Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

A. Purpose

Service members, certain veterans of the U.S. armed forces, and certain military family members may be eligible to become citizens of the United States^[1] under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), to include expedited and overseas processing.

There are general requirements and qualifications that an applicant for naturalization must meet in order to become a U.S. citizen. These general requirements include:

Good Moral Character (GMC);
Residence and physical presence in the U.S.;
Knowledge of the English language;
Knowledge of U.S. government and history; and
Attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

The periods of residence and physical presence in the United States normally required for naturalization may not apply to military members and certain military family members. In addition, qualifying children of military members may not need to be present in the United States to acquire citizenship. Finally, qualifying members of the military and their family members may be able to complete the entire process from overseas.

Military members and their families may call the Military Help Line for assistance: 1-877-CIS-4MIL (1-877-247-4645).

B. Background

Special naturalization provisions for members of the U.S. armed forces date back at least to the Civil War.^[2] Currently, the special naturalization provisions provide for expedited naturalization through military service during peacetime^[3] or during designated periods of hostilities.^[4] In addition, some provisions benefit certain relatives of members of the U.S. armed forces.

As of March 6, 1990, citizenship may be granted posthumously to service members who died as a direct result of a combat-related injury or disease.^[5] Before this legislation, posthumous citizenship could only be granted through the enactment of private legislation for specific individuals.

Congress and the President have continued to express interest in legislation to expand the citizenship benefits of non-U.S. citizens serving in the military since the events of September 11, 2001. Legislation to benefit service members and their family members has increased considerably since 2003.

1. Executive Order Designating Period since September 11, 2001 as a Period of Hostility

On July 3, 2002, then President, George W. Bush, officially designated by Executive Order the period beginning on September 11, 2001 as a “period of hostilities.” The Executive Order triggered immediate naturalization eligibility for qualifying service members.^[6]

At the time of the designation, the Department of Defense (DOD) and legacy INS announced that they would work together to ensure that military naturalization applications would be processed expeditiously. USCIS adjudication procedures for military naturalization applications reflect that commitment.

2. Legislation Affecting Service Period, Overseas Naturalization, and Benefits for Relatives

On November 24, 2003, Congress enacted legislation^[7] to:

Reduce the period of service required for military naturalization based on peacetime service from three years to one year. ^[8]
Add service in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve during periods of hostilities as a basis to qualify for naturalization.^[9]
Expand the immigration benefits available to the spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens who die from injuries or illnesses resulting from or aggravated by serving in combat. These benefits extend to such relatives of service members who were granted citizenship posthumously.
Waive fees for naturalization applications based on military service during peacetime or during periods of hostilities.^[10]
Permit naturalization processing overseas in U.S. embassies, consulates, and military bases for members of the U.S. armed forces.^[11]

Efforts since the 2003 legislation have focused on further streamlining procedures or extending immigration benefits to immediate relatives of service members.

3. Legislation Affecting Residence, Physical Presence, and Naturalization while Abroad for Spouses and Children

On January 28, 2008, Congress amended existing statutes to allow residence abroad to qualify as “continuous residence” and “physical presence” in the United States for a spouse or child of a service member who is authorized to accompany the service member by official orders and is residing abroad with the service member.^[12]

Under certain conditions, a spouse or child of a service member may count any period of time that he or she is residing (or has resided) abroad with the service member as residence and physical presence in the United States. This legislation also prescribes that such a spouse or child may be eligible to have any or all of their naturalization proceedings conducted abroad. Before this legislation, the law only permitted eligible service members to participate in naturalization proceedings abroad.

INA 284(b) limits the circumstances under which the lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse or child is considered to be seeking admission to the United States. This means that the spouse or child will not be deemed to have abandoned or relinquished his or her LPR status while residing abroad with the service member. The provision ensures reentry into the United States by LPR spouses and children whose presence abroad might otherwise be deemed as abandonment of LPR status.
INA 319(e) allows certain LPR spouses to count any qualifying time abroad as continuous residence and physical presence in the United States and permits eligible spouses to naturalize overseas.
INA 322(d) allows the U.S. citizen parent of a child filing for naturalization to count time abroad as physical presence and allows the child to naturalize overseas.

