
- • Expedited processing: Priority handling of all applications
- • Reduced requirements: Shorter residency and presence requirements
- • Fee waivers: N-400 fees waived during hostilities
- • Overseas processing: Can naturalize while deployed abroad
- • Posthumous benefits: Family members of KIA service members
Family Member Benefits
- • Immediate relative status: No waiting periods for spouses/children
- • Deployment provisions: Process cases while sponsor deployed
- • Overseas processing: Special consular procedures
- • Child citizenship: Automatic citizenship for qualifying children
- • Priority processing: Expedited handling of family cases