Naturalization while in Guard

[JoBri 548]

Please dont move this thread again. It is my wife who is the immigrant, and she removed conditions a year ago, but also joined the Air National Guard. Now we are going to work on naturalization. We could pay out of pocket, but there is a military option which is free. I am asking under this topic because it is about naturalization specifically, not a general US citizen immigration military discussion.

My wife joined the Air National Guard. We heard from USCIS and the Air Force and the Air National Guard so much conflicting information on whether or not she can get her citizenship while at basic training. If you research it online it is very vague. And USCIS and ANG and Air Force all seem to have different answers too. Online I found official sites that say it is now open to the Air National Guard, but the Air Force Personnel Center says she needs to be Regular Air Force. It depends on who you ask and what day you ask. Some say it is only for those going on active duty after basic training. Others say she is eligible while at basic training. USCIS said she is eligible at basic training, but that more times than not it would be difficult to complete it in that time frame and would have to be transferred to an office near us after basic training. The Air Force said she would have to be going regular active duty after basic training. Her recruiter called USCIS and was told they will give her the option to get her citizenship while at basic training. We will just have to wait to see what really happens I guess. It would be nice if she were eligible to get her citizenship while on active duty for basic training because they waive the cost of filing. It would cost nothing. It would be nice to get a clear cut answer on whether she can or cant, but that has been hard to do.

Edited January 26, 2013 by Brijo

[FlyingLonghorn 12]

Well, I'm not an expert, but still an officer in the Air Force Reserve and was on active duty about 8 years and several of my airmen became citizens.

It was my understanding one had to be on active duty orders (possibly for at least 90 days but I don't remember that part for sure) to get the 3 year naturalization. Technically she would be on active, federal pay orders, during basic (at Lackland I presume?). If she is on Active Duty orders I would think that is sufficient. Using the legal office at Lackland is a good option, and of course free.

The military side is very small section of the overall process so I've noticed few are experts. Good luck!

[ccvortex 0]

Any update to this? My wife is looking at the same thing: do we get expidated citizenship via the National Guard?

[BigDaddy28 228]

Any update to this? My wife is looking at the same thing: do we get expidated citizenship via the National Guard?

Yes actually his wife got naturalized quick. Good luck.

[ccvortex 0]

But was it through the Air Natl Guard?

[JoBri 548]

But was it through the Air Natl Guard?

Yes... Air National Guard...expedited...quick. Applied for naturalization on June 10, 2013 and US Citizen by August 12, 2013. Best of all it cost $0.00. The fee was waved since it was military.

Some branches of the service are good about doing the naturalization process while in basic training. I think the Army is one of the best branches for that. My wife tried at Air Force basic training and got no where with it. It looks like they do just one token naturalization per class there. she said there were 13 immigrants who were qualified for naturalization in her group, but only one of the 13 were processed for naturalization. So we applied right after she graduated and she took her oath just 2 months after applying.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Brijo

[cadeyinka 0]

That is great, congratulations on things turning out so well for your family!

I am about to turn 40 years old and really considering getting in before my 40th birthday so I can get citizenship asap.

My very important question is if one has to be on active duty status with the Air National Guard or can one just apply for citzenship without being activated?

Edited May 28, 2014 by cadeyinka