4. Fingerprint Requirement (Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act)

On June 26, 2008, Congress mandated that USCIS use enlistment fingerprints or previously submitted USCIS fingerprints to satisfy the naturalization background check requirements unless a more efficient method is available.^[13]

5. Expedited Application Processing (Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act)

On October 9, 2008, Congress amended existing statutes to mandate USCIS to process and adjudicate naturalization applications filed under certain military-related provisions within six months of the receipt date or provide the applicant with an explanation for why his or her application is still pending and an estimated adjudication completion date.^[14]

C. Legal Authorities

INA 319; 8 CFR 319 – Spouses of U.S. Citizens
INA 322; 8 CFR 322 – Children born outside of the United States
INA 328; 8 CFR 328 – Naturalization through peacetime military service for one year
INA 329; 8 CFR 329 – Naturalization through military Service during hostilities
INA 329A; 8 CFR 392 – Posthumous citizenship
8 U.S.C. 1443a – Overseas naturalization for service members and their qualifying spouses and children

Footnotes

[^ 1] The “United States” means the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. See INA 101(a)(38).

[^ 2] See Appendix: History of Acquiring Citizenship under INA 320 for Children of U.S. Citizens who are Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Government Employees, or their Spouses [12 USCIS-PM I.1, Appendices Tab] for a table listing legislation affecting military members and their families.

[^ 3] See Chapter 2, One Year of Military Service during Peacetime (INA 328) [12 USCIS-PM I.2].

[^ 4] See Chapter 3, Military Service during Hostilities (INA 329) [12 USCIS-PM I.3].

[^ 5] See INA 329A. See the Posthumous Citizenship for Active-Duty Service Act of 1989, Pub. L. 101-249 (PDF), 104 Stat. 94. Posthumous citizenship under INA 329A was not initiated until 2004 through subsequent legislation, thereby providing substantive benefits to survivors (the amendments were retroactive to 2001). See the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, Pub. L. 108-136 (PDF), 117 Stat. 1392.

[^ 6] See Executive Order 13269 signed on July 3, 2002 (67 FR 45287, July 8, 2002) (PDF). See INA 329.

[^ 7] See the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, Pub. L. 108-136 (PDF), 117 Stat. 1392.

[^ 8] See INA 328(a).

[^ 9] See INA 329(a).

[^ 10] See INA 328(b) and INA 329(b) (Fee exemptions).

[^ 11] See 8 U.S.C. 1443a (Permitting overseas proceedings).

[^ 12] See the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Pub. L. 110-181 (PDF), 122 Stat. 3, which amended INA 284, INA 319, and INA 322.

[^ 13] See Chapter 6, Required Background Checks [12 USCIS-PM I.6]. See the Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110-251 (PDF), 122 Stat. 2319.

[^ 14] This legislation affects naturalization applications under INA 328(a), INA 329(a), INA 329A, INA 329(b), and surviving spouses and children who qualify under INA 319(b), or INA 319(d). See the Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110-382 (PDF), 122 Stat. 4087.

Resources

8 CFR 316.5(b)(6) - Residence for certain spouses of military personnel

8 CFR 316.6 - Physical presence for certain spouses of military personnel

8 U.S.C. 1443a - Overseas naturalization for service members and their qualifying spouses and children

INA 284 - Applicability to members of the armed forces

INA 312, 8 CFR 312 - Educational requirements for naturalization

INA 316, 8 CFR 316 - General requirements for naturalization

INA 319, 8 CFR 319 - Spouses of U.S. citizens

INA 322, 8 CFR 322 - Children residing outside the United States

INA 328, 8 CFR 328 - Naturalization through peacetime military service for one year

