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US Immigration News

01-06-2004 > Joining the U.S. Military in Exchange for Citizenship

Joining the U.S. Military in Exchange for Citizenship

As serving in the U.S. Armed Forces speeds up the citizenship process, joining the military has become an attractive option for an increasing number of non-citizens.

Posthumous Citizenship
Non-citizens who die as a result of active-duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001 are eligible for U.S. citizenship. These individuals may be buried as American citizens. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services will issue a Certificate of Citizenship in the name of the decedent only, which conveys an honorary status of citizenship to the deceased.

Scope of New Legislation
The Certificate of Citizenship does not directly benefit the citizenship status of any relative of the deceased. However, there are several bills pending that, if passed, will make the path to citizenship more flexible and far-reaching for not only non-citizen soldiers, but also their families.

The only non-citizens who can join the U.S. military are legal permanent residents with green cards.

President Bush's executive order also waives naturalization fees and allows troops overseas to take the oath of citizenship at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, rather than requiring them to travel to their hometowns. Joining the U.S. Military in Exchange for Citizenship