It seems as though immigration and citizenship issues are in the news a lot recently. One thing that has come up is how fewer military members are obtaining naturalization than what happened previously. This isn’t a new issue, but it is one that should be considered now by people who are thinking of trying to join the military in an effort to become a citizen.
Last year, news came out that due to new directives, a 65% drop in naturalization of service members had happened. Knowing the terms that must be met might help some people in the military and veterans to determine whether they are eligible or not.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the nation has been in a period of hostility. This means that as long as you served honorably during this period, you don’t have to have a minimum of one year in service, so even if you were discharged early for medical reasons, you might be eligible for this program. You do still have to meet the 180-day minimum service requirement
You do have to be able to pass a security check to be eligible for citizenship in this manner. This is one of the reasons cited for the dip in the number or military-related naturalizations. As part of this, you have to have an N-426 completed. This must be signed by someone who is an O-6 or higher, which is a bit stricter than the pervious requirement that it was signed by someone in your personnel office.
People who hope to become naturalized in connection with their military service should learn about their rights and responsibilities in these cases. Trying to avoid any delays can help you reach your citizenship goal sooner.