INA 329, 8 CFR 329 - Naturalization through military service during hostilities

INA 329A, 8 CFR 392 - Posthumous citizenship

INA 332, 8 CFR 332 - Naturalization administration, executive functions

G-1055, Fee Schedule

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

N-400, Application for Naturalization

How to Use the USCIS Policy Manual Website (PDF, 905.13 KB)

Appendices

Before October 29, 2019, USCIS considered children of members of the U.S. armed forces or U.S. government employees, who were stationed outside of the United States, to meet the requirement of “is residing in” the United States for the purpose of acquiring citizenship under INA 320.^[1] This interpretation was consistent with the definition of “residence” for purposes of naturalization under INA 316.^[2] Based on this treatment of U.S. government employees and their children in the context of naturalization under INA 316, USCIS determined that “residing in the United States” for purposes of acquisition of citizenship under INA 320 should likewise be interpreted to include children of U.S. military and government employees stationed outside of the United States who were residing with their parents.^[3]

This interpretation, however, was inconsistent with other provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), including the definition of “residence” at INA 101(a)(33) and language in INA 322(a) and INA 322(d), which suggested that the citizenship of military children residing outside of the United States should be considered under that provision rather than under INA 320. Effective October 29, 2019, USCIS amended its policy guidance to address these concerns, and determined that children of members of the U.S. armed forces or U.S. government employees stationed outside of the United States would not be eligible for citizenship acquisition under INA 320.^[4]

On March 26, 2020, the Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act was enacted,^[5] amending INA 320, so that a child residing with his or her U.S. citizen parent, who is stationed outside of the United States as a member of the U.S. armed forces or a U.S. government employee, or is residing in marital union with a member of the U.S. armed forces or a U.S. government employee who is stationed outside of the United States, acquires citizenship under INA 320 if all requirements of INA 320(c) and INA 320(a)(1)-(2) are met. In line with the statute, USCIS rescinds its previous guidance, clarifying that these children are eligible to acquire citizenship under INA 320 if all other requirements under INA 320 are met.

The amendment to INA 320 applies to children who were under the age of 18 on March 26, 2020.

Footnotes

[^ 1] Even though the child of a member of the U.S. armed forces or U.S. government employee stationed outside of the United States may be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship under INA 322 since he or she resides outside of the United States, USCIS interpreted the child to meet residency requirements under INA 320 as well, which formerly required the child to be residing in the United States with his or her parent to acquire citizenship.

[^ 2] For example, U.S. government employees, including members of the U.S. armed forces, are eligible to apply for an exception to the continuous residence requirement for naturalization under INA 316 as long as their residency outside of the United States was on behalf of the U.S. government. See INA 316(b). See INA 316(a). See Part D, General Naturalization Requirements, Chapter 3, Continuous Residence [12 USCIS-PM D.3].

[^ 3] See Policy Manual Technical Update, Child Citizenship Act and Children of U.S. Government Employees Residing Abroad (July 20, 2015); and Acquisition of Citizenship by Children of U.S. Military and Government Employees Stationed Abroad under Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), No. 103, issued May 6, 2004.

[^ 4] See USCIS Policy Alert, Defining “Residence” in Statutory Provisions Related to Citizenship [PA-2019-05] (PDF, 308.45 KB). This Policy Alert has been superseded by Policy Manual updates to reflect changes made under Pub. L. 116-133 (PDF).

[^ 5] See Pub. L. 116-133 (PDF) (March 26, 2020).

The table below provides some of the major legislative amendments that have aimed at assisting qualified military personnel and their eligible family members to become U.S. citizens or to acquire other immigration benefits, or both.

