Military-related question

[Maeve 2]

Hopefully someone here has some prior knowledge that can give me some idea on this situation...

My fiance is in the Canadian Navy, and after we get married, he's planning on joining the service here. What I'm most concerned about is how long the green card process will take...It would suck for him to have to wait around for a year or two before he can enlist. Does anyone know if the military will accept an EAD or SSN, especially for someone coming from Canada? I'd assume they'd be a lot less strict with Canadians...

If no one knows, that's fine...I jsut figured I'd check here first before going through the hassle of trying to talk to recruiters

[SqdnGuns 21]

Citizenship

While there is a statutory requirement that only a United States Citizen may become a commissioned officer, this is not true for enlistment. Certain non-citizens can enlist in the United States Armed Forces. To be eligible to enlist, a non-citizen must:

(1) Entered the United States on a permanent residence visa or has an Alien Registration Receipt Card (INS Form 1-551/I-551 greencard or stamped I-94), and

(2) Established a bona fide residence, and

(3) Established a home of record in the United States.

The visa and/or "greencard" must have sufficient time remaining on it (expiration date) to be valid during the entire term on enlistment. While non-citizens may enlist in the U.S. Military, they are not allowed to reenlist (stay in beyond their first term of service), unless they first become U.S. Citizens. However, there are accelerated citizenship procedures for non-citizens on active duty. For details, see our article, U.S. Citizenship in the Military.

I get lots of email from non-U.S. citizens, who do not live in the U.S., asking how they can join the U.S. Military. Quite simply, you can't. In order to join any branch of the United States Military, one must either be a U.S. Citizen, or one must be a legal immigrant, currently living in the United States, with a "green card." The United States Military cannot and will not assist in the immigration process. In order to join the U.S. Military, one must legally immigrate first, and then apply to join the military, once they are living in the U.S.

For enlistment purposes, citizens of the United States include citizens of: Guam, Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands,The Northern Marianas Islands, American Samoa, The Federated States of Micronesia, and The Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Not all non-citizens may be eligible to enlist. Applicants who have been residents of countries considered hostile to the interests of the United States require a waiver. See your local recruiter for the most current list of countries considered hostile to the interests of the United States.

While non-citizens may enlist, they will find their job choices extremely limited. DOD policy prohibits granting security clearances to non-U.S. Citizens. Therefore, non-Citizens. who enlist in the United States military will be limited to those jobs which do not require a security clearance.

Edited March 5, 2008 by SqdnGuns

[SqdnGuns 21]

Source link didn't show, here it is.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthem...standards_2.htm

I was a recruiter in the Marine Corps for 4+ years and the above is spot on.

Good Luck.

Edited March 5, 2008 by SqdnGuns

[Maeve 2]

SqdnGuns - Thanks for the reply and for the info! This whole situation is so complicated, it helps to have the more experienced around

Since you have a lot of experience in this matter, do you think it possible that he might at least be able to start the process - if not become enlisted - before he has his green card? He's definitly a military man at heart, and I'd hate to see him being miserable at a "civilian" job for a couple years before he can re-enlist. He'd also talked with a Navy recruiter who said there was a possibility that he could come in as an officer...but I guess he would likely need a green card for that?

Thanks again!

[SqdnGuns 21]

SqdnGuns - Thanks for the reply and for the info! This whole situation is so complicated, it helps to have the more experienced around

Since you have a lot of experience in this matter, do you think it possible that he might at least be able to start the process - if not become enlisted - before he has his green card? He's definitly a military man at heart, and I'd hate to see him being miserable at a "civilian" job for a couple years before he can re-enlist. He'd also talked with a Navy recruiter who said there was a possibility that he could come in as an officer...but I guess he would likely need a green card for that?

Thanks again!

He cannot be an officer unless he becomes naturalized and he cannot begin the enlistment process until he is qualified. Send me a PM for what city you are in and I can pass on the phone number to the Operations section for whichever branch of the military he is interested in.

Speaking to most recruiters on the street and not the Recruiting Station HQ may result in incorrect info.