Who Qualifies as a Military Service Member or Veteran?

A military service member or veteran is anyone who has served on active duty or reserve duty with the:

• Army
• Navy
• Marines
• Air Force
• Coast Guard
• National Guard units federally recognized as part of the U.S. Armed Forces

Citizenship Eligibility Based on Military Service

1. Citizenship After One Year of Honorable Service

• If you serve honorably for at least one year (continuous service not required), you can apply for U.S. citizenship as soon as you have a green card (lawful permanent resident status).
• This is available regardless of whether you served in wartime or not.
• You can file your application without paying the filing fee.
• You must submit Form N-426 (Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service), signed by a military official.
• If discharged, you must apply within six months of discharge to use this benefit unless you served during a designated war.

2. Veterans and Discharge Documentation

• Veterans who have previously served may submit an uncertified Form N-426, along with discharge documents such as DD Form 214 or NGB Form 22.
• These documents prove the character of service and type of separation.

Citizenship Without a Green Card During Wartime Service

3. Citizenship for Active Duty Service During Designated Wars

• If you served on active duty during World War I or II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, or Operation Enduring Freedom, you may apply for citizenship without first obtaining a green card or any other legal status.
• You must have enlisted while physically present on U.S. soil or territories (including places like American Samoa and the Panama Canal Zone).
• There is no minimum service length, but you must complete basic training and an honorable service term.
• Citizenship can be revoked if you fail to honorably complete your service after naturalization.
• No fee applies to Form N-400 in this case, but Form N-426 is required.

USCIS Assistance for Military Personnel

• Many military bases have USCIS liaisons who assist service members with their citizenship applications.

Benefits for Relatives of Service Members Killed in Action

4. Immediate Citizenship for Family Members

• A spouse, parent, or child of a U.S. citizen service member who died in active duty may apply for immediate citizenship if they have a green card.
• If they don’t have a green card, they can apply for one based on this relationship by filing Form I-360 (Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant) within two years of the service member’s death, citing Public Law 108-136.

5. Posthumous Citizenship for Deceased Service Members

• Immediate family members can request posthumous citizenship for a deceased service member by submitting Form I-644 within two years of death.
• Once granted, the family can apply for green cards through their relationship to the deceased service member.

Residency Benefits for Spouses Living Abroad

• If you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen military service member stationed overseas and you are a lawful permanent resident, you may count your time living abroad with your spouse toward the residency requirement for naturalization.
• You can apply for citizenship without returning to the U.S. in this situation.