Major Legislative Amendments Assisting Military Members and their Eligible Relatives to Become U.S. Citizens or to Acquire Other Immigration Benefits
Act of May 9, 1918 (40 Stat. 512)
Accorded World War I servicemen certain exemptions from the then existing naturalization requirements First statute to provide for overseas processing; however, petitions that were filed and not acted upon by the courts were declared invalid before May 25, 1932^[1]
Modifications of 1918 Act^[2]
Under certain circumstances resident noncitizens who had departed from the United States and had served honorable in the military or naval forces of an allied country during World War I were granted special naturalization
Second War Powers Act of March 27, 1942 (amending Nationality Act of 1940)
Provided for the expeditious naturalization of members of the U.S. armed forces serving in the United States and abroad Provided for the naturalization of non-citizens serving during the war; the law permitted naturalization of those who did not meet requirements Section 702, authorized the actual naturalization of World War II servicemen outside the United States First time the Service had administrative authority to conduct naturalizations
Legislation of December 7, 1942 (amending Nationality Act of 1940)
Addition of section 323a Granted special naturalization privileges to World War I veterans Embraced persons who served with the United States military or naval forces at any time after April 20, 1898, and before July 5, 1902 (Spanish-American War), as well as persons who served on the Mexican border between June 1916 and April 1917 as members of the Regular Army or National Guard (expired December 8, 1943)
Act of June 1, 1948; Immigration and Nationality Act
Added section 324A to the Act of October 14, 1940 (Nationality Act of 1940) Revised, modified, and made permanent the earlier provisions for the expeditious naturalization of persons who served honorably in the United States armed forces during either World War I or II
Lodge Act, June 30, 1950 (64 Stat. 316)
Was periodically extended during the 1950s, finally expiring on July 1, 1959 The Act authorized naturalization under INA 329 of a noncitizen who enlisted or reenlisted overseas under the terms of the Act; subsequently entered the United States, American Samoa, Swains Island, or the Canal Zone pursuant to military orders; completed five years of service; and was honorably discharged
Korean Hostilities; Act of June 30, 1953 (Pub. L. 86)
Provided for the expeditious judicial naturalization of noncitizens, upon completion of at least 90 days' active and honorable service in the United States Armed Forces during a specified period (June 25, 1950 - July 1, 1955) extending beyond the termination date of the Korean conflict Under the statute, all petitions had to be filed before January 1, 1956
Vietnam Hostilities Act of October 24, 1968 (82 Stat. 1343)
Including Vietnam Hostilities to add as qualifying, service during a period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending on the termination fixed by the President By Executive Order 12081, September 18, 1978, the President terminated the period of Vietnam hostilities as of October 15, 1978 Allowed the designation by executive order such periods when the armed forces of the United States are engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force
Grenada 15 Executive Order 12582 (February 2, 1987)^[3]
Although President Reagan designated the Grenada campaign as a period of hostilities, a federal court invalidated it entirely because, in contravention of statutory guidelines for such designations, the executive order attempted to limit the expedited naturalization benefit to persons who served in certain geographic areas and the record showed that the President would not have designated the campaign as a period of hostilities without the geographic limitations
Naturalization of Natives of the Philippines (WWII Service), Sec. 405 of Pub. L. 101-649
Addressed by Congress in 1990 by amending INA 329 (IMMACT90) Such veterans were exempted from the requirement of having been admitted to lawful permanent residence to the United States or having enlisted or reenlisted in the United States Subsequent amendments enabled naturalization processing to be conducted in the Philippines Only applied to applications filed by February 2, 1995
Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000
For Hmong guerilla units that aided the U.S. military during the Vietnam War era Provided an exemption from the English language requirement and special consideration for civics testing for Laotian refugees who supported the U.S. armed forces as members of guerrilla or irregular forces in Laos during the Vietnam War period of hostilities Only applied to naturalization applications filed by a veteran or spouse, within three years after May 26, 2000, or by a veteran’s widow within three years after November 1, 2000
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub. L. 108-136)
Pub. L. 108-136 was enacted on November 24, 2003 and amended certain military-related immigration provisions of the INA, to include: Reduced the required period of military service from three years to one year under INA 328 Exempted all fees from naturalization applications filed under INA 328 and 329 by eligible service members and certain veterans Added provision that citizenship obtained through INA 328 and 329 may be revoked if the person is separated from the U.S. armed forces under other than honorable conditions before the person has served for a period or periods aggregating five years Added under 8 U.S.C. 1443a that DHS must ensure that any filings, interviews, oath ceremonies, or other proceedings relating to naturalization of service members and certain military family members are available abroad through U.S. embassies, consulates, and U.S. military installations overseas as practical Extended benefits under INA 329(a) to those who serve or served as a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve Extended certain immigration benefits to surviving spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizen service members (including those granted citizenship posthumously under INA 329(a)^[4]
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181)
Pub. L. 110-181 was enacted on January 28, 2008 and amended certain military-related immigration provisions of the INA focused on qualifying spouses or children of members of the U.S. armed forces, to include: Added INA 284(b) to make clear that the lawful permanent resident status of a service member’s spouse or child is not jeopardized because the spouse or child resided abroad, as authorized by official orders, with the service member. This provision clarifies that USCIS must not treat such absences as abandonment or relinquishment of the spouse or child’s lawful permanent resident (LPR) status^[5] Added INA 319(e) to allow the LPR spouse of a service member to count any qualifying time spent abroad on official orders as continuous residence and physical presence in the United States. Also permits the spouse to complete the naturalization process overseas Added INA 322(d) to allow the U.S. citizen parent and service member of a child filing for naturalization to count time abroad under military orders as physical presence in the United States. Also permits the child to complete the naturalization process overseas
Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act (KFCAA) (Pub. L. 110-251)
The KFCAA was enacted on June 26, 2008 Requires DHS to use the fingerprints provided by an individual at the time the individual enlisted in the U.S. armed forces (referred to as “OPM” or “enlistment” fingerprints) or fingerprints the applicant previously submitted to USCIS for another application to satisfy the fingerprint requirement If DHS determines that new biometrics would result in more timely and effective adjudication of the individual’s naturalization application, DHS must inform the applicant of this determination and provide the applicant with information on how to submit fingerprints Requires USCIS to adjudicate applications for naturalization filed by active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces serving abroad within 180 days of the receipt of responses to all background checks
Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act (MPCPA) (Pub. L. 110-382)
The MPCPA was enacted on October 9, 2008 Requires USCIS to complete applications for naturalization filed by service members (and certain spouses) within six months of receipt or notify the applicant of the delay Six-month notification letters must include the reason for delay and an estimated adjudication date

