Naturalization F-1 visa

[Kitten24 5]

Hi all,

If you were in the US on an F-1 visa but were considered active duty in the US Armed Forces, can you apply for Naturalization?

[Kitten24 5]

Hi all,

If you were in the US on an F-1 visa but were considered active duty in the US Armed Forces, can you apply for Naturalization?

I forgot to mention that this was after 9/11.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't you have to have your green card to serve in the US armed forces?

Good luck

[Kitten24 5]

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't you have to have your green card to serve in the US armed forces?

Good luck

No, not necessarily. There are special instances where you can serve under an F-1 visa.

[pianojangee 0]

Hi all,

If you were in the US on an F-1 visa but were considered active duty in the US Armed Forces, can you apply for Naturalization?

This was the article about the recruitment of foreign students or workers in exchange of US Citizenship. That was September 2009 and it was pilot program for 1 year. However, last year US Army recruitment exceed its quota over 100%, like 120% or something. I doubt that this pilot program is still valid. You can always ask recruiters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/us/15immig.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1290057291-cbLpnCKwxECj6h0M7TYUpQ

http://www.goarmy.com/locate-a-recruiter.html

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I understand, thank you!

Regardless, doesn't an application for naturalization require continuous presence in the US? As I see by the OP's timeline an application for an immigrant visa was successful - indicating that the foreign spouse has not been in the US in a while.

Also, isn't natualization based on permenant residency? Not simply being in the armed forces?

Good luck

[Kitten24 5]

I understand, thank you!

Regardless, doesn't an application for naturalization require continuous presence in the US? As I see by the OP's timeline an application for an immigrant visa was successful - indicating that the foreign spouse has not been in the US in a while.

Also, isn't natualization based on permenant residency? Not simply being in the armed forces?

Good luck

On most cases, yes. But the whole military thing throws a curve ball because the time after 9/11 is considered a period of conflict. That doesn't require residence even. Take a look at these pages from USCIS.gov where it states that you need not be a resident and need not have continuous residence.:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/chapter4.pdf

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/New%20Structure/3rd%20Level%20(Left%20Nav%20Children)/Military%20-%203rd%20Level/M-599militarynatz.pdf

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I understand, you mis-read. What I mean is you cannot serve in the US as an F-1 student, leave the US, go through an immigrant visa process, then claim US citizenship....can you?

[pianojangee 0]

I understand, you mis-read. What I mean is you cannot serve in the US as an F-1 student, leave the US, go through an immigrant visa process, then claim US citizenship....can you?

Normally F1 student cannot enlist US armned forces. Only US citizen and US permanent resident can enlist any US armed forces.

It was US Army's pilot program to recruit more people to fight in 2 wars, Iraq and Afganistan. Since 2 wars started, US Army was in need of people who are fluent in Iraqui and Afganistani languages in the war zone. Or doctors, medical personnels, engineers with language proficienies in those 2 countries. So, Army figured F1 students in US from those regions are not only fluent in languages, but also knowledgeble of culture. So for the time being, US Army decided to offer F1 students US citizenship in exchange to serve fighting in war zones for US. Also those years were the lowest recruit records, since few people were enlisting for the fear of guaranteed deployment to the war zones.

According to US Amry pilot program, you enlist, serve in Iraq or Afganistan or wherever army send you overseas for 5 years, then army will file naturalization for you to become a US citizen, as a special case of naturalization. I have no idea if that pilot program ever succeeded or even still continues.

[Harsh_77 718]

I dont know about F1 student, but I know for ppl on GC and were serveing in Iraq or Afghan were supposedly put on fast track for citizenship in return of the service and that was executive order signed by George Bush.

I am not sure if any F1 student can serve in armed forces - even though they are aware of the culture and language, that would be too much security risk armed forces.

So I am not sure how and where TS came with F1 working for armed forces.