The Military Transition Resources and Calendar is putting together a guide on how foreign-born spouses of US service members can become naturalized citizens.
You can download the full guide here.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPEDITED NATURALIZATION? The path to becoming a naturalized US citizen can feel complex under ordinary circumstances. There are forms to file and protocols to be met. Tack on the demands of military service and the process can seem even more demanding. How do you meet the eligibility requirements for being a legal permanent resident if
CAN I BE NATURALIZED OVERSEAS AS A MILITARY SPOUSE? The INA permits eligible military spouses to be naturalized abroad without having to travel to the United States through INA 319(e). In order to be eligible, a lawful permanent resident must meet the following requirements: You must be authorized to accompany your spouse abroad per their official orders. You must
Does my time abroad count toward residence requirements? INA 319(e) makes a special provision for eligible military spouses by allowing time accompanying a spouse on assignment to count towards the continuous residence and physical presence requirements. To be eligible: You must be a LPR who is married to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces You must be authorized
I am a foreign-born spouse with an ailing parent. What are my options to assist their naturalization? According to the official USCIS website, spouses and children of servicemembers may be eligible for expedited naturalization. But what paths are available for other family members such as parents or siblings? If you are a naturalized citizen,you can sponsor your family for
I have a child from a previous marriage? What are my options? If your spouse is not the biological parent of your child, there are still pathways to help their naturalization process. Adoption: If your spouse has adopted your child or is a legal guardian, the child can benefit from your spouse’s military status. They will still need to
What should I know about sponsoring a family member? As a foreign born spouse you cannot directly sponsor your parents until you become a citizen yourself. If they are currently permanent residents, they can apply for citizenship regardless of your current status. You’re correct; the naturalization options primarily focus on spouses and children of U.S. service members. This does limit
How can I find a good immigration lawyer? Sometimes you might need outside help to navigate the bureaucratic challenges of immigration. Here are some tips to help you find a good immigration lawyer: Resources: American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) – They provide a Military Assistance Program to help active-duty service members find pro-bone immigration attorneys. Military OneSource –This platform
By Matt Scherer I have been reading the numerous online reports of the Federal Government’s efforts to arrest military members with Purple Hearts because they didn’t have US citizenship. I recalled observing several oaths of citizenship in my own local military community. I have decided to research the path to citizenship for foreign nationals who have chosen to serve the
When Edem Martey began his Navy career at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes in 2012, he mastered not only knot tying and shipboard terminology but he also had to learn how to swim and how to become a U.S. citizen. Martey , a native of Ghana, enlisted in the Navy with his “green card,” a Permanent Resident Card. As a
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