Footnotes

[^ 1] See Application of Campbell, 5 F.2d 247 (E.D. Wash. 1925). See Op. Sol. of Labor, Jan, 1926, CO file 79/9.

[^ 2] See Acts of July 19 and November 6, 1919, May 26, 1926, March 4, 1929, May 25, 1932, June 24, 1935, August 23, 1937, June 21, 1939, December 7, 1942.

[^ 3] See Executive Order 12582, signed on February 2, 1987 (52 FR 3395, February 4, 1987). In consideration of Matter of Reyes, 910 F. 2d 611 (9th Cir. 1990), Executive Order 12582 was revoked by Executive Order 12913 (PDF), effective February 2, 1987, (59 FR 23115, May 4, 1994).

[^ 4] See Sec. 1703 of PL 108-136.

[^ 5] See Sec. 673 of PL 110-181.

Updates

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding residency requirements under Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by the Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act.

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Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

A. Purpose

B. Background

1. Executive Order Designating Period since September 11, 2001 as a Period of Hostility

2. Legislation Affecting Service Period, Overseas Naturalization, and Benefits for Relatives

3. Legislation Affecting Residence, Physical Presence, and Naturalization while Abroad for Spouses and Children

4. Fingerprint Requirement (Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act)

5. Expedited Application Processing (Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act)

C. Legal Authorities

Footnotes

Resources

Appendices

Footnotes

Footnotes

Updates